President Jacob Zuma has hit back at critics who said his ANC centenary speech lacked details.

Delivering the public lecture on the legacy of the ANC's first president, John Langalibalele Dube, Zuma said pressure from "gifted people" would not force him to stop celebrating the party's leaders.

"I've heard very gifted people saying that the ANC is saying nothing about its future and [is] just talking about its glory. Who cannot celebrate 100 years?"

Zuma came under criticism last week for his speech at the ANC centenary celebrations in Mangaung, Free State.

In his address yesterday at the packed Etti Rossouw Theatre in Sasolburg, Free State, Zuma called on parents to play a meaning role in the education of their children and asked teachers to reclaim their standing in society.

He said education and respect should be part of everyday life.

". a person can be educated, but if there is no understanding of another human being then we are as good as uneducated," he said.

Zuma said Dube had laid an impressive foundation of "selflessness and sacrifice" that had stood the test of time.

"He was not perfect. No human being is. But he did the best he could under the circumstances to take the struggle forward and keep the ANC together."

In honour of Dube's legacy, Kings House in Durban, which accommodates Zuma and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe would be renamed Dr John Dube House, Zuma announced.

A trade port would be launched in Dube's honour.

Dube's grandson Langa said the family was honoured to see their grandfather celebrated.

"It's an honour for us to see his legacy, teaching and efforts being recognised. We are also humbled by the president and what he said today about my grandfather."

Langa said there were plans to restore the Ohlange school his father founded to its former glory.

Zuma said Dube's involvement in national politics had not been an easy decision as he had had other demanding responsibilities. "Ohlange and Ilanga [newspaper] both needed his time."

Dube's presidency had faced its major challenge when the Natives Land Act of 1913 was enacted.

"Dube was angered by this sheer callousness"

Zuma said although Dube had been replaced by Sefako Mapogo as president, he had remained an active member of the ANC.

Zamani Jali, chairman of the Dube Foundation, told the packed hall that Dube had fostered education among the youth and this had led him to built the famous Ohlange school.

The standard of education at the high school had deteriorated, but efforts were being made to rebuild Dube's eduction legacy, Jali said. - Additional reporting by Kingdom Mabuza