Chairperson,
The ACDP would like to commend one of our country’s most respected governance scholars, Professor William Gumede, for his courage and love for truth and transparency. He exposed what many feared to do. He stated the fact that over R1 trillion has been transferred to fewer than 100 politically connected individuals under the banner of black economic empowerment.
“BEE only benefits a very small group of politically connected, linked to the ANC, linked to the trade unions, and the same people are empowered again and again” he said. The respected Prof Gumede in an explosive interview has revealed so much that has concerned the public.
“This is not transformation, this is state-sanctioned looting under the guise of empowerment.” the Prof said.
While the ACDP highly respects individuals like Prof. Gumede, the ACDP is shocked, and very disturbed at the intolerant and unacceptable behaviour of the anti-Israel mob that harassed Israeli runners in the Comrades Marathon in KZN on Monday.
Harassing athletes from a particular country during an international event, particularly motivated by hatred, is against the rules of the governing global sporting competition. That is why the ACDP strongly condemns such intolerant behaviour.
The mob that was reportedly urged on by the ANC youth league that apparently published a statement prior to the race indicating its opposition to the participation of Israeli runners and then published the alleged identities and race numbers of Israeli participants, encouraging the public to harass them.
Fairly large groups of anti-Israel activists and other Israeli haters did exactly that. They waited along the route of our famous ultramarathon, the Comrades and shouted at the Israeli athletes “go home” while also chanting “Free Palestine”.
