EFF regrets Sonti 'amashangane' remark in parliament

18 March 2015 - 16:57 By Times LIVE
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The Economic Freedom Fighters have expressed regret over Pimrose Sonti's statement during the Motion of No Confidence debate in Parliament claiming 'certain services' in Marikana were being diverted from locals to 'amashangane'.

According to the party, Sonti understood the term to mean foreigners, and didn't intend to "speak badly about Shangaan/Tsonga speaking people as is suggested by political opportunists".

"The EFF however regrets the remark, even if it was made in reference to people who were not born within borders called SA today. The EFF is not a tribalist Organisation and it is never Xenophobic," the party said in a statement.

According to The Citizen, Sonti had refused to withdraw her statement when instructed to by Speaker Baleke Mbete, and was ultimately ordered off the podium before she could finish her speech.

EFF leader Julius Malema defended her at the time, claiming she was referring to foreigners.

Moloto Mothapo, spokesperson for ANC chief whip Stone Sizani, slammed Sonti's statement, saying that the use of terms such as Makwerekwere and Shangaans perpetuated xenophobic and ethnic stereotypes in communities.

“The usage of such offensive slurs is unacceptable not only in the House of parliament, but also in our society.

“The Shangaan people are the native citizens of this country, and it is thus deplorable that their nationality should be used as a slur against foreign African nationals,” said Mothapo.

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