The Referendum Party (RP) has finalized its Non-racialism Bill, marking the start of a push to submit the legislation to South Africa's National Assembly. This follows a period of consultation with civic organizations and political parties, allowing for broader input into the proposed law.

The Bill, accompanied by a petition signed by the public, will be presented directly to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development. Its core objective is to dismantle race-based policy and legislation in South Africa, advocating for a shift towards treating individuals based on their specific circumstances rather than their racial identity.

Central to the Bill is a proposed amendment to Section 9 of the Constitution. If passed, it would require the state to adopt a non-racial approach, ensuring that efforts to redress past discrimination do not perpetuate new forms of inequity.

The RP has set an initial target of 10,000 signatures for its petition, urging citizens to support what it calls a necessary step towards ending "government-initiated racism." The petition can be signed on the party's website.

Phil Craig, leader of the RP, described the initiative as a direct challenge to the status quo.

“Government initiated racism should have been outlawed a long time ago. A Constitution founded upon non-racialism is entirely incompatible with race-based policy. We have taken this long overdue initiative because the main opposition parties have shirked their responsibilities and not done it," said Craig.

Craig further called on members of the Government of National Unity (GNU) to demonstrate their commitment to non-racialism.

“We will now be watching very carefully to see how members of the GNU respond to this proposal. Non-racialism is a core value for many of the GNU parties. If they stand with us, we can end this injustice. On the other hand, if the GNU parties abandon their principles and kowtow to the ANC on non-racialism just as they have done on the BELA Bill, then voters will know exactly where they stand," he added.

Positioning the RP as a principled outlier, Craig concluded:
“At the RP, we are not interested in maintaining a status quo which is deeply prejudicial to minorities. We are going to fight for what is right, even if we have to fight alone.”

The party's campaign underscores its broader ambition to challenge entrenched racial policies, setting the stage for a political showdown in the months ahead.

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