Boksburg - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says Gauteng must take the lead in the fight against xenophobia in the country.
“As the province with the largest number of immigrants, Gauteng must lead the way in combating xenophobia in all its manifestations.
“The people of this province must, through their actions, underscore the fact that foreign nationals pose no threat to our desire for social cohesion nor do they present any impediment to the achievement of a common South African nationhood,” he said.
The Deputy President was speaking at the Gauteng Provincial Social Cohesion Summit in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, on Friday.
Between 2000 and March 2008, at least 67 people were killed in what was identified as xenophobic attacks. In May 2008, riots left 62 people dead, although 21 of those killed were South African citizens.
Deputy President Ramaphosa said government is investing heavily in promoting social cohesion.
“Government has embarked on a bold programme in education, health, infrastructure development, women and youth empowerment, rural development with a singular intention of moving South Africa forward and enhancing social cohesion.
“As government, we seek to work with all social partners to create an enabling environment for inclusive economic growth and job creation,” he said.
He said social cohesion can best be realised in a country in which all social partners work together to ensure that all people are educated and have skills, in which all are employed, where all feel safe and secure and enjoying a decent standard of living.
“We need to act together, consciously and deliberately, to ensure that the differences and discord of the past do not define our future. Active citizenry is the cornerstone for achieving this vision,” he said.
Deputy President Ramaphosa said every South African needs to see themselves as a leader and a nation builder.
“Every South African has the ability to lead, they have the ability to set an example to be honest, compassionate, and trustworthy and demonstrate integrity.
The Deputy President said South Africans should learn each other’s languages, understand, respect, promote and celebrate each other’s cultures and be tolerant to those who hold views they do not agree with.
He urged citizens to fight crime and corruption by not turning their homes and streets into safe havens for criminals.
“We must not buy stolen goods, we must not pay bribes, and we must not take something that does not belong to us. We must always remember that our sense of nationhood is founded on an appreciation of the essential humanity of all people,” he said.
Race relations
Gauteng Premier David Makhura said racial attitudes are hardening and there is a growing mistrust between blacks and whites, and that “non-racialism is becoming an elusive dream, where the two racial groups feel they can never trust each other”.
He said there is an increasing negative sentiment against foreign nationals across race and class. He urged the summit to deliberate on and develop a programme to address all the socio-economic ills plaguing the province.
“One thing we know is that as South Africans, we are very resilient. The more challenges we face, the more determined we become to triumph. We shall overcome. We remain unshaken to build Gauteng into a province [that is a] beacon of an equal, just and inclusive society,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za
