SA 'will not tolerate racism'
27/04/2008 12:47  - (SA)  

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SA faces 'new threat' SA 'not truly free' 'Freedom is an ongoing battle'

Cape Town - South Africans could not claim to be truly free when blatant racism still existed in society, President Thabo Mbeki said on Sunday.

He was addressing several thousand people at the national Freedom Day celebrations at Turfhall stadium in Cape Town.

"We are all people, we are all South Africans, and we must together fight racism," he said.

South Africans could not claim to be truly free when racism still reared its "ugly head" in institutions of higher learning, the media, the private sector and in boardrooms.

Mbeki also condemned what he called "xenophobic occurrences" in some communities in recent weeks.

"The public debate and widespread condemnation by the majority of our people of the racist incidents indicate that South Africans will not tolerate people who want to drag us back into the savagery of racism and apartheid."

Earlier a 21-gun salute and an air force flypast marked the official start of the celebrations.

Hundreds of members of the public cheered excitedly as two air force helicopters carrying large South African flags flew over the stadium, followed by fixed wing aircraft in formation.

- SAPA

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