Grahamstown — Racial tension in the Eastern Cape is a reflection of underlying provincial poverty.

This has emerged as a strong thread running through discussions taking place at a regional workshop on racism at an East London hotel this morning.

SA National NGOs Coalition (SANGOCO) spokesman Mothusi Shupinyane said about 70 delegates from Eastern Cape NGOs had pitched for the day-long workshop.

He was pleasantly surprised by the turnout saying: "We have had this workshop in the Northern Cape and Free State and we only expected about 50 people."

The workshop will be held in all provinces prior to SANGOCO presenting its national position in July.

Eastern Cape NGO Coalition information officer Margaret Kusambiza said they wanted to "develop a civil society position to be used to lobby the SA government" in the build-up to the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) to be held in Durban in August.

Shupinyane said this morning: "I've been popping in at the various commissions and there is a strong sense of people saying that the United Nations has failed in its efforts to fight racism over the past three decades and that the UN must force its member states to implement UN resolutions.

"People are also saying that racism assumes many forms but the onslaught between white and black is a manifestation of poverty. Poverty is the source of intolerance and racism."

The organisers are to hold a press conference at the Regent Hotel in East London at 2pm today.