There is no contradiction between President Zuma and Minister Manuel

11 April 2013

The Presidency has noted the knee-jerk reaction of the media each time any member of Cabinet mentions the legacy of apartheid (see report).

There is no contradiction between what President Jacob Zuma and Minister Trevor Manuel said about the legacy of apartheid.

Stating that the apartheid legacy and impact still exist and will linger on for a long time does not mean that the President is saying that public servants should use it to excuse laziness and incompetence.

The point President Zuma made is that it is impossible to reverse the legacy of apartheid in only 20 years. Having said that, he then emphasised that it must take a shorter period to reverse the impact and called upon public servants and political leadership in government to work harder and faster to bring about a better life.

He said; "While wanting to see change happening fast in every corner of the country, we are under no illusion that South Africa will automatically and comprehensively change in only 20 years. That is impossible. The legacy of apartheid runs too deep and too far back for the democratic administration to reverse it in so short a period. However, as leaders and public servants in this fourth administration, we must work harder and faster and more efficiently, to ensure that true freedom reaches the poor and working class in a shorter time than colonialism and apartheid took to render them pariahs in the land of their birth....We must honour the memory of Comrade Chris through delivering the better life for all that he believed in, as quickly as possible, working with our people".

Minister Manuel has also emphasised that public servants should work faster and more efficiently to ensure the improvement of the lives of all.

Unfortunately, 99 percent of the President's speech, a tribute to national hero Chris Hani and what his legacy means was ignored in favour of the apartheid denialist reporting.

The Presidency reiterates that we should not promote a culture of secrecy and denial around the legacy of apartheid colonialism and what it did to the country.

The impact of 300 years of apartheid and colonialism will be felt for many years to come and since 1994 government has been working to reverse it. However, stating this fact, does not excuse laziness and inefficiency. 

Statement issued by Mac Maharaj, The Presidency, April 11 2013

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