Tomorrow, we mark the twentieth anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison.
On this historic occasion, every South African should pause to reflect on the achievements of the last twenty years. And, unavoidably, we should stop to think about what we could have done better, where problems remain, and how we can solve them.
This will be the central task of President Zuma in his State of the Nation address tomorrow. I look forward to seeing the substance of his speech beyond the symbolism of Nelson Mandela's release.
What we must not allow is for the symbolism to trump the substance. This is clearly what the timing and theme of the State of the Nation address ('Celebrate the legacy of Mandela - Contribute to Nation-Building') is designed to do.
The great irony is that the more the ANC diverges from Nelson Mandela's vision, the more it seeks to appropriate it. The illusion is created that the ANC under Jacob Zuma is the same as the ANC under Nelson Mandela.
It is not.
Nelson Mandela, above all else, was a constitutionalist. He believed, in his own words, that the Constitution was a "sacred covenant". He knew that South Africa would only succeed if the powerful remained bound by the Constitution.
Jacob Zuma and his inner circle in the ANC are not constitutionalists. They believe, in Zuma's own words, that "the ANC is more important than even the Constitution of this country." They are more interested in amassing power for themselves than the success of South Africa.
The ANC under Jacob Zuma has already destroyed the independence of the National Prosecuting Authority so that he could become President without having to answer charges of bribery, corruption, and racketeering. The independence of the judiciary and the media are in the ANC's sights. And, if the ANC has its way, it will destroy the relative autonomy of provinces and municipalities, so that it can impose its will even in places where the ANC does not govern.
As we remember Nelson Mandela's release from prison and the chain of events that followed, let us be mindful of the fragility of the covenant he bequeathed us. Let us remember that, without Nelson Mandela's leadership, we would not have a Constitution today. More importantly, let us remember that, unless we all commit ourselves to honouring Mandela's true legacy, we may not have a Constitution tomorrow.
Statement issued by Helen Zille, Democratic Alliance leader, February 10 2010
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