President Cyril Ramaphosa in his letter from the President's Desk has focused on the need to make reconciliation a practical undertaking.

1. Dear FellowSouthAfrican,
Today,I will travel toBergvilleinKwaZulu-Nataltoobserve ournational Dayof Reconciliation.Itsays
much aboutour countrythat thisday, 16 December,markstwoeventsinourhistorythatare
enduringsymbolsof conflictandresistance.
We commemorate the epicbattle of 1838 on the banksof the Ncome River,andthe foundingof
Umkhontowe Sizwe onthe same day overa centurylater.These twohistorical eventsare of deep
significance;andnowsymbolicof ourabilitytotranscenda bitterlegacyandforge a new path.
As we take stockof howfar we have come inhealingthe divisionsof the pastandbuildingaunited
nation,we have muchto be proudof.
One needonlyobserve the outpouringof joywhenthe Springbokswonthe RugbyWorldCupin
Japanand whenour MissSouthAfricaZozibini Tunzi wascrownedMissUniverse.SouthAfricansof
all races tookto the streetsinan outpouringof national pride.
We see itelsewhere everyday.Inoursport that isnow desegregated,inourParliament,inour
transformedplacesof higherlearningandourschools,andon our televisionscreenswhere
programmingreflectsthe diversityof ournationandits languagesandcultures.
Racismand bigotryno longerdefineournation.Where theydooccur,theyare isolated.Where
there have beenmanifestationsof intolerance,we have beenabletounite behindthe valuesof
tolerance andrespectfordiversitythatdefineourBill of Rights.
Yet,we still have muchfurtherto go.
The SA ReconciliationBarometerSurvey2019, whichispublishedbythe InstituteforJustice and
Reconciliation,reportsthatavast majorityof SouthAfricansagree thatour countrystill needs
reconciliation.Atthe same time,justoverahalf of respondentsbelieve thatSouthAfricahasmade
progresswithreconciliationsince 1994.
Accordingto the survey,mostrespondentsagree thatreconciliationisimpossibleaslongas
corruptioncontinues,political partiessow division,those whowereaffectedbyapartheidcontinue
to be poor, gender-basedviolence remains,we continue touse racial categoriestomeasure
transformation,andracisminour societyremainsunaddressed.
Thisconfirmsthat true reconciliationisnotonlyaboutsocial cohesion.Itisalsoaboutpolitical and
economictransformation.
Since we attainedourdemocracyour people have demonstratedtime andagaintheirimmense
capacityto lookbeyondsuperficial differencesinthe questtoachieve true nationhood,andwithit,
embrace a fullerhumanity.

2. Thisis notto diminishthe impactof the past.The SouthAfricaof today still suffersfromthe effects
of centuriesof discrimination,dispossessionandunequal development.
As the authorWilliamFaulknerfamouslywroteof the AmericanSouth:“The pastisnot deadand
buried.Infact,it isn’tevenpast.”
We mustaddressthe unfinishedbusinessof ourdemocratictransition.We mustclose the festering
woundof inequalitythatexistsbetweenourpeople.We mustforge aheadwithlandreformand
social development.We mustcontinue totransformourworkplacesandrestructure oureconomyso
it benefitsall.
In thissense,reconciliationisaverypractical undertaking.Itisaboutthe work thatneedstobe done
to unlockinvestmentinoureconomy,toreduce the costof doingbusinessandtopromote growth.
It isabout the urgentmeasureswe needtotake to ensure areliable supplyof electricitytohomes
and businesses.Itisaboutensuringthatourscarce waterresourcesare preservedandequally
available toall.
Reconciliationmeansthatwe shouldcontinuetouse the capabilityof the state toimprove the lives
of the poor,to have a tax regime thatisprogressive andpublicfinancesthatare responsibly
managed.
Reconciliationalsorequiresthatwe reduce the massive inequalitiesinaccesstoqualityhealthcare
through,amongotherthings,the introductionof aNational HealthInsurance.We needtoimprove
the qualityof educationintownshipandrural schoolsinparticularandensure thatthere isuniversal
attendance inearlychildhooddevelopmentcentre.
We will continue toseekoutandforge durable social compactstoattainour visionof a SouthAfrica
that has beenfundamentallytransformed.We mustall playourpart if we are to bequeathtoour
children asocietythathas trulyreconciled.
As the IrishNobel Peace Laureate MaireadMaguire hassaid:“It istime to put aside egos,individual
and collective,forthe sake of the youth.”
Let usmake a concertedefforttomove forwardtogether,focusingonwhat unitesusinsteadof
whatdivides.
Let usreach out to eachotheron thisday, duringthisReconciliationMonth,andthroughoutthe
year.
I wishyouall well overthe festiveseasonandall the bestforthe new year.
Bestwishes,