Premier

South Africa has a long history of racial polarization, and many people across the country still bear the hurts and scars wrought by Apartheid. It is an unfortunate truth that racial polarization has continued in the post-democratic South Africa. We have heard many South Africans share stories of racism and prejudice in sport, in business, in school and in all areas of life. 
The Western Cape Government respects and abides by the constitutions of South Africa and of the Western Cape. 
The South African Constitution’s Bill of Rights indicates that equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms and that the state may not unfairly discriminate against anyone based on race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth. 
The Western Cape Constitution states that the “Western Cape government must adopt and implement policies to actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people of the Western Cape, including policies aimed at achieving the following…the promotion of non-racialism in the Western Cape.” 
The Western Cape promotes non-racialism through a number of policies, and programmes which are aimed at promoting equality, justice and non-discrimination. 
Among these: 
-The Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act which gives preference in the awarding of government tenders to historically disadvantaged individuals. 
-The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements is focused not only on housing delivery but also spatial transformation, creating integrated communities.  The Conradie Better Living Model which will create 3500 home and which is currently under construction is an example of this. 
- Through the Department of Human Settlements’ Contractor Framework, in January 2020, SMME’s, contractors with Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDI) status, and enterprises with women and youth representation, were once again invited to submit their bids for future tenders in order to create opportunities for these businesses. 
-The Western Cape Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the various commodity farming groups, is supporting black farmers and land reform beneficiaries in the province. Under the commodity approach, the commodity groups have committed to helping black smallholder farmers and land reform beneficiaries become more successful through access to markets for their goods, mentorship and training. The commodity groups have also contributed funding and in-kind support towards the implementation of successful land reform projects in the province. An independent study conducted in 2019, found that 72% of the land reform projects supported by the  Western Cape between 2014 and 2019 , were successful. 
- The Transform to Perform strategy that forms an integral part of the Department of Education’s transformation to becoming an adaptable, values-driven organisation that thrives on accountability, responsibility and innovation, was launched in 2019/20. One of its pillars is value conversations at schools, district offices, and executive coaching which address issues of discrimination, and equality and which are aimed at changing the mindset for teacher and learners alike. 
-The WCED has worked with schools to amend their codes of conduct to be more inclusive of all learners, and developed a guideline on gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools. The Department also recently sent out a letter to schools re-iterating its commitment to developing diversity and calling on school leaders, to: 
• Re-state that the school condemns racism and prejudice, and, as a state school, supports the South African Constitution and the Bill of Rights 
 • Again initiate a review of the school’s Code of Conduct with the SGB, as was done a year or two ago, to ensure that all potentially discriminatory aspects are removed (this should be done with a diverse group of people, so we can take all views into account);  
• Ensure that school rules exist and the Code of Conduct is enforced for the necessary discipline and order in a functional school, but that is applied in a humane and inclusive way that is in no way derogatory 
• Continue or initiate courageous and open conversations with all stakeholders in the school community. This should include encouraging that the SGB leads conversations with parents, deep and meaningful discussions with learner leaders and with all learners 
. • Access specialist outside organizations to engage with the school leadership groups to help direct the types of conversations that could be meaningful for a particular group. (The department could assist with identifying organizations that are active in this area and that have been recommended for the good work that they do).