admin“Our society is very angry. When people quarrel, they kill one another. Taking the life of a human being has become very simple,” he said at an interfaith dialogue in Cape Town.
He said people also demonstrated their anger by burning community halls, libraries and other public property.
“That is an anger which is abnormal. It needs collective leadership.”
Zuma acknowledged that a “horrific past” had caused much unresolved pain.
“There was never enough time to cry or mourn in 1994, as we had to start working immediately to build a new country. Also, the message, correctly then, was for people to move on.”
He called on citizens to complete the healing process by channelling their anger towards solutions.
“The task to remove anger, violence, crime and immorality is in the hands of all of us.”
The government’s “potent” tool to resolving conflict remained constructive dialogue with various sectors of society.
It also relied on the work of many religious leaders to instil morals and values.
Zuma called on religious leaders to pray for government.
“You are charged by God to do so,” he said.
The president was welcomed at the Good Hope Centre on Tuesday by hundreds of singing members from different faiths and backgrounds, including Christianity, Islam, Rasta and the Khoisan.
Politics was not left out of the event, and political songs praising Zuma and the African National Congress echoed the centre.
Many called for Zuma to serve a second term.
Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of young South Africans think Zuma should accept DA leader Helen Zille’s challenge to a debate, according to a survey released on Monday.
“Young people are eager to see Zuma and Zille publicly debate South Africa’s politics,” said Shirley Wakefield, of consumer insights company Pondering Panda.
Sixty-four percent of respondents said Zuma should accept Zille’s challenge, while 27 percent said he would be wasting his time. Nine percent were unable to decide.
Earlier last month, Zille called on Zuma to debate the state of the economy. Zuma turned her down.
Pondering Panda polled 2 874 respondents between the ages of 18 and 34, across South Africa. All interviews were conducted on cellphones with Mxit users between 22 and 24 October
When broken down by race, 77 percent of whites, 81 percent of coloureds, and 74 percent of Indians felt Zuma should accept Zille’s challenge. This compared to 61 percent of blacks.
When asked who they would like to have as their next president, 32 percent chose Zuma and 24 percent Zille. However, 36 percent rejected both candidates and eight percent were unable to decide.
Most whites (62 percent) and coloureds (53 percent) said they would rather see Zille as the next president.
In contrast, 38 percent of blacks and 41 percent of Indians favoured neither candidate.
“If our leaders want to win the youth vote, public debates are something they will need to embrace to do so,” said Wakefield.
“Our survey also shows that young people lack confidence in both candidates, something that a debate could help change.” — Sapa
Online Reporter