There are some Africans who inspire fear in the minorities because of the way they behave

Nelson Mandela

Mr Mandela said he was concerned about increasing racial polarisation, in particular a "widening of the gap" between Africans and Indians.

"Some Africans themselves have made mistakes. They now throw their weight about as a majority. There are some Africans who inspire fear in the minorities because of the way they behave," he said.

Meeting

A week ago, a Sunday Times report quoted remarks recorded at a board meeting of Durban's Playhouse Company in November.

I don't think education and development - I am not being a racist, please - can be run by an Indian

Edmund Radebe

The meeting was chaired by lawyer Edmund Radebe, a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Arts and Culture Council, and who was recently appointed to the body which allocates national lottery funds to worthy causes.

During the meeting, Mr Radebe said: "I don't think education and development - I am not being a racist, please - can be run by an Indian."

The remark came during a discussion about the theatre's former acting deputy director, Gitanjali Pather.

A white member of the board, Carl Mouton, was heard agreeing: "An Indian mind works differently to yours and mine, very different."

Quit

Ms Pather quit the Playhouse Company after the discussion was made public. Arts and Culture Minister Ben Ngubane has ordered an inquiry into the remarks.

To have people in leading positions talking like that is a matter of grave concern

Nelson Mandela

Mr Mandela said he was "outraged" by the news of the meeting.

"To have people in leading positions talking like that is a matter of grave concern. It shows that they are not nation-builders," he said.

"To speak like that of a minority group aggravates fears and concerns. There is already a sense of insecurity among Indians, coloureds and whites.

Call to ANC

He called on the ANC, the ruling party which he previously led, to do more to bridge the gaps between race groups.

If I were a racist, why would I have employed Ms Pather as acting MD?

Edmund Radebe

"The ANC has to do something. The ANC is the only organisation in this country which has gone out of its way to say: 'Let's speak with one voice,' " Mr Mandela said.

But he warned that the ANC itself was not blameless: "There have been comments by some leading members of the ANC which have not helped the situation."