Parliament - President Jacob Zuma raised combating lingering racism in South Africa as his first priority as he delivered his ninth State of the Nation Address on Thursday.
"There is a need to confront the demon racism," Zuma told a joint sitting of Parliament, as he turned to policy matters in the address that was delayed by heckling from the Economic Freedom Fighters and an extraordinary interjection by Cope leader Mosioua Lekota.
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Zuma said that in the last month racism had "reared its ugly head on social media" in a clear reference to the storm triggered by tweets by former Democratic Alliance member Penny Sparrow, who had called black people "monkeys".
He announced that March 21 - celebrated as Human Rights Day in South Africa - be dedicated to the promotion of non-racialism. It would be the start, he said, of a new programme dedicated to building an inclusive society.
"It will be used to lay the foundation for a long-term programme," he said.
Zuma's remarks came just months away from local government elections in which the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is widely expected to shed further support.
The presidency and the ANC have in recent weeks described mounting calls for him to leave office as an attempt by the opposition to create a regressive society where racism could flourish.
African News Agency