President cancels visit to Indonesia to attend to domestic matters
18 April 2015
President Jacob Zuma has cancelled his visit to Indonesia in order to attend to matters at home relating to the attacks on foreign nationals.
President Zuma was due to leave for Indonesia this evening 18 April 2015 for a State Visit and to attend the Africa-Asia Summit and the commemoration of the historic summit in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 which brought together Africa and Asia to push forward the struggle for liberation and self-determination.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will replace the President in Indonesia.
The President is to lead a stakeholder outreach programme in the country next week. Ministers and Deputy Ministers will also engage South Africans and stakeholders next week in an Imbizo and stakeholder programme leading up to Freedom Day, 27 April. The meetings will be focused on strengthening the existing support for peace and peaceful co-existence among all peace loving South Africans while also listening to concerns being raised by some communities.
Today, 18 April 2015, the President will visit the displaced foreign nationals in Chatsworth in Durban at 16h00. His programme for the rest of the week will be communicated in due course.
The President once again expresses his condemnation of the attacks on foreign nationals and has urged the police to continue working round the clock to protect communities and bring perpetrators to book.
The President thanks the South African public and the South African media for coming out against xenophobia and the attacks on foreign nationals in various parts of the country in many campaigns.
He also thanks the international community including the African Union and the United Nations, for support during this difficult period for the country.
“We reiterate our message that there can be no justification for the attacks on foreign nationals. These attacks go against everything we believe in. The majority of South Africans love peace and good relations with their brothers and sisters in the continent. We will engage stakeholders next week as we need all leaders to work together to bring the situation to normality. Working together we will be able to overcome this challenge,’’ said the President.
Statement issued by Mac Maharaj, The Presidency, April 18 2015
Update:
President Zuma calls on churches to pray for peace and friendship
18 April 2015
President Jacob Zuma has called upon all churches to lead the nation in praying for peace and friendship tomorrow, 19 April 2015, after a few areas in the country experienced violence against foreign nationals.
The President said the majority of South Africans believe in peace, unity and friendship and have nothing to do with the sporadic incidents of violence that have taken place.
“We humbly request our religious leaders nationwide to send out a message of peace and friendship to all our people. South Africans have lived in peace with foreign nationals for years. We know that the majority of our people believe in human rights and peace and that they respect the dignity of all who live in our country. They know that where there are concerns and differences, these should be resolved the South African way, through dialogue, and not through violence and intimidation. We will work with all peace loving South Africans and foreign nationals to promote peaceful co-existence, solidarity and friendship," said the President.
The President cancelled his visit to Indonesia in order to lead the nation in promoting peace, unity and togetherness among South Africans and foreign nationals.
He visited displaced foreign nationals in Chatsworth and also the community of Umlazi in Durban earlier today, 18 April 2015.
Statement issued by Mac Maharaj, The Presidency, April 18 2015
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