May I take this opportunity through your newspaper to speak to black people in South Africa.

May I take this opportunity through your newspaper to speak to black people in South Africa.

I speak on behalf of the white people of the ACDP and, indeed, most rational, thinking white people throughout our nation to you the people of colour in South Africa.

We express our heartfelt sorrow over the hurt you have borne not only as a result of the racist policies of the past but the current shocking, cruel and insensitive behaviour of a select few.

On Tuesday and Thursday last week we expressed our outrage and anger about these actions.

We acknowledge that knowingly, or unknowingly, we have been part of the society that disadvantaged you and we were, in varying degrees, advantaged at your expense.

We are ashamed that we were prejudiced and hurt you in more ways than we can imagine. Our sorrow will always be with us.

Our apologies are heartfelt, yet, more than that, we want to be part of making a society where just reparations are made and we can all live in harmony.

Tragically it appears much of the racial tension on campuses today has been deliberately caused by political and other agendas and we are angry that this has undermined the willingness of so many students across the country to integrate.

Those who have deliberately caused and fanned these tensions must be brought to account.

Cheryllyn Dudley

ACDP chief whip

Parliament