Pretoria - Building on the World Cup success, ANC President Jacob Zuma said the ruling party must unite all South Africans around a common vision of a non-racial society, built on the values of equality and respect for a common humanity.
Delivering his January 8 Statement, Zuma said the promotion of unity and social cohesion continued to be a key goal of the ANC and its government.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup demonstrated how all South Africans could unite across race, class and gender divides in a common celebration as a South African people.
He said the tournament on African soil unleashed overwhelming patriotism. The country's rainbow flag and the Bafana Bafana jersey became the most popular items amongst South Africans.
The world will always remember the powerful images of the entire country clad in national colours on 11 June 2010, rooting for the national team while welcoming the world with open arms.
He said as part of the legacy of the World Cup and informed by the Polokwane conference resolutions, government has started integrating sport and physical education in the school curriculum, to build winning national teams of the future.
The provision of sport and recreational facilities in poor and rural communities must also receive priority. The ANC, he said, will fully support the rugby and cricket teams during the respective World Cup tournaments this year.
