Zuma urges unity after Terre'Blanche murder
2010-04-04 20:25
Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma
on Sunday urged politicians to
show unity and responsibility following the murder of AWB leader Eugene
Terre'Blanche.
Terre'Blanche, 69, was bludgeoned to death at his
Ventersdorp farm on Saturday evening. Two farm workers have been
charged with the murder.
"It is our responsibility to denounce the crime and stay away from statements that might reverse nation building and racial cohesion," Zuma said in a special public address.
He said political leaders must "think" before they make statement, which could be "misunderstood".
"This happening must indeed say to us as leaders; we need to think before we make statements in public that might be misunderstood to be encouraging the opposite of what we are trying to do to build our new nation."
Terre'Blanche's
murder has come in the midst of controversy around ANC Youth League
president Julius Malema's singing of a traditional ANC struggle song,
containing lyrics calling for people to "shoot the boer".
Calm
needed
Afrikaans civil organisation, AfriForum last week
was successful in a court application to prevent Malema from singing the
song.
They claimed the song incited violence against white
farmers in the country.
On Sunday night, Zuma said calm needed to
prevail in South Africa. "All leaders who lead this country, from
different political formations and non-governmental organisations,
should unite in the call for calm.
"Those who are close to
Terre'blanche, they must be feeling a pain, but it is time that we have
got to exercise our leadership responsibility to make this country
unite"
Zuma said Terre'blanche's murder was cowardly.
"I
condemn this cowardly act and the murder of Mr Terre'blanche. It's not
acceptable in our society. In due course we will know what it is that
led to this terrible action."
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SAPA
- SAPA
