De Klerk said it was important that African National Congress members attending the conference acted in the interests of the country, and not individuals.
De Klerk called for a return to the spirit of seeking reconciliation that prevailed in the country in the years immediately after 1994.
South Africa needed political leaders who could serve communities and "put their hands and their heads together in ensuring we tackle the challenges we face".
De Klerk said investors had been frightened by what they had seen happening in South Africa over the past 18 months.
They were also put off by reports of ‘unbridled’ corruption said DeKlerk.
Earlier, De Klerk said the main inequality divide in South Africa was no longer between blacks and whites, but between unionised and employed workers on the one hand, and unemployed on the other. It was also a divide "that the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) is determined to defend by vigorously opposing any efforts to make the labour market more flexible".
Another principal cause of inequality was the "catastrophic failure of our education system".
A total of 60% of those who left school did so without a matric, and those who passed matric did so with an average mark of less than 40%.
De Klerk also criticised the ruling party’s affirmative action and black economic empowerment policies.
Friday, 7 September 2012
Source: SAPA