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South Africa: Booklet Aims to Foster Nation-Building
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
24 July 2008
Posted to the web 24 July 2008
Edwin Tshivhidzo
Pretoria
A booklet which aims to engage the nation in a dialogue on issues of xenophobia, racism and tribalism and issues of reconciliation and nation-building was released to the public on Wednesday.
The publication forms part of the Freedom Park Trust's pledge to assist the country in building a nation free from intolerance, racism and tribalism.
Speaking at the launch of the booklet entitled With Eyes Focused on the African Century, Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom Park Trust, Dr Wally Serote urged South Africans to defend the country's hard earned democracy.
Mr Serote said: "Our research has identified a lack of knowledge and understanding as to where South Africa as a nation comes from as one of the main contributing factors to the xenophobic acts that swept the nation," he said.
Mr Serote said the attacks on people from other countries were an irresponsible act of violence.
The attacks, which broke out in Alexandra in May and spread to other areas of the country, left 62 people dead, scores injured and about 47 000 people displaced
Mr Serote said the younger generation should share in acute awareness of the significant role that other continental and international countries played in the freedom that we enjoy.
"Fostering of such understanding and appreciation will go a long way in facilitating mutual tolerance and respect," explained Dr Serote.
Also speaking at the launch was Professor Mashudu Mashige from the University of South Africa, who said the booklet seeks to examine the cause of the recent violence.
"While a number of possible reasons have been proffered and studies conducted to understand the social pathology of the said violence, there is no unanimity about the causes of the violence.
"The publication also highlights the reality that, within a context where there is competition for limited resources and service delivery, there is bound to be strife," he said.
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In honour of Dr Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday on 18 July, the Freedom Park Trust has dedicated the first copy of the booklet to Madiba.
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