- President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the stance of people during recent unrest in South Africa.
- He paid tribute to people who protected shops and malls from further looting.
- Ramaphosa also flagged the mental well-being of people caught up in the unrest.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the stance South Africans have taken against the recent unrest that caused massive destruction in parts of South Africa.
In his weekly letter, he likened the country's response to the heart-stopping rescue of a baby in Durban last week. The child's mother threw the child from a building to the safety of the outstretched arms of people in the street below.
"Last week, the BBC captured an iconic image that will in time come to symbolise what we as a nation stood for during a dark week in July 2021," he said of the image captured by cameraman Thuthuka Zondi.
"It was of 2-year-old Melokuhle Manyoni falling from a smoke-filled building in the Durban city centre that had been set alight by looters.
"The child's distraught mother threw her from the ledge in a desperate bid to save her life. Avoiding what could have been an unspeakable tragedy, the falling baby was caught by a group of people below and taken to safety.
"Over the past week our country was plunged into turmoil.
From The Desk of The President - Monday, 19 July 2021 - https://t.co/tjdZh1G59l Yesterday, we joined with people across the world in marking Nelson Mandela Day through acts of service and generosity. pic.twitter.com/f5O5oJHTLb
— Presidency | South Africa ???? (@PresidencyZA) July 19, 2021
"There were those who sought to destroy our constitutional order. But like baby Melokuhle, our democracy was rescued by the strong arms of the South African people.
"And in the wake of the destruction, the ideals for which Nelson Mandela worked and to which he devoted his life have galvanised our nation's spirit."
#UnrestSA: Map of affected areas | See all the locations affected in the unrests
Ramaphosa said Nelson Mandela Day on Sunday was spent "as a people who collectively embody the spirit of Nelson Mandela, perhaps as never before", rather than a country on its knees
"What I have seen in the last few days is a people united, resolute and determined to protect this country from anyone and anything that wants to destroy it."
"What they were not counting on was the enduring ability of South Africans to unite in the face of a common threat.
"This has always been our greatest strength as a nation, and it came to the fore."
He lauded people who guarded shops and malls against looters and the large team of volunteers who fanned out to help clean up after the devastating wave of looting in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini, the man who lead the community charge that protected Maponya Mall from being looted told President Cyril Ramaphosa that the last week has been hell for him. | @Lwandi_N https://t.co/VDNmofbI1P
— News24 (@News24) July 19, 2021
The president warned that the after-effects of the destruction would be felt for months to come, particularly by the poor.
He called on people to help with food relief, to support businesses in distress, and to help employees who were affected by the violence.
"We should continuously strive to give true meaning to the promise of equality and freedom for all by making every day Nelson Mandela Day, more now than ever," he said.