Nelson Mandela’s daughter on the need to fight an “upsurge in racism” in the world | World news

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Nelson Mandela’s eldest daughter says the “fight” against racism “is not over” and that the world should continue to fight him “with all we have in our power”.

Speaking on International Nelson Mandela Day, Dr Makaziwe Mandela told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips on Sunday: “My father would repeat what he said when he was alive, that the fight is not over. and that we should not tire ourselves, we should continue to fight racism with all we have in our power. ”

“There needs to be a lot more dialogue on racism because it is rampant around the world,” she said. “I think my dad would say we need to come together and fight this wave of racism until it ends.”

Image: Nelson Mandela died in 2013. File photo

The equality and social justice activist said the pandemic has contributed to the resurgence of racism around the world.

“We have COVID which is breaking up a lot of people… a lot of people are losing their jobs… [there’s a] upsurge in racism around the world, ”she said.

“I think COVID has exacerbated the inequalities in society. “

Speaking of the violence in South Africa following the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma, Dr Mandela said: “No one wants to see South Africa in this situation of violence, but unless you do not directly address the issues of poverty and inequity, South Africa will see more violence. “

Learn more about Nelson Mandela 1918-2013

More than 100 people have been killed in unrest and violent looting in recent days, and confidence in the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has been shaken.

Dr Mandela said “all” South Africa’s problems are “the responsibility of the ANC”.

“The ANC seems to have forgotten why it came to power,” she said.

“He came to power mainly because he wanted to improve the conditions and the lives of black people who had been impoverished and their dignity taken away by the apartheid regime.

“Political freedom was never enough – my father knew it, they knew it, and we cannot leave the economy that supported apartheid intact because there is therefore no way to remedy the inequities of the past and on the terms of the poor.

“If you look at the conditions of the poor in South Africa, who are mostly black, it hasn’t improved. It’s still the same, it hasn’t improved… So what’s happening right now is downright in their hands. “

Image: People loot an area near a burning warehouse in Durban, South Africa

She continued: “No one, I assure you, wants to see South Africa in a situation of violence.

“But unless South Africa directly tackles the problems of poverty and inequity, of youth unemployment, which is around 74%, South Africa will see more and more this violence is happening more and more. “

Image: People make their way with good on a cart taken from a store

Dr Mandela’s comments come after a year that saw the Black Lives Matter movement become a major talking point in the Western world, sparked by the police murder of George Floyd in the United States last year.

The move sparked protests and more conversation about racism in the UK, which resurfaced again following England’s loss in the Euro 2020 final.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka have all suffered horrific racial abuse since they missed their shots on goal in the decisive penalty shootout last weekend.

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