Parliament - South Africans should be active citizens and help in building a common national identity and patriotism, President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.
"Our shared value system should encourage us to become active citizens in the renewal of our country. We must build a common national identity and patriotism," the president said at his first State of the Nation address.
He said the country's citizens should develop a common attachment to the country and its national symbols adding that government will promote the National Anthem and flag.
Mr Zuma said children from an early age must be taught to pay allegiance to the country's Constitution and national symbols as well as knowing what it means to be a South African.
On the matter of the changing of geographic and place names, the president said government will ensure a national approach to this.
"This must provide an opportunity to involve all South Africans in forging an inclusive national identity, to deepen our understanding of our history and heritage," said the president.
Mr Zuma said sport was powerful nation building tool adding that the country should support all national teams from Bafana Bafana to the Proteas, Springboks, Banyana Banyana and Paralympians.
The president also took the opportunity to congratulate the national teams for their performance in the past week.
"The country's women's netball team has done us proud by winning the Tri-Nations Netball Challenge. Congratulations to the Sevens Springboks who have become the IRB Sevens World Series Champions and not forgetting the Blue Bulls who have won the Super 14 finals in a convincing fashion," said Mr Zuma.
