Durban- South Africans have been encouraged to learn the values and importance of peace in order to live in a non-racial South Africa.
During the national Human Rights Day celebrations in Durban on Monday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga handed over the Torch of Peace to Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha to use to teach people about the values of peace.
She said the Basic Education Department has been using the torch of peace in schools to educate children about non-racialism and the importance of peace in their lives. She said this was an essential principle for all South Africans to learn.
Addressing the crowd gathered at Moses Mabhida Stadium, President Jacob Zuma said government chose the theme “South Africans United Against Racism for Human Rights Day” due to the need to continue working together to eliminate racism and its manifestations in the country.
“Our mission since 1994 is to create a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa. This is the task of every South African.
“Earlier this year, our country experienced explosions of anger due to racist utterances and writings which reminded South Africans that the vestiges of white supremacy and racism still exist in some sections of society,” said President Zuma.
He said it became clear that there are people who still yearn for the past where black people were treated like second class citizens because of their skin colour.
“We know that the majority of South Africans abhor racism and racial discrimination. That is why our theme correctly says that we are united against racism.
“The struggle against apartheid was in the main a struggle against racism, which is the notion that one group of people is better than others, and is superior to others simply because of their skin colour,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu said Human Rights Day was an important day for all South Africans in all sectors of society - from rural to urban areas and across various races and economic classes.
He said government condemns any form of racism which may be directed to any member of society.
“The colour of today’s South Africa is one. It is non-racialism,” said the Premier. - SAnews.gov.za
