The Congress of the People (Cope) on Monday said it “roundly condemns political parties wanting to make capital of racism”. But‚ in particular‚ said spokesperson Dennis Bloem‚ it “urges the ruling party to exercise restraint and to act with utmost responsibility in respect of the mounting racial tension in our country”.“In as much as racists need a dressing down‚ criticism must also apply to political parties for their own failures to lead South Africans to a new conceptualisation of commonality and universality‚” he said.“Political parties must never reinvent apartheid nor seek to vilify other race groups because of residual racist inclinations and tendencies.”Bloem cited the “Sparrow incident” – in which South Coast estate agent Penny Sparrow caused an uproar by comparing to black beachgoers to monkeys – as having “thrown up a challenge for all to do our utmost to defeat racism‚ not thrive from it”.“Condemning racism is much less important than conquering racism through moral‚ informed and inspiring leadership‚” he said.Bloem said Cope urges the African National Congress “not to exploit the Sparrow incident for narrow political gain” and the Democratic Alliance‚ of which Sparrow was a member‚ “to do more to make racism in every form totally unacceptable”.“The consequences of playing the race card will be too horrendous to contemplate. The racial screaming that is going on at present is merely putting petrol on a fire that is already threatening to get out of control.“Both parties must proffer viable and lasting solutions on how to eradicate racism once and for all. Other parties must do the same. Political point-scoring on the race issue should be made ‘verboten’.”..