During a visit to Hermanstad in Pretoria north on Tuesday, President Jacob Zuma said a national discussion about a common heritage will help the country deal with its past.
“We must make social cohesion a top priority. We must have a national discussion on a common heritage as we must reach a common understanding and tolerance of one another’s culture and history based on a thorough discussion and consensus,” said Zuma.
President Zuma was addressing hundreds of poor white people in Bethlehem informal settlement where he called all South Africans to actively debate about morality and common values.
“We will always urge all our people of all languages and beliefs to be tolerant of one another’s cultures, language and tradition,” said Zuma.
He said the recent furore over the “kill the Boer” freedom song was a symptom of divisions between different groups. The president said fostering social cohesion will be made a top priority because it was as important as service delivery.
Zuma was making his third visit to the area residents, previously residents raised issues relating to the lack of access to government programmes such as housing, medical care, social grants and electricity. The residents also complained the high crime rate in the area and unemployment.
The president noted with delight that there is a positive change in the area since his last visit in 2008; the City of Tshwane has made available a mobile health clinic that provides services to the community on a monthly basis.
“Our constitution guarantees that government services will be provided to all South Africans irrespective of race, religion or creed. Service delivery has no colour,” Zuma said.
Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa also announced that since the president’s visit to the informal settlement in July 2008, more than 47 households have been registered as indigents, meaning they do not have to pay for a proportion of municipal electricity and water.
According to Trade Union Solidarity, an estimated 450 000 white South Africans are living below the poverty line and their plight is worsening every year.
Deputy Derik Herman of Trade Union Solidarity accused government of neglecting poor white people and of applying reverse racism through policies such as the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and affirmative action.
But Zuma said respecting the rights of all citizens is an indisputable policy of government.
“We need to clarify affirmative action. Whatever we do, there is nothing we should do to create an impression that we are excluding people. Everything we do must not exclude,” he said to the cheering crowd.
“If there is a perception of exclusion, then we must correct it.”
Zuma was accompanied by ministers, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa and MECs.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
31 March 2010
