31 January 2009
Members of the ANC National Executive Committee,
Leadership of all sectors represented,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Comrades and friends,
Compatriots,
Good evening to all of you.
Fifteen years ago South Africa inaugurated Nelson Mandela as its first black President. It was a period of overwhelming emotion, the coming to fruition of a dream of many decades, when our country was finally free of apartheid oppression and took its rightful place as a respected member of the international community.
A few days ago, the United States of America followed in our footsteps as we witnessed the inauguration of its first African American President, Barrack Obama.
The popularity of the two leaders stems from their ability to recognise the needs and challenges confronting their people at a particular time.
It is this understanding that underpins the Election Manifesto of the African National Congress. The measure of our progress will not be whether we have added more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.
We appreciate the presence of so many sectors here tonight. Our work can only be strengthened by your support.
No political party can be as successful as we have been, without working with all sectors to implement its programme of action. We thank you all for your illuminating presentations and endorsements. You give us strength.
The ANC has always been a people’s movement, rooted amongst all sectors of our community - the rich and poor, men and women, youth and older persons, religious sector, traditional, business, sporting bodies, rural and urban and a host of other interest groups.
We are more the wiser because of your ongoing provision of inputs and suggestions.
Our Manifesto seeks to address various challenges facing our country, and we are convinced that it covers most aspects. The Manifesto seeks to build on the gains of the last 15 years of democratic governance. Fifteen years of democracy has allowed the ANC to bring change to every community in this country. We have developed and implemented policies that were designed to make a difference.
The impact of these economic and social policies has seen a significant reduction in the level of severe poverty and an improvement in the quality of life of millions of South Africans. Our economic rejuvenation of the last 15 years continues to fuel the widespread social transformation of our country and we intend taking care of that golden goose.
It may sound like a cliché but we have really achieved a lot in the last 15 years. It is easy to forget that only 15 years ago, South Africa was a totally different country, fraught with divisions, fear and uncertainty.
A nation was created in 1994, but that was not the end of our work as South Africans. The nation-building process is ongoing, and we must continue to work together to root out racism, sexism, tribalism and xenophobia.
A new democratic State was created, with a functional government system with the necessary checks and balances. The democratic culture has been nurtured and strengthened.
South Africans remain the most powerful guardian of our democracy, as evidenced by their outspoken manner and participation in marches and other activities that indicate the high levels of freedom of expression in our country.
Our Constitution remains popular and will always be the glue that holds this nation together, providing protection and direction to all of us. It is one of our greatest achievements as a nation.
As the ANC we are proud of our leading role in drafting that Constitution and we will always defend it and promote it. As you are aware, the ANC's strategic goal remains the creation of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa and all our actions and policies are aimed towards achieving this goal.
However, high unemployment, poverty, deepening inequality and challenges of service delivery continue to afflict our country.
We also need to take into account changing international conditions, particularly the ongoing global financial crisis, and the spectre of global economic recession. We need to be alive to its likely impacts on our domestic situation, such as a slowdown in production, potential job losses, and rising prices will all need to be addressed. We have thus tailored our Manifesto to address these challenges.
As the global financial crisis revealed to us last year, the days of the State remaining aloof of the market are now gone. The era of the developmental state that intervenes actively in the economy has arrived. We envisage a developmental state with a strong planning capacity and the ability to intervene in strategic areas.
An important aspect of a successful developmental state is the capacity of public servants to execute the tasks with which they have been entrusted. We will therefore focus specifically on improving public service performance.
This means that the right personnel should be placed in the correct positions. As said in the January 8 statement, where we see poor performance, government will have to implement corrective measures, through training and redeployment, where warranted.
Compatriots, you are aware that there are some sectors of our economy that need strengthening especially during the current global economic crisis. These include amongst others manufacturing and mining.
We are planning an intensive dialogue with the business sector soon to discuss these challenges. We must look at ways of saving and growing jobs in the clothing and textile sector, strengthening the automobile and components sector, expanding the food industry and other sectors. Our dialogue with business will provide ideas on how to do this effectively.
To meet the needs of this growing and demanding economy, we aim to continuously improve the quality of our education system. We will achieve this by working together with educators, learners, parents, school governing bodies and other stakeholders, to make education the priority of all stakeholders. Fighting crime remains a national priority, as you are aware. Unlike opposition parties, we do not have the luxury of complaining about crime as the ruling party, we must do something about it. The establishment of a new modernised, efficient and transformed criminal justice system lies at the heart of our plan to develop our capacity for fighting and reducing crime.
Government will review the functioning of the police, the judiciary and the correctional services to achieve optimal integration and coordination.
Compatriots, the biggest international marketing opportunity has presented itself to us and we must use it. On Monday, we began our 500-day countdown to the 2010 World Cup. In a few months time we will host the best football nations of the world in the Confederations Cup. We must all work together to make the tournaments spectacular events in all respects.
We are working to finalise our National and provincial List processes for the deployment of cadres to serve our nation in parliament and provincial legislatures.
Compatriots, as the African National Congress we are committed to a service delivery culture that will put every elected official and public servant to work for our people, and to ensure accountability to our people.
We will continue to develop social partnerships and to work with our citizens. This evening’s occasion is a crucial contribution to cementing such partnerships. Compatriots, what drives the ANC is an unyielding desire to improve the lives of ordinary South Africans. That is the promise inherent in our Manifesto. The ANC wants to create work, to provide quality healthcare, to improve the quality of education of our children, to fight crime and to develop rural and impoverished communities. Working together with all sectors, we will deliver on these goals, and manage our country to make it a thriving, prosperous democracy in which every citizen feels a sense a belonging.
We will remain in touch with our people and listen to their needs. We will continue to respect the rule of law, human rights, women’s rights and the rights of all vulnerable groups. We will defend the Constitution and uphold our multi-party democracy.
We want to make our people choose hope over despair, unity over discord. We want them to choose an organisation that will work with them to build a better life. Election time gives us an opportunity to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. This is our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.
It is our time to eradicate negativity and gloom, and promote positive and accurate messages about this beautiful country. As sectors, you will be able to assist us in achieving that goal. Thank you very much for your support.
Working together, we can do more to build a better life for all our people.
I thank you.
Issued by:
African National Congress
Enquiries:
Brian Sokutu 071 671 6919