We are delighted that the DA has entered into a correspondence with us ("DA’s Alternative is Credible", February 15) regarding its position on race and empowerment, and beg your indulgence to allow this correspondence to continue as we intend to skewer the party’s position on race in the full glare of your readership. Following its federal council meeting earlier this month, the DA said that "we believe race is a proxy for disadvantage and an accurate reflection of who is still excluded from opportunity". Now it says that "while race is a proxy for disadvantage it is not the only proxy". "Only" is a very important word. Must we now understand that the DA is open to other proxies, and if so, what are these and why were they not adopted, or even debated, by the federal council? One gets the distinct sense that an escape hatch has been opened in order to facilitate a flip-flop. In any event, as we understand it, ‪a "proxy" means something that can accurately be substituted for another....

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