Pravin Gordhan: SA needs to wake up

Speaking during Heritage Day celebrations at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Gordhan said the time has come for South Africans to take responsibility in creating a better country for future generations.

"We've got to wake up. The alarm went off and the sleep is over. The time has come to rededicate ourselves to rebuilding this wonderful democracy that we've dreamt of to another stage," Gordhan said.

He added that South Africa has made remarkable progress over the past 22 years but added that the current political situation overshadows the successes over the past two decades.

"We can say with pride that our country has made remarkable progress over the past 22 years of our democracy and because there is a lot of noise at the moment, don't ever believe that we aren't a remarkable country," He said.

Gordhan said that it is not only citizens who are losing trust in government leaders but also the international community and that this is not good for investment.

"The public, throughout the world and in South Africa, is losing trust in us - that we are not here to work for them but enrich ourselves. This distrust which many leaders spoke about at the G20 summit in China, can lead to all sorts of phenomenon,"

Gordhan warned.

He also touched on the current student protests for free education, saying that there is an urgent need for opportunities for the youth of South Africa.

"I know there is some young people here who would love for me to say "free education" - but better and affordable education is urgent," the minister said.