No issue must be ”taboo” for debate in South Africa if its people want to succeed with reconciliation and nation-building, African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.
”Debate in the country must be promoted,” Zuma said in delivering the annual public management commemorative lecture on reconciliation and nation-building at the University of the Free State.
”In the new democracy we must address nation building and reconciliation. We need political analysts, politicians, academics to debate issues.”
Zuma, who was welcomed with the singing of his now trademark song, Umshini Wami, said issues like those of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission ”as seen in recent past” should be addressed.
”How do we respond to this unfinished business? Is it to haunt us in future? I pray that it does not undo what was done in the past.”
Zuma said although the South African society was diverse ”we need not shy away from these issues”.
The ANC deputy president told students and academics that a culture of patriotism had to be strengthened among all South Africans.
He asked academics to look at how patriotism could be encouraged at school level and in academic institutions or, ”whether, we talk about that subject at all?”
Zuma said other subjects like race and race relations should also be topics of constant debate as they was used by some as an ”excuse”.
”If we are not conscious of this [race relations] and we do not speak about it, it will never end,” he said to loud applause.
The university was recently in the news after protests by campus groups over its new hostel residential policy for next year, formulated under its transformation policy.
Zuma said institutions such as universities should put more emphasis on subjects such as ethnicity, race and race relations to simulate the debate.
”Diversity is strength not a weakness. We must positively utilise our potential to advance our reconciliation and nation building,” he said.
Zuma concluded his speech to huge applause when he indicated he was ready to debate any subject, saying: ”I’m ready to be challenged.” – Sapa