ANC Today --------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume 2, No. 33, 16 - 22 August 2002 --------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS WEEK: * Letter from the President: Building a humane global society of friendship * 51st National Conference: Branch discussions begin ahead of historic gathering * Women in Struggle III: Helen Joseph'If this be treason' --------------------------------------------------------------------- LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Building a humane global society of friendship Our country is privileged to be hosting the UN World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD). Arguably, this will probably be the largest gathering of its kind during this first decade of the 21st century. Expectations are that 60,000 delegates or more will participate. These will come from all countries of the world. They will represent governments, inter-governmental organisations, business, trade unions and other non-governmental organisations. Among these will also be organisations of the women and the youth. Well over 100 Heads of State and Government will attend. An important contingent will be the largest gathering of the international media our country has ever seen. Some representatives of non-governmental organisations are already in our country. After a long period of preparation, the Summit systems have gone operational. Soon Johannesburg and surrounding areas will feel the impact of its transformation into the temporary home of the peoples of the world. In this sense, it will cease to be a South African City and become a City of the Globe. The Summit will meet under the theme - People, Planet, Prosperity. This indicates the important matters the WSSD will address. Its focus is the sustained improvement of the lives of all human beings everywhere. It must therefore confront the reality that billions of people across the globe are poor. It must proceed from the acceptance of the vision that we are all one another's brothers' and sisters' keeper. The WSSD must proceed from the basis that all humanity is committed to a shared prosperity. It should be inspired by the knowledge that the resources exist within the global human society to achieve this objective. We refer here to the capital, technology and know-how that are required to provide a better life for all. Its decisions will have to demonstrate that humanity has the will to share and utilise the capacities it has, to carry out an historic act of human solidarity. At the same time, the WSSD has to reflect on the impact of human activity, including the pursuit of a shared prosperity, on the global environment. The world has recognised this for a long time already that various patterns of production and consumption have a negative impact on the environment. This environment is the very first condition for human existence itself. It is a natural gift we have a duty to protect now and for all time in the interests of all human beings. As these human beings, we have an obligation to interact with our planet in a manner that preserves the planet. The WSSD must confirm our collective commitment to this goal. The WSSD concludes a period of 10 years, which has seen the world go through an elaborate inclusive process of drawing up a global agenda for development. It would be correct to say that such an agenda does in fact exist, and that the challenge all humanity faces is its implementation. The period we speak of began with the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. For this reason, the Johannesburg WSSD has also been called Rio +10. In between these Summits a whole range of other global Summit and other high-level meetings have been held. These have covered issues of Gender, Social Development, Population Development, Racism, Food, Children, Habitat, AIDS and other infectious diseases, Trade, Financing for Development and the Environment. In the year 2000, the political leaders of the world met in New York at the UN Millennium Summit. It is from these and other meetings that the global agenda for development emerged. Apart from anything else, they gave hope to all humanity that the global political leadership and leaders in other areas of human activity had finally accepted that they had a collective responsibility to ensure that every human being on our globe was entitled to enjoy the human right to development. Those raised hopes are now focused on Johannesburg. The peoples of the world expect that the WSSD will live up to its promise of being a fitting culmination to a decade of hope, by adopting a practical programme for the translation of the dream of sustainable development in to reality. Since its birth as a democratic country, South Africa has hosted a number of international conferences. These include the 9th UN Conference on Trade and Development, the Summit Meeting as well as the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Countries, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. They also include the UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances, and the Summit Meeting of the African Union. The WSSD will clearly be the biggest and most ambitious of all these, by far. There are many reasons why the peoples of the world saw it fit that they should meet in South Africa. One of these derives from the fact that as a non-racial democracy, our country is truly the creation of the peoples of the world united against racism. The international movement of solidarity against apartheid was one of the principal architects of the common victory against apartheid. In South Africa, the peoples of the world therefore feel a strong sense of a common home of all humanity. The global struggle against apartheid was also a global struggle for the things that make for decent human societies. These are the values of democracy, human rights, non-racism, non-sexism, peace, national reconciliation, respect for human diversity, human solidarity and good governance. We can make bold to say that our people have lived up the expectation of the peoples of the world with regard to all these matters. This outcome has confirmed the value of the contribution made by the international community to the struggle to end apartheid and demonstrated, in practical terms, that it is possible for the community successfully to act together to construct a better world. Of particular relevance in this regard, of course, is the issue of the resolution of the race question in our country. As the World Conference Against Racism confirmed, the issue of racism and intolerance is a global problem. In many areas of the world the problem is worsening rather than diminishing. It calls for decisive interventions by everybody to overcome the legacy of many centuries which lead people to despise one another, and which has claimed the lives of millions, with many killed in campaigns of genocide. Once again, the peoples of the world entertain the hope and conviction that because of our experience of racism, and given the manner we have handled ourselves as South Africans during the last decade, we will succeed to demonstrate that it is possible for peoples of various races, colours and cultures to live together in peace as one people, who also celebrate their diversity. The peoples of the world are also conscious of the challenges that face all humanity with regard to peace, democracy, prosperity and human development in Africa. While they understand Africa's problems, they do not want to accept the characterisation that ours is a hopeless continent. Rather, they are interested to see Africa move forward towards the resolution of its problems. They are interested to participate in this work of human hope. They consider South Africa, being part of Africa, as living proof that Africa's better future is assured. The peoples of the world are also conscious of the challenge that faces all humanity to bridge the gaps that separate the North from the South. They are aware that this chasm between a rich and developed North and a poor and developing South constitutes a structural fault in human society, which permanently threatens global growth, development and stability. They are interested that the ways and means are found to make meaningful progress to close this development divide. Once more, they see, in South Africa, a small corner in the world of the South, which gives a promising sign that it is possible to meet the challenges posed by the North-South divide. These are among the reasons that our country is seen by many as a suitable venue for the important gatherings that have been held and will be held in South Africa. This poses a challenge to all of us as a people to ensure that we do not disappoint the confidence shown by the peoples of the world in ourselves and our country. This means that we have an obligation to remain faithful to the objectives contained in our national constitution. We must, in practical ways, demonstrate our united commitment to respect the humane value system that informs the provisions of that constitution. When we say we are striving to be a winning nation, this must mean that all that we seek is a truly better life for our people and the peoples of the world. We must also mention that the overwhelming majority of our guests have been struck by the warmth of the welcome that all our people have extended to them. This may be an intangible asset. It is nevertheless of the greatest importance because, when all is said and done, what we are about, and what the international conferences are about, is the building of a humane global society of friendship among the peoples. What we are about is the strengthening of the sense and the practice of community, to move away from the scourge of the atomisation of human beings in a world dominated by social systems and technologies that define human beings as competing entities in which struggle the winner takes all. We must take pride in the fact that all existing knowledge says that our country is the Cradle of Humanity. This we must also say, that in all instances the predominant view of our valued guests has been that from an organisational point of view as well, we have succeeded, working together with our global partners, to ensure that the international conference held in our country proceeded smoothly and efficiently. In all instances, the conditions were created to facilitate the important work of these conferences. We mention all these points to call on all our people once more to respond positively to the challenge of welcoming our international guests. We must work together to ensure that they have a pleasant and successful stay in our country. As they leave, they must be able to say - we will return! The challenges ahead of us do not permit of careless remarks and actions that communicate negative messages about our country and people. In this regard, all of us owe the Irish referee at the recent Springbok-All Blacks match, Mr Dave McHugh, our sincere apology for the impermissible assault on him by one of us, Mr Pieter van Zyl. As South Africans, we respect and value our international visitors. We also respect the rules that govern the civilised conduct of individuals and nations. We extend a warm welcome to all delegates to the UN World Summit for Sustainable Development. Thabo Mbeki --------------------------------------------------------------------- 51st NATIONAL CONFERENCE Branch discussions begin ahead of historic gathering Political preparations for the ANC's 51st National Conference began in earnest last weekend with the first in a series of country-wide workshops to acquaint ANC branches with a number of policy discussion documents. These documents, published in a special edition of the ANC's political discussion journal, Umrabulo, will be discussed in over 2,000 ANC branches over the next two months. Branches will also mandate delegates to attend the National Conference and make nominations for the ANC's National Executive Committee, which will be elected by Conference. The 51st National Conference, the organisation's highest decision-making body, will be held in December in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. It will be preceded, in late-September, by a National Policy Conference which will look in detail at the formulation and implementation of ANC policy. The previous National Conference was held in Mafikeng in December 1997. Strategy and Tactics Branches will be discussing the ANC's 'Strategy and Tactics'. First adopted as a single, comprehensive document at the Morogoro Conference in Tanzania in 1969, the Strategy and Tactics document describes the key objectives, political environment and methods of the organisation. The most recent Strategy and Tactics document was adopted at Mafikeng in 1997. Branch members will be expect to review that document, to consider major developments and new experiences over the last five years, and assess whether the 1997 needs to be revised, replaced or left as it is. One of the main areas affecting this discussion will be an assessment by branch members of the current balance of forces within South Africa and more broadly. In broad terms, this discussion will assess changes over the last five years in the relative strengths of those forces engaged in promoting or resisting progressive democratic change. The discussion will look at the strength of the ANC itself and its allies in the broader democratic movement. It will look at developments in the broad political environment, including recent shifts in opposition politics. The discussion will also focus on progress made in the five years since the last ANC Conference and the eight years since the advent of democratic rule in the transformation of the state, the economy and social relations. It will assess the remarkable developments that have been achieved in Africa over the last five years, and the changes - both positive and negative - that have occurred in global relations. Most importantly, the discussion will consider the unity and resolve of the masses of South Africans towards building a better life. Social transformation Members of the ANC in branches will then proceed to assess the implementation and effectiveness of ANC policy in a number of areas. The key reference points for these discussions are the Reconstruction and Development Programme, adopted by the organisation in 1994, and the resolutions of the 1997 Mafikeng Conference. One of the documents therefore covers the area of social transformation. It says that the ANC's programme for social transformation must ensure it builds a better life by "providing land and houses, comprehensive health and social security, basic services which include water and sanitation, human resource and capacity building, a clean and safe environment, food security, and an improvement in [the people's] health profile, including dealing with communicable and non-communicable diseases, causes of mortality, and sports and recreation". The document covers in detail progress made in the areas of health, water and sanitation, social security, human settlements and spatial planning, land reform, education and training, and nation building. It identifies areas of weakness and gaps in policy, while highlighting some of the issues which branches and ultimately Conference may need to address. "An assessment of South Africa today indicates that the lives of the people are by and large gradually changing for the better.This indeed suggests that our broad policy thrust in many areas is correct, and should be affirmed," the document says. However, it says, areas that need to be strengthened include better integration of governance across the different spheres; intervening to strengthen local government; prioritising rural nodes; addressing the ethos and culture of the public service; and improving the capacity of government at all levels to implement. Economic transformation The document on economic transformation traces the development of ANC economic policy. It outlines the extensive economic challenges facing the new democratic government in 1994, and assesses progress made in halting and reversing the long-term decline which characterised the last years of apartheid. It notes that while the economy has grown steadily since 1994, even in the face of a global economic slowdown and a number of emerging market crises, the rate of growth has not been sufficient to raise living standards significantly. Foreign direct investment rose, as did exports of manufactured goods. Fiscal policy has achieved substantial cuts in tax rates and a major reduction in the budget deficit, lowering the country's debt payments. The document identifies a number of priority areas however, most notably job creation. "It is clear that the fight against unemployment is our central challenge," it says. It also highlights foreign and domestic investment, infrastructure development and the restructuring of the financial sector. "The success of the macroeconomic stabilisation strategy has opened up a greater set of policy options to address economic transformation.Strategies for poverty alleviation and development can now be introduced that would have been negatively received a few years ago." Transforming the state "The institutions of governance inherited by the ANC in 1994 were based on the values of colonialism, racism and sexism," according to the discussion document on transforming the state and governance. The document traces progress made in the last eight years to transform all state institutions to serve the construction of a democratic society. It notes that the ANC has managed to change the structural landscape of a large institution like the public service over a very short space of time. Much has been achieved also in democratisation and the building of representative structures. However, "in the spirit of honest reflection", the document acknowledges some problems, rooted more often than not "in the vexed issue of limited capacity, both within government and within the ANC". The biggest challenge for National Conference, it says, is to address the shortcomings of the political management of governance institutions. Branches should are therefore urged to discuss the policy leadership provided by the ANC, making integrated and cooperative governance a reality, and local government and transformation. Peace and stability The discussion document on peace and stability notes that the achievement of a better life for all depends on the creation of a humane society "where peace, security and dignity" replace crime, fraud, corruption, human rights abuse and lawlessness. It assess the implementation of government policies and programmes to tackle crime and build such a human society. It notes progress made in the multi-disciplinary strategy adopted by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster of departments. Among the issues for branch discussion are the role of social mobilisation against crime and proposals on the new roles of Community Policing Forums. Branches should also look at how to strengthen and support government measures to deal with domestic violence, rape and the abuse of children and women. Other priority areas include ensuring access to justice for all South Africans, especially in marginalised areas, and ensuring the ownership of the intelligence services by communities as a vital instrument of security. Other discussion documents included in the special edition of Umrabulo include specific issues relating to targeted groups like women, youth, disabled, children and the elderly; international relations and the challenges facing the African continent; and media in a democratic South Africa. More Information: Umrabulo 16, Special 51st National Conference Edition, August 2002 --------------------------------------------------------------------- WOMEN IN STRUGGLE III Helen Joseph: 'If this be treason' For forty years Helen Joseph dedicated herself single-mindedly to opposing apartheid. She was only one of two women to have been awarded Isitwalandwe, the ANC's highest award. It also led to a relentless government campaign to silence her, a campaign which ultimately failed - for generations of South Africans, Joseph was an inspiration and a symbol of defiance, integrity and courage. Helen Beatrice May Fennell was born in Sussex, England, in 1905. She graduated from King's College, University of London, in 1927, taught for three years in India, then came to South Africa in 1931, where she met and married Billie Joseph. Her service as an information and welfare officer in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War, and her subsequent decision to become a social worker, exposed her to some of the realities of South African life. In 1951 Joseph took a job with the militant Garment Workers Union, led by Solly Sachs. Sachs had a profound influence on Helen, from him she learnt her politics. Through him she came to see the true face of apartheid - the physical and psychological oppression of people not classified white. She joined the political fray, not as an ideologue, but as one moved to great anger by the injustices she witnessed. Joseph was a founder member of the ANC's white ally, the Congress of Democrats, and in 1955 was one of the leaders who read out the clauses of the Freedom Charter at the Congress of the People, Kliptown. Joseph was appalled by the double oppression of black women, and was a pivotal figure in the formation of the Federation of South African Women. The 8 August 1956 was one of the most important moments of her illustrious political career, when, with the FEDSAW leaders, she spearheaded a march of 20,000 women to Pretoria's Union Buildings to protest against the pass laws. Arrested on a charge of high treason in December 1956, banned in 1957, Helen's life became a long saga of police persecution. She was the first person to be placed under house arrest. She endured, and survived threats, bullets shot through her bedroom window late at night, even a bomb wired to her front gate. Her last banning order was lifted when she was in her 80th year. Helen used every opportunity, each brief respite from her restrictions to keep talking, to bear witness, to address meetings. She wrote three books: If This Be Treason; Tomorrow's Sun, in which she documented her 8,000 mile search for people banished to remote regions; and her autobiography, Side by Side. Helen showed that what a dictatorial and corrupt regime fears most is not force and fire power, but the witness of people of dignity and integrity. One of Joseph's many endearing qualities was that there was no separation between her public and private life. The loyalty and devotion she gave to the struggle was the same as that she gave to her many friends who became her family. She had no natural children, but took into her care, as her own, the children of those who were sent to prison or into exile: Nelson and Winnie Mandela's Zinzi and Zenani; Bram and Molly Fischer's Ilsa; Eli and Violet Wienberg's Sheila. She was a gregarious person with a wonderful sense of humour. She loved a party. Her two favourite days in the year were her birthday, April 8, and Christmas Day. On both days her home would be filled, not only with friends and colleagues, but with the tributes, flowers and fond greetings from every corner of the world. In the early 1960s Helen started a tradition of remembering all those in exile, in prison and those that have died in the struggle, every Christmas day at noon. Even during the years of house arrest and bans, this commemoration continued. At times it was only possible for her friends and families of prisoners to file past her gate one at a time, but Helen was always there to greet and encourage them. It is a sign of her extraordinary will that Helen lived until after midday on Christmas Day in 1992 before she died of a stroke. --------------------------------------------------------------------- This issue of ANC Today is available from the ANC web site at: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/anctoday/2002/at33.htm To receive ANC Today free of charge by e-mail each week go to: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/anctoday/subscribe.html