Over 30 years into freedom, and yet some people report that they still experience racial discrimination to this day.
According to the United Nations Human Rights office of the Commission, ‘racial discrimination’ can mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.
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In South Africa, when dealt with the racial discrimination blow, there are right channels to follow for your case to be heard.
Here are some of the steps to take, according to the South African Government:
- Document everything: Record the time, place, names of perpetrators, witnesses, and specific details of the incident.
- Report to management: If the incident occurred at work, report it to Human Resources. In public spaces, report it to managers or security.
- Engage the SAHRC: The Commission can investigate violations of human rights and assist in securing redress.
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Here are examples of racial harassment in the workplace, as shared by the South African National AIDS Council:
- Abusive language, racist jokes, cartoons, or memes, including communication that amounts to hate speech.
- Racially offensive written or visual material, including online harassment.
- Racist name-calling, or negative stereotyping, impacting on persons’ dignity.
- Offensive behaviour to the form of open hostility to persons of a specific racial or ethnic group.
- Subtle or blatant exclusion from workplace interaction and activities, and other forms of marginalisation.
- Threatening behaviour towards a person, or that creates a hostile environment.
Steps for internal reporting, according to the above mentioned source:
- Address it directly (Optional): If you feel safe doing so, inform the person that their behaviour is offensive and must stop.
- File a formal grievance: Report the incident in writing (email or formal letter) to your immediate supervisor, manager, or Human Resources (HR) department.
- Follow company policy: Familiarise yourself with and follow the company’s internal policy for dealing with harassment and discrimination.
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