WORKING TOGETHER WE HAVE ACHIEVED MUCH, BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT TO DO
As we approach the centenary of the ANC next year, we together look back with pride to the struggle history of our glorious movement. We together engaged consistently for over 83 years of our 100 years history to liberate the black people in general and the African people in particular, in our motherland South Africa from the yoke of colonialism and apartheid.
Whilst we have together suffered bannings, forced exile, imprisonment, torture and murder at the hands of the apartheid regime, we continued with the struggle and forced the apartheid regime to negotiate with us which culminated into our liberation in 1994.
Our democratic breakthrough and first democratic elections brought about the first democratic elected government of our people, led by the ANC. This came at a heavy price to many, that price included, political assassinations, murder in custody, torture in imprisonment and forced exile. But all those pains and sacrifices did not stop all of us, led by our glorious movement from leading our people to freedom and democracy that we today enjoy.
We together also look back with pride to the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) that our democratic government adopted, on the basis of the 1955 Freedom Charter, to deal with the legacies of colonial and apartheid rule in our country.
Together, we have also adopted as a country a Constitution that is respected across the world, a constitution which guarantees human rights and equality before the law for all its citizens.
South Africa has achieved much since we gained democracy. Working together, all our people have united to overcome the challenges and divisions of the past and to deal with the challenges that face our country.
As a nation, we have made progress in the creation of a united, non-racial, non-sexist democratic and prosperous society that has been the consistent mission of the ANC.
Together, we have put an end to apartheid, achieved peace and stability, made the lives of millions of our people better, developed the economy and established a firm foundation of even faster progress. We have also entrenched a culture of respect for human rights. We are now as a country, as a result of our democracy, a proud participant and a member in the continental bodies such as SADC, the African Union (AU) as well as international bodies such as the United Nations (UN). In all these bodies our input is received with positive respect.
Together, we have worked hard to build democratic local government that gives communities a voice and the opportunity to be active partners in the development of areas where they live.
Together, we have begun to change the places where we live into communities where everyone's basic needs are met; where streets and neighbourhoods are clean; where people feel safe; where the old divisions are a thing of the past.
But there is still much more that needs to be done. The challenge of transforming our towns, villages and cities has been especially great. In places where we live, in our townships and suburbs, in the villages and rural areas - the divisions and inequalities in people's lives were most deeply entrenched. Many areas still lack the financial base or the skills that are needed for local government and local development.
But together, building on the progress we have made and learning from the experience of the past 16 years, we can strengthen our municipalities so that change happens faster and reaches every community and every section of our society. That experience has shown how big the task is of bringing change to every community; and how we need to get national and provincial government and our municipalities working together better.
Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, February 8 2011
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