Chairperson, the meeting with Minister Trevor Manuel last night was very informative, and I want to thank him for the opportunity.
The National Planning Commission has produced an excellent diagnostic report that has identified key challenges we need to overcome as a nation. Among the challenges the commission has identified is the fact that South Africa remains a divided society. The commission has pointed to what I believe is part of the solution by saying:
Tackling these challenges will require the involvement of all South Africans and co-ordination and co-operation across society and government.
While the racial classification and profiling in the document are helpful in assessing the challenges and gains of different race groups, I can foresee that the definition of the word African is going to raise further challenges. We have to build a national consensus on who is an African before we can succeed in being a people united in diversity. If white people born in Africa are not Africans, then who are they? What about coloureds? Are they Africans or not? The ACDP believes that an African is anybody who is born in Africa, be they black, white, coloured or Indian.
Chairperson, I believe the commission should do more research on the question of who an African is in order to encourage all race groups to come on board. To narrow the divide between South Africans, it will take a collective effort from all race groups in our country, black, white, coloured and Indian, who love Africa because they are all classified as Africans. So, Chairperson, I believe if this question of who is an African can be solved, many people will come on board, but at this stage they are not seeing themselves as Africans. Thank you. [Applause.]