Diversity expert says SA is far from being a rainbow nation

Diversity specialist, Teresa Oakley-Smith, says South Africa has a lot of work to do before the country can reach a point of calling itself a rainbow nation.

Oakley-Smith says while a united nation is an idea that people yearn for, it is a dream that remains elusive.

Her remarks come on the back of Errol Musk’s recent utterances about black people.

Among other prejudicial comments the father of the world’s richest man has made was accusing taxi drivers of eating children and using their body parts for “muthi”.

The Cape Town-based 78-year-old engineer also alleges that the HIV/AIDS rate in the country is high because people have sex everywhere, including in the bushes.

Errol Musk is trying way too hard to rebuild his relationship with his son by bashing us. Honestly, he’s not worth the attention. He’s a despicable figure with a history of questionable things. His laundry is too dirty to be judging anyone. https://t.co/E084N0tYpT

— Michael De Villiers (@Mikedotcoza) February 18, 2025

Oakley-Smith says schools, universities and businesses can do a lot to educate citizens about each other.

“There is still a huge amount of ignorance amongst South Africans in terms of culture, religion and identity,” she adds.

This comes amid concerns over the re-emergence of rightwing politics in South Africa.

Over the weekend, hundreds of Afrikaners descended on the American embassy in Pretoria to show support for his decision to halt funding to South Africa over the Expropriation Act and alleged discriminatory laws against a “certain class of people.”

Trump has also offered Afrikaners refugee status, sparking fury among other sections of society with some South Africans alleging that the minority group has never accepted a democratic dispensation and should head to the US for good.

Oakley-Smith says South Africans should be cautious of Trump’s remarks.

“I’m speaking on diversity, equity and inclusion which is critical for us as a country recovering from an apartheid past, especially dealing with poverty and unemployment,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Sports, Art and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, is under fire after expressing his long-held admiration for Trump.

While some South Africans have branded him a traitor over this, political analyst, Professor Sam Koma, says McKenzie’s love for the US President is unsurprising.

According to the political expert, ideologically speaking, both leaders are not far apart, adding that they converge on the issue of immigration.

“Gayton and his party represent right-wing politics and that is how he should be understood.”