'Play your role in making SA attractive to investors'

"We should all play our role to make our country attractive to both local and international investors so that the economy can grow and create jobs," said the president.

He added that people must stop talking the economy and the country down, but rather be ready to highlight and acknowledge the achievements of our democracy when making assessments.

He was speaking at the national Human Rights Day celebrations in Mbekweni, near Paarl on Thursday, 21 March 2013.

The theme of this year's celebrations was "United in advancing socio-economic freedom for all" because the goal was to promote the idea of socio-economic freedom for all South Africans.

"It also highlights the advanced nature of our Constitution which recognises more than just political and civil rights. This was based on the understanding that civil and political rights mean little if they are not accompanied by tangible socio-economic rights."

These rights included housing, health care and the right to favourable working conditions.

Because of the deliberate policies of apartheid era governments, a huge backlog had built up. While this would not be reversed overnight, Zuma pledged that government would not rest until every household had access to water, electricity, sanitation and other services.

Zuma said there had been unfortunate incidents involving the police recently, including the Marikana mining tragedy. While he would not comment on the incident because a commission of enquiry was sitting, the President re-affirmed government's commitment to building a police service that respected the rights of all South Africans.

"Today we re-affirm our commitment to build a police force service that respects the rights of all South Africans."

A total of 200 000 men and women were working in the South African Police Service. Not all of them should be condemned because of the actions of a few, Zuma said, as he urged all South African to support the police in their work.

"We must support them as well as their efforts to root out rotten apples from their ranks who engage in criminal action including corruption."

Statistics showed there was an annual decline in serious crimes. Crimes against women and children remained serious; although the perpetrators were being caught and punished.

"We trust that this will serve as a deterrent. For example, in the past financial year, police secured over 363 life sentences, with a conviction rate of over 70 percent for crimes against women and girls."

On government's social assistance programme, Zuma said the Constitution also recognised social security among socio-economic rights.

Government has increased the number of people receiving grants from 2.7 million in 1994 to 16 million to date. Among these recipients were 2.9 million older people, while 11.5 million were recipients of the Child Support Grant.

"Social grants are government's most effective poverty alleviation programme."

Today's celebrations fell on the same day as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, proclaimed in 1966 by the United Nations in memory of the 69 people killed in 1960 when the South African police opened fire on protestors.

Marking national days enabled the country to reflect on its unfortunate past. "We reflect and draw lessons to build a better and united future."