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President Cyril Ramaphosa called for unity and building bridges in his Reconciliation Day address to the nation, while acknowledging the racial tensions that have erupted in some parts of the country recently.
He specifically mentioned recent events in Senekal in the Free State, at Eldorado Park in Gauteng and at Brackenfell in Cape Town, adding that race relations “remain fragile.”
Ramaphosa said that while the day should be used to “remember the injustices of our history,” it is seen as one in which we “affirm our collective responsibility to build a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist society.”
However, some opposition political parties have also seized the opportunity to dismiss the notion of a unified nation, citing polarized racial lines, inequality and history.
‘Designed to be gardeners and servants’
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), in a statement, said the day marked the anniversary of when “the racist Afrikaner Voortrekkers waged a war against the Zulu nation, defeating the king of the native peoples of Africa, King Dingaan (sic). “.
The party added that “there is nothing reconciling in a day in which the dispossession of land was promoted by a people with rights who came to Africa and established themselves as a superior race.”
He said reconciliation has failed in South Africa due to poverty and lack of access to land.
“A country whose wealth remains in the hands of a racial minority, whose land remains in the hands of a few and in which blacks are designed to be gardeners and maids can never reconcile with themselves,” the statement read.
‘It will remain Geloftedag’
Freedom Front Plus leader Dr. Pieter Groenewald, in turn, insisted that he will continue to celebrate the day as Vow Day (Geloftedag) and not as Reconciliation Day, due to the importance of the day in history. from Afrikaner.
Speaking in Ventersdorp, Groenewald reminded his audience of the battle between the Afrikaner Voortrekkers and the Zulu warriors of Dingane on Blood River, urging them to defend themselves against a supposed “invisible enemy”.
This enemy, he said, was an attack on African culture and language.
ALSO READ: ‘What day of Reconciliation? Dis Geloftedag ‘, says Groenewald of FF +
‘What are we celebrating?’
The leader of the Democratic Alliance, John Steenhuisen, in his message, began by asking “what exactly are we celebrating”.
The South African unit, Steenhuisen said, was being threatened by political parties such as the EFF and the ANC.
“And on the opposite side of the political spectrum you will find parties equally eager to capitalize on any growing mistrust and resentment.
“The tense clashes in places like Senekal and Brackenfell show how easy it is to stoke these sentiments and make citizens confront each other,” he said.
Steenhuisen added that only through unity can a single nation be built.
Ramaphosa’s war cry
Ramaphosa said that the support, encouragement and solidarity experienced in society during the pandemic has been inspiring. This included helping those in need, distributing food packages, donating to the Solidarity Fund, among other gestures and actions.
“The year 2020 is one of the most challenging that our young democracy has faced.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has brought great difficulties and incalculable suffering to millions of people.
“All South Africans, black and white, have come together to confront this grave threat …
“Perhaps since the advent of democracy in 1994 we have not stood together as a united nation, united by empathy, compassion and our common humanity.”
Ramaphosa said that reconciliation and social and economic transformation did not simply depend on the government, but should be a collective effort.
“It is up to all the social partners to drive the change that we need and want to see in this country,” he said, adding that all citizens were South African, regardless of their ethnicity, economic status, religion or sexual orientation.
Additional reporting by Eric Naki.
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