South Africa's Nelson Mandela today scolded the country's black elite, including members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), for being arrogant and widening the gap between race groups.
In an interview published in the
Sunday Times
newspaper, the former president said he was particularly concerned about the growing polarisation between Africans and Indians.
"Some Africans themselves have made mistakes. They now throw their weight around as a majority. There are some Africans who inspire fear in the minorities because of the way they behave," Mr Mandela said. The newspaper said Mr Mandela was responding to a report last week of a board meeting of the Durban Playhouse Company where the chairman, Mr Edmund Radebe, said he did not believe education and development programmes could be run by an Indian.
"To speak like that of a minority group aggravates fears and concerns," Mr Mandela said.
"However harsh apartheid was, these groups found a niche for themselves. With (the end of apartheid), the insecurity that grips minority groups is worsening," he added.
Political analysts say racial polarisation is increasing six years after the last white government handed power to Mr Mandela in 1994 in a relatively peaceful transition hailed around the world as a miracle.
Mr Mandela, who preached reconciliation during his term in office, handed over to current president Thabo Mbeki in 1999.
In the interview, Mr Mandela said the ANC should lead the way in bridging the gap between the races.
But he added: "There have been comments by some leading members of the ANC which have not helped the situation."
Mr Mandela did not refer to anyone specifically, but some ANC officials during last year's municipal elections threatened retribution against Indians, coloureds and Africans if they voted against the ANC.
Mr Mandela also said minority groups should not use racist incidents as an excuse to further isolate themselves, adding that the country's constitution says clearly that South Africa belongs to all who live in it - black and white.