South African president cancels visit to Indonesia

South African President Jacob Zuma has cancelled his visit to Indonesia in order to attend to matters at home relating to the attacks on foreign nationals, the Presidency said on Saturday.

Zuma was due to leave for Indonesia Saturday evening for a state visit and to attend the Africa-Asia Summit and the commemoration of the historic summit in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 which brought together Africa and Asia to push forward the struggle for liberation and self-determination.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will replace Zuma in Indonesia, presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said.

The president is to lead a stakeholder outreach program in the country next week. Ministers and deputy ministers will also engage South Africans and stakeholders next week in an Imbizo (consultation) and stakeholder program leading up to Freedom Day, on April 27, according to Maharaj.

The meetings will be focused on strengthening the existing support for peace and peaceful coexistence among all peace loving South Africans while also listening to concerns being raised by some communities, said Maharaj.

Later Saturday, Zuma will visit the displaced foreign nationals in Chatsworth in Durban, Maharaj said, adding that Zuma's program for the rest of the week will be communicated in due course.

"The President once again expresses his condemnation of the attacks on foreign nationals and has urged the police to continue working round the clock to protect communities and bring perpetrators to book," Maharaj said.

He said the president thanks the South African public and the South African media for coming out against xenophobia and the attacks on foreign nationals in various parts of the country in many campaigns.

Zuma also thanks the international community including the African Union and the United Nations, for support during this difficult period for the country, said Maharaj.

"We reiterate our message that there can be no justification for the attacks on foreign nationals. We will engage stakeholders next week as we need all leaders to work together to bring the situation to normality," Maharaj quoted Zuma as saying.