JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -- Ruling ANC party leader Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday that racism was still a major problem in South Africa, after a video in which white university students degraded black campus cleaners sparked outrage.

It showed white students feeding the workers soup they had earlier appeared to urinate in at the University of the Free State, provoking fury in a country scarred by apartheid.
University classes were cancelled and staff and students protested, demanding action against the four men. The video was released by South Africa's eTV television channel last week.
Zuma called for a non-racist future in South Africa.
""I have not yet had the opportunity to interact with the University of the Free State, the affected workers, accused students and their parents,"" he said.
""From media reports, we can say that what happened at the university last week is a stark reminder to all of us that you cannot defeat racism overnight. It is a struggle that we must all wage collectively to build a non-racial society.""
The populist ANC leader was delivering a speech at a forum hosted by the chief Rabbi of South Africa, Warren Goldstein.
Along with Nelson Mandela, Zuma was imprisoned on Robben Island for conspiring to overthrow white rule, spending 10 years in jail before going into exile in neighboring states.
He defeated South African President Thabo Mbeki in the race to lead the African National Congress in December.
Zuma is likely to become state leader in 2009 if he defeats corruption charges in a trial that starts in August.
""Very early on in our liberation struggle many white compatriots joined the growing ranks of the oppressed people in the struggle against apartheid,"" said Zuma in a copy of the speech released before scheduled delivery.
Zuma said the ANC would fight poverty but the state would focus on development, not welfare.
""Today the ANC is leading on the implementation of policies that will secure the growth of our economy and will eradicate poverty,"" he said.
""This cannot and must never exclude people who are willing to invest in the future of our country. We are a large economy on the African continent.""