Zuma says Africa should be left alone
President Jacob Zuma says the rest of the world should stop interfering in Africa's business.
"We believe the time has come that those who did not allow Africa to grow at its own pace, they should now give Africans an opportunity to handle their own things. We must be left to manage our own affairs," says Zuma.
President Zuma addressed the Africa Day celebrations at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
The president says the instruments of global governance must change.
"We continue to call for the reform of the UN Security Council to include Africa," says President Zuma.
"The membership of the UN Security Council must reflect the fact that Africa is now made up of independent countries and not colonies. The whole system of international governance should thus be much more democratic and rules-based."
President Zuma says Africa needs resources to develop.
"It is of serious concern, therefore, that billions of dollars are taken away from the continent illegally by multinational corporations," says President Zuma.
"These illicit financial flows deprive Africa of the much-needed economic resources to uplift her economies in order to provide basic services, build infrastructure, provide basic health care, access to affordable and quality education and other social services."
President Zuma says South Africa remains committed to continue supporting efforts and initiatives by the international community to combat these financial crimes committed against Africa.