Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma on Thursday said the ideology of racism still remained “firmly entrenched” among some of the country’s population.
Zuma was addressing thousands of people who had attended the national Freedom Day celebration held in Manguzi, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Also in attendance was Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa who has been perceived in recent weeks as taking indirect swipes at Zuma as he criticised the cabinet reshuffle and called for a judicial inquiry into state capture.
However, Zuma and Ramaphosa presented a united front and were seen sharing jokes and laughing.
Zuma said in the fight against racism by the government the Department of Justice was finalising a national action plan “against racism and related intolerances”.
“This plan will give further clarity and guidance to the government on the fight against racism," he said.
"We have also recently published the prevention and combating of hate crimes and hate speech bill."
“Once it becomes law it will criminalise discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation and religion,” he said.
Zuma said the country needed to unite against racism and build a society that Oliver Tambo had spoken about.
He said the Freedom Day celebrations were dedicated to Tambo who had, along with others, contributed in various ways to the attainment of freedom, and helped move the country forward.
Zuma also acknowledged PAC leader Phillip Kgosana’s contribution to the Struggle and said he had been a “liberation stalwart”.
“On this Freedom Day we acknowledge his contribution and that of all who sacrificed for freedom.”
Zuma also spoke about radical economic transformation and said it was a “fundamental change in the structure, systems, institutions and patterns of ownership, management of control of the economy for the benefit of the majority."
“Black people are still economically disempowered and are dissatisfied with the economic gains from liberation.”
He said the level of inequality remained high and the pace of transformation in the workplace remained slow.