DISCOVERY INVEST LEADERSHIP SUMMIT SPEECH BY ANC TREASURER GENERAL MATHEWS PHOSA, SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE, JOHANNESBURG, JULY 22 2009

1. The question that we should pose as South Africans, as partners here today, but most of all, as leaders, is what is the South Africa that we want to visualize and wish for, tomorrow, and in the future.

2. Only if we have a clear vision of where we want to go can we allow that vision to powerfully propel us forward.

3. Our current situation is a challenging one: We have a young democracy and challenging socio-economic circumstances against a backdrop of a global economic downswing.

4. Against that background you have a political party that garnered 65% of the votes from the electorate three months ago, with the second most successful party almost 50% behind it.

5. That, in simple terms, means that you have a party with a very strong mandate to continue with the policies that it spelled out when it lead South Africa into democracy a mere fifteen years ago.

6. What it also spells out, in addition, is the fact that we now have an ANC government with a very strong mandate to effect the changes that we believe will transform us into the winning nation that the Mandela-De Klerk partnership symbolized for many of us.

7. We have five years to effect the changes that we, as the ANC, believe will make us a stronger, safer and wealthier nation.

8. The South Africa that I want and hope and pray for my children, and their children, are:

• A South Africa that provides jobs for all its people.
• A South Africa that is safer than it is now.
• A South Africa that becomes wealthier through value added partnerships.
• A South Africa that plays its' full role in the region, the continent, and globally. 
• A South Africa that, through its' government, provide world-class services to its citizens at all government levels.
• A South Africa where we live and embody the spirit of reconciliation and work towards the late Michael Jackson's expressed ideal of "It doesn't matter if you are black or white".

9. I have repeatedly stated that government can only be effective it is managed through partnerships.

10. Such solution-seeking partnership should exist between government and the opposition parties, government and business, government and labour, and government and organized civil society.

11. In saying that, it is also my understanding that such partnerships do not need to be cosy or over familiar, but the parties to such partnerships should have one goal in mind: How de we contribute substantially to this country that belongs to all its' people.

12. In saying that, I am always mindful that no man or country is an island and that global realities dictate that we shift our mindset and realize that all the international entities that are invested here have the very same interests that we have- a strong, secure South Africa with a multitude of opportunities.

13. The simple truth is that we need each and every one of our global partners to expand their interests here because it is in both our own and their interests.

14. One of the ways in which we can lead our country into a future defined as a better life for all is to give real meaning to the term partnership between business and the ANC and government.

15. In this sense I refer particularly to a new focus on assisting government to be able to call on business and its' international partners to find the very best people and practice to address some of the complex challenges facing us in delivering services.

16. Such an approach should be characterized by more openness, more willingness to serve, and less selfish turf battles and bureaucratic sensitivity.  We should rise above bitterness and pettiness.

17. We need to create an atmosphere and culture where those that feel that they have something to offer can do so in a receptive and welcoming environment.

18. The process of matching our countries' many needs and challenges, specifically in government, to the very best knowledge and skills that there is locally and globally, is certainly something that I am applying my mind to-within the spirit of partnership.

19. In that context the principles of transparency, accountability, the highest standards of ethics, and the very best practice in public sector corporate governance should be points of departure.

20. Should we, for instance, not investigate the idea of setting up structures in government that acts as tribunals for service delivery?

21. By this I mean that we should consider instituting forums where the public can voice their dissatisfaction with bad service and where they can get an answer within days, or where those that do not execute their public duties diligently, can be disciplined or fined.

22. We should have an open discussion about such mobile "same day" tribunals as one of the ways in which we can work with the President in ensuring that we build a proud and people friendly public service.

23. The debate about the dynamic interaction between governing party-in this case the ANC, and government is one that will outlive countless generations.

24. Many views have been, and will be, expressed on this matter, some of them aimed at opportunistically weakening the potential inherent in a close and symbiotic relationship between party and state.

25. As the ANC we will work very hard to ensure that we create strong and deep processes of interaction between "Luthuli House" and those that we have mandated in government to breath life to the endorsements we received from the voters.

26. One of the steps we will take is to ensure that we have the necessary knowledge, capacity, systems and structures-as the ANC- to measure whether the priorities agreed upon at Polokwane, and through the contract with the voters during the election, are now dynamically translated into concrete realities.

27. The leaders that we have deployed into parliament and government will work as one team with leaders that we chose in December 2007 to effect edible and tangible socio-economic transformation.

28. Such transformation cannot be the stuff of speeches and seminars only, but should be real and should materialize effectively into houses, health care facilities and improved education.

29. It is only when such a delivery driven style of governance has taken hold over each and every government structure that we can say with confidence that we have made a start towards a safer South Africa where we, through our own energy, diligence and pride create the opportunity for more jobs and growth.

30. The exciting truth is that we cannot-as leaders- look elsewhere for help and inspiration to address our challenging circumstances.

31. We must-ourselves-look far beyond the easy out of excuses and global circumstance and dig deep in ourselves to ensure that we personify the no-nonsense, zero tolerance for laziness and corruption attitudes that will make us a winning nation.

32. It is only when we can already see a better future that we can allow it to pull us towards prosperity, rapid delivery, and a better life for each and every South African.

33. We cannot shrink from our duty to be brave, hard-working, and most of all to work as partners towards the individual and collective goals of the South Africa that we all dream, hope, work and pray for.

34. Beyond their shared interest of economic growth and development, both business and government have a responsibility to use their collective might to create a future that encompasses all of its citizens. It is no longer enough for us to say what is right, but rather it is time to do what is right and so I would like to take just a moment to speak to you about an organization that is very dear to me.

35. Here in South Africa, the Special Olympics Program provides opportunities for more than 21,000 intellectual disabled individuals to compete, excel, demonstrate their courage and to be recognized as equal members of society, not for their disability but their ability.  This number seems impressive but when compared to the estimated 1.3 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in South Africa who still have not been reached, we still have a lot to do.

36. On 18 July, 2009, South Africa celebrated the inaugural Nelson Mandela Day whereby we paused as a nation to volunteer 67 minutes of personal time to organizations that provide support to less fortunate members of our society.  There are several corporate and private individuals who must be congratulated because they stepped forward long before this day was created to help support Special Olympics South Africa, but there are many more who should be involved. 

37. So I challenge all of today's attendees to get involved with Special Olympics South Africa so that we can each be a supporter of Nelson Mandela's vision when he became a Special Olympics South Africa volunteer in 1999 and said "A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones."

38. I challenge you all to find a way to Be A Fan of Special Olympics South Africa.

I thank you.
Issued by the African National Congress

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