All South Africans have equal claim to the country, ANC president Jacob Zuma said on Saturday, just days after telling Afrikaners they were the only white group which was truly South African.

"This did not in any way mean that other white South Africans are not loyal or patriotic to the country, or that their contribution to this country is being questioned," he said.

Zuma was speaking in Pretoria during commemorations of the 30th anniversary of the execution of Umkhonto we Sizwe hero Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu

Nation-building was a top priority, he said, adding that the Freedom Charter and the constitution clearly stated that South Africa belonged to all who lived in it, black and white.

"We fought for a society in which all people would be afforded equal rights and be of equal worth. We remain fully committed to this ideal," said Zuma.

He was aware that "some white compatriots" had raised concerns over his remarks about Afrikaners' "deep-rooted affinity" for the country, with no other country outside South Africa that they could call home.

He had also referred to their outstanding contribution to the development of the country and reconciliation, he said.

All South Africans contributed

Zuma said all South Africans had contributed to the country's success in the past 15 years.

"We appreciate the role of Afrikaners in the same way that we have praised other minority groups be it the Jewish community, Hellenic, Portuguese, Italian, Indian or Coloured communities.

"We have met with all these communities at different stages and voiced our appreciation of their role and contribution.

"Our country derives enormous value from our collective wisdom and collective strength as South Africans, united in our diversity.

"We will continue to work together, all of us, black and white, English speaking or Afrikaans speaking, to build an even more prosperous, non-racial and united South Africa," he said.

'Divide and rule'

Earlier in the week, DA leader Helen Zille described Zuma's remark as a "well-known 'divide and rule' tactic, which authoritarian racist governments always use to divide their opponents".

Rather than flattering white Afrikaners, he had patronisingly tried to "curry favour" with them, outrageously insulting them, she said.

The implication of his message was: "By seeming to flatter, I can actually fool you all into forgetting about the corruption allegations against me. By pressing the ethnic button, I can also distract your attention from the ANC's power abuse."

At a meeting with representatives of Afrikaner agricultural, women's and cultural organisations, Zuma said that of all the white groups in South Africa, it was only the Afrikaners who were "truly South Africans in the true sense of the word".

Sapa