Zuma: Jesus must come again to deal with us & cleanse us

The president called for divine intervention, saying pastors must ask Jesus to 'change his plan'.

JOHANNESBURG - President Jacob Zuma says the country has lost its moral compass and society has more sinners now compared to decades ago when he was still a young man.

Zuma today launched this year's 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign in Reiger Park on the East Rand.

The president called for divine intervention, saying pastors must ask Jesus to "change his plan" and come down to earth once again to deal with the high number of sinners.

"We don't know when Jesus is coming to fetch us. When he was still on earth the sinners were not as many as they are now. He must come again to deal with us and cleanse us. "

Zuma said this year's campaign is reaching out to men and boys to become activists against gender-based violence.

He said communities must also get involved by working with police to eradicate alcohol and drug abuse which plays a part in most of these crimes.

There has been outrage in the Reiger Park area over the past year following the murders of three children.

In June, four-year-old Taegrin Morris was dragged by his mother's vehicle in Reiger Park and was later found dead next to the abandoned car.

Just two months later, the partially burnt body of three-year-old Cuburne van Wyk was discovered in an abandoned field after he disappeared for several days.

Ten-year-old Siphamandla Madikane died last November after being suffocated.

ZUMA URGES VICTIMS TO SPEAK OUT

The president encouraged victims of domestic violence to speak out even if it's against their own family members.

Zuma said men and community leaders have a significant role to play in fighting domestic abuse.

He said parents and the community also have an important role to play in protecting children from criminals.

Zuma said it's time for women to speak out against their attackers in order to protect others from falling victim to the same attacker.

Earlier the president lashed out at the criminals who killed children in the Reiger Park area in recent months, calling them cold-hearted and inhumane.

"We can't win this war alone, to protect children, we need the support of families and parents."

Zuma said the country has the Constitution and several laws in place to protect women and children but that alone is not good enough.

The president said Morris's murder was heartless, terrible and uncalled for.

The president and various departments have signed a pledge which aims to work together with communities to bring an end to violence and abuse of vulnerable groups.

Yesterday, Gauteng Premier David Makhura visited the families to update them on their childrens' cases.