Giyani - President Jacob Zuma says violent protests are
undermining the freedom and democracy for which many people fought
and died.
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"Let me reiterate that our freedom was not free. It
was fought for and many lives were lost for its attainment," Zuma told the
crowd at the Giyani Stadium in Limpopo.
"We therefore have the collective responsibility to
defend it as South Africans with the same vigour as when we fought for
it."
Zuma said the country should unite and not allow anything
to threaten the freedom and democracy that was fought for. He called on people
to stop actions that undermined freedom, such as engaging in violence.
"For example, when people are angry, there is no
reason for them to burn factories as it happened in KwaSithebe in KwaZulu-Natal
recently. How do we call for job creation and then burn the very factories that
are supposed to provide jobs?
"Schools, trains, libraries, clinics are all built
to provide services and a better life. We must guard and protect these
facilities in our communities. It is shocking that some people destroy these
facilities so easily," said Zuma.
Building better
communities
He said people should report such destructive elements to
the police and work together to build better communities that jealously
guard all facilities that are built to make their lives better.
"People should protest peacefully and with dignity
in the democratic South Africa. We should isolate all those who promote
violence and anarchy. We know that some within our communities believe such
violence will make them popular, and try to use anarchy to build their
political careers. Let us not allow this to happen in our name," said Zuma.
"We worked hard to build this country as millions of
South Africans. It must not be destroyed by anarchists who have no interest in
our well-being."
He called on South Africans to be advocates for their
country and to market it. He admitted that the country faced challenges, but
that they were outweighed by the positives. He said party politics should not
impact on the South African brand.
"It should be possible for us to identify issues on
which we shall unite, no matter what, and not allow party political competition
to divide the nation. For example we should unite on celebrating the
achievements that South Africa has scored in 22 years socially, economically
and politically," he said.
"It is a fact that the country is a much better
place to live in now than it was before 1994," he added.
