Ramaphosa urges coloured communities to continue speaking up
President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the residents from several communities in the country for taking a stand against crime.
Ramaphosa has commended the thousands of residents from predominantly coloured areas for demonstrating against social ills.
He delivered the eight annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town on Tuesday evening.
"There will be no peace without equality and no reconciliation without justice," said Ramaphosa.
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Residents say they feel marginalised by government and have run out of patience regarding their demands for economic inclusion.
Several areas have been brought to a standstill following widespread protests and calls for a total shutdown.
"We welcome communities that speak out and take to the street when the need arises to declare that they will not be terrorised into silence by the criminals who are roaming our streets and shooting people at random."
Ramaphosa says "a social and moral regeneration" is urgently needed.
"We also commend communities that have taken action against social problems such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, domestic violence, gangsterism and organised crime."