African leaders blasted

[caption id="attachment_79905" align="alignright" width="300"] FREEDOM OF SPEECH: Part of the crowd of thousands who attended the Freedom Day rally addressed by President Jacob Zuma at the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday Picture: ALON SKUY -[/caption] Citizens ‘forced to flee countries for better life’ PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma pulled no punches yesterday, telling other African leaders it was their fault South Africa was faced with the problem of illegal immigrants.

Zuma suggested his counterparts were failing to take care of their citizens, forcing them to flee to South Africa for safety and a better life.

He was speaking at the Freedom Day celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he also raised concerns about some serious allegations that needed the attention of the African Union (AU) and the South African Development Community (SADC).

Zuma refused to expand on these issues, saying he did not want to appear critical.

Instead, he would compile a report and submit it to both the AU and SADC.

“As much as we have a problem, our neighbouring countries contribute to this,” he said.

“It’s not useful to be critical of South Africa as if we mushroom these foreign nationals and then mistreat them.

“In a sense, everyone is critical of South Africa as if we manufactured the problem.

“But what caused them to be in South Africa? It’s a matter we can’t shy away from.”