‘We are sick’ – Zuma

When President Jacob Zuma gave his key note address during the official Freedom Day Celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, he said although South Africa can be blamed for recent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, Africa needs to also look at the opinion that many of these foreign nationals South Africa believe the country is the safest. ‘

He said, “Many say they come to South Africa because the country has a constitution which not only protects its citizens but also those who came to live in it.”

President Zuma began his address by remembering April 27, 1994 as the day South Africa held its first democratic elections, signalling the end of racist apartheid rule.

Speaking about the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, Zuma lamented the deaths of three South Africans who were killed in Durban, Ayanda Dlamini, Thabo Mzobe, and Msawenkosi Dlamini.

Zuma said, “We strongly condemn these attacks. They have no place in a democracy where people are free to express their unhappiness about any issue.

“We also urge our communities to isolate criminal elements who perpetuate such horrendous crimes against fellow human beings. They should be reported to the police.”

The president said, “We are celebrating our triumph over institutionalised racism, repression, state-sponsored violence and the enforced division of our people based on race or ethnicity.”

He later condemned the manner in which apartheid taught many South Africans to behave. According to Zuma, the violent nature in which South Africans protest it is due to the manner which people protested during apartheid.

“When workers protest, they usually take sticks with them and hit the next person they come across, even if that person is not the cause of the problem,” Zuma explained.

As South Africa enters what is termed the second phase of transformation, the country has to deal with the following challenges need to be address.

1. The high level of unemployment rate in the country
2. The quality of school education for black people is poor.
3. Infrastructure is poorly located, inadequate and under-maintained.
4. The public health system could not meet the demand of our people or sustain quality.
5. Public services were uneven and often of poor quality.
6. Crime and corruption levels were high.
7. South Africa remained a divided society.

President Zuma believes the National Development Plan which was drafted by the National Planning Commission will play an important role in addressing these issues.

The president also extended condolences to the family of our celebrated football star, John “Shoes’’ Moshoeu who was laid to rest when on Freedom Day.

“We are Africans and we are proud of our African identity. We must continue to live in peace and harmony with our brothers and sisters from the continent,” President Zuma concluded.

“Where problems arise, they must be resolved peacefully and constructively. Let us also continue to embrace unity among ourselves as South Africans, and work together to build a better South Africa, as we enter the third decade of freedom and democracy.”