Will race always be an issue in South Africa?

Allegations of racism in South Africa's national rugby team are to be investigated in an independent inquiry.

The move comes after Springbok forward Geo Cronje was kicked out of a training camp in for refusing to share a room or bathroom with black team-mate Quinton Davids.

He was subsequently cleared of racism by an internal inquiry and reinstated, but was left out of South Africa's 30-man World Cup squad.

In spite of this the team's media liaison officer has resigned, claiming that he doesn't want to be part of a "squad in which prejudice is tolerated".

Is race still a dominant issue in South Africa? Do those who dream of a 'non-racial' South Africa have cause for optimism?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received:

The country still has to find a way to rid itself of centuries of pent up anger and prejudice Garth, Zimbabwe

The transition to a non-racial society will take a long time. South Africa is still a pseudo-community where everybody is still pretending that race is not an issue. The country still has to find a way to rid itself of centuries of pent up anger and prejudice. Separate but equal must become together and equal.
Garth, Zimbabwe

Race will always be an issue in South Africa as it is here in the United States, the country that supported, encouraged and financed that abomination here and abroad. Any system, any country, any society, any culture where one group has dominated, demeaned, subjugated and enslaved another for decades and generations will be oppressed with its own legacy.
H. Nelson, USA

Unfortunately it seems man's intelligence, wisdom and compassion does not seem to advance with the passage of time. Racism in SA may change somewhat, but it will never disappear. However, government, public and respectable institutions cannot tolerate nor accommodate this senseless evil in the name of anything, not even sport.
Saybome, USA

South Africa will take some time to sort itself out Arif Sayed, Dubai,UAE

It's amazing that people expect Racism to end so fast in South Africa which until recently was under an Apartheid system of governance. Britain/UK which has been free for centuries and is the Head of Commonwealth Nations, has come a long way, but still suffers from institutionalised racism in many aspects of daily life. South Africa will take some time to sort itself out.
Arif Sayed, Dubai,UAE

I respond to Daniel Majok Chan's comments (below). Shame on you Daniel for persisting with the doctrinated view that the 'white' men are the racists of this world. Do not forget that tribal differences, often with brutal effect, existed in Africa, as indeed all over the world in all history past. Such differences can be deemed racist in the wider sense. It has been the developing European world which has brought stability and a better life to Africa and the like (such as that brought by the Romans and Normans to Britain). Loss of the firm grip of the colonists has shown what chaos parts of Africa have fallen into. Colour will always be the main issue in the racism scene simply because it demonstrates the clearest difference between peoples. The most important aspect of social togetherness is attitude and understanding.
Alan Garland, UK

Don't point Fingers at South Africa. I've been in London 5 years and I've seen just as much first hand racism here, if not more, as I did in S.A. Its unfortunately something that will never go away, thanks to a small majority of close minded individuals like Geo Cronje. Racism is something that should be history by now.
Tony Boyle, England

Its rather interesting there's not one mention in these comments of the white SA farmers who are the most victimised ethnic group in the world, even leading those butchered by Mugabe's thugs. As always in the media, only white on black racism is cause for concern, don't let troublesome facts like murder rates get in the way of a good story or poll commentary.
Bailey Webb, USA

As long as affirmative action policies are in force, there will never be a 'non-racial' South Africa Jimmy, UK

Having lived in South Africa for most of my life. I feel that the new government has caused this problem. As a non-racial society, quotas are implemented in all walks of life, under the guise of affirmative action. If truth be told, it is reverse racism and if this persists the problems in that country will never be solved. Sport has always been a target for politicians and in SA particularly so. As long as affirmative action policies are in force, there will never be a 'non-racial' South Africa.
Jimmy, UK

In response to Jimmy K: Don't kid yourself that the problems are due to affirmative action, changes got to take place in the new South Africa. You have forgotten the racist whites-only past (apartheid era). As a victim of apartheid, I had all odds stacked against me then. These changes have to be accelerated to bring back human dignity in the people which was denied during apartheid.
Dinesh, Canada

What a question! Will race always be an issue in the world would have been more real.
Dr Wodi, Germany

Even if whites "go home" to Europe (or take up residence in the Americas) and take their culture of racism and apartheid with them, the legacy of the European occupation of Africa will be around for a long, long time.
Jon Davis, USA

White people do not know how the majority of blacks live here Chris Anderson, South Africa

As long as South Africans refuse to learn about themselves there will be racism. Racism here is a consequence of the fear that mainly white people have of Africans. I work in some of the townships here in Johannesburg and am frequently asked by whites whether I am not afraid to go there. A township is like any other residential area, just a bit more vibrant. White people do not know how the majority of blacks live here. Still, judgment is passed about blacks based on what they (whites) know; that black townships are dangerous.
Chris Anderson, South Africa

Colour has, and will always be an issue. To think that coming out apartheid, South Africa will all of a sudden be colour blind is wishful thinking. All one can hope for is to have an acceptable level of tolerance, not a perfect scenario.
Che, Sunday, Cameroon/USA

Race is not as dominant an issue now in South Africa as it used to be under apartheid. South Africa has other pressing issues which its people are now contending and coming to terms with - social integration, reconciliation, unemployment, xenophobia, Aids and the like. Race and race relations are a secondary matter.
Ernest Cole, Connecticut, USA

We Afrikaners will always be the "bad guys" to the British media Adam Heunis, South Africa

I am fed up by the media continually focusing on South Africa. Recently Umoja, a black South African group, were spat at in the streets of Grimsby, UK. That just would not happen in South Africa! We as a nation are trying to deal with transformation. 15 years ago 80% of the population didn't trust the other races, now I would say it is down to 30%. The Geo problem had more to do with personal prejudice than racial prejudice. We Afrikaners will always be the "bad guys" to the British media. Geo is a proud, bearded, intimidating Afrikaner. What more could you ask for to stir some interest?
Adam Heunis, South Africa

Tribal divisions in SA are very marked. Little discussion is directed towards 'black-on black' racial problems which are widespread in SA. However when a white rugby star is accused it's a big story because it seems whites are more accountable for their actions than their black compatriots. This in itself is racism in reporting. Let's start having some balance.
Toby Bourke, England

Race will always be an issue in South Africa because blacks are more racially conscious than anyone else.
Markus Sadie, South Africa

Racism sucks, rugby sucks, hockey rules! Go Leafs go!
Steve, Canada

Racism will remain a dominant feature in South Africa for generations to come. Having lived in the free South Africa as a foreign black African, it was sad to see how entrenched racism was in every aspect of the society. The worst for me was to see my small child in lower primary school experience discrimination even from fellow black little children. One tragedy is that apartheid structures are alive and well in the stratified South African society and is being passed on from generation to generation.
Angakhoze, Australia

I am from South Africa and have been appalled by some of the racist attitudes that I've found here in the UK. Strong racist views have sometimes been expressed to me. The only difference it seems to me is that racism in the UK is just more covert than in South Africa.
Andi Bagnall, UK

All countries have racial problems, but South Africa's are always highlighted George Fencer, SA & UK

Race is still an issue in South Africa. The problem is that people are looking for an instant solution to the problem, when we would benefit much more by a gradual, constant effort for change. The other point to remember is that all countries have their racial problems, but South Africa's are always highlighted due to our unfortunate past. Hopefully in the future we can work through this issue and come out a viable and stable country.
George Fencer, SA & UK

My reactions are a bit strong against any white man who still carries on the legacy of racism. Don't you feel shame for yourselves for what your ancestors have done in the past? Or do you guys want be kicked out of Africa? Or do you still recall the days of your superiority? I believe all mankind are created equal which treat one another with love, respect and dignity. Why don't we learn from the past?
Daniel Majok Chau, Sudanese in USA

As to the above comment about feeling shame or guilt about the actions of my ancestors: well, I was not them and so I feel no shame or guilt about their actions. Their actions are not my actions; I had no participation in them so I do not identify with them. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest that identifying with one's ancestors is part of the problem, not part of the solution to racism and nationalism.
Bob, US

We cannot expect to change the thoughts of a nation overnight, especially when many of them have been indoctrinated in it for 30 years. Racism will never disappear, it is in human nature to cause conflict and racism is just one of those outlets. It does not help when the media create a story out of rumour and hearsay because that is when wider issues get inflamed and all perspective is lost.
Simon Wilkey, UK

It's embarrassing and Geo should get banned Mark Lorenz, South Africa

This sort of discussion infuriates me. These broad generalisations about race, spoken out of the fear that to look at the finer things that act to separate people could be construed as racism. South Africa's huge! It's not nice and neat. People who criticise SA should recognize the insane socio-economic and political diversity that exists there. Of course there will be racism/segregation issues in SA, and for a long time too. How could there not be? At least in SA it's out in the open. Now we need to learn how to deal with it.

The way this was handled by SARFU was appalling. It's embarrassing (yet again) and Geo should get banned from the game for good - it's not like we're short of big farm boys in SA. If he really considered it "an honour" to play for his country then it doesn't say much about how deep that "honour" really runs.
Mark Lorenz, South Africa

There will never be a 'non-racial' South Africa. However, there is indeed cause for optimism for those who dream of equal opportunity and justice - in some ways this is already a reality (see Truth & Reconciliation Commission). However, race will continue to be a dominant issue in South Africa, as it is for the United States and many other countries. Every issue in South Africa - health, housing, the economy, politics, sport - has at its heart the question of how and why different racial groups have ended up in different situations and what we should do about it.
Chris Coutts, USA (formerly RSA)

Race is still an issue here, but has improved tremendously over the last 10 years. In comparison to the US, we know it is a problem and it is out in the open, so I believe we are far more likely to overcome this problem. As a recent visitor to the US, I believe that the US has much bigger race issues to overcome - and they don't want to talk about it.
Marc, South Africa

Racism is a problem in South Africa because most adults were raised under a racist system. Parents will pass some of their racist views on to their children but each generation is likely to be more tolerant than the one before. As long as the law and educational systems support equality, attitudes will change. It may just take a few generations.
Jim, NJ, USA

Yes, it continues to dog us though it has been legitimized Stephanie Kemp, South Africa

Race needs to be an issue for a long time while inequities are being addressed - we have to acknowledge that poverty is a huge legacy of apartheid mainly affecting the black majority. On the other hand, white racism - crass, crude, hateful behaviour and/or language toward black people - must not be pandered to and yes, it continues to dog us though it has been legitimized. The non-racial dream cannot be separated from the eradication of poverty and the further transfer of power to the black majority. A luta continua.
Stephanie Kemp, South Africa

I think that race will always be an issue in South Africa. Most of the white South Africans still cannot come to terms with the fact that they now have to share everything with other human beings who happen to have a different skin colour. I just hope they remember and try to inculcate into their children that with God, you are first human and neither black or white.
Ini Onuk, Ethiopia

Race is a dominant issue anywhere we talk about it. Especially when we distort something as in this case. Geo did not refuse to share a room with Quinton Davids and in fact did share a room with him. He did, as most people will, change rooms with to share a room with a friend with his, but went back to sharing a room with Quinton after the coach said they must not do that as he wants the players to get to know each other. Geo went back to sharing a room with Quinton and there were no problems till the media realized they had another opportunity to cause dissention and started making a case out of it.
J J van Niekerk, USA