The overwhelming victory of the African National Congress in the 2004 general election marks a decisive moment in the advance of the National Democratic Revolution. Not only did the ANC increase its majority at national level and in every province, but also the unity in action of the entire Alliance enabled the single most significant mobilisation of the South African people since the democratic breakthrough in 1994. As a result, the ANC now leads the governments of all nine provinces, creating the potential for accelerated implementation of the NDR.
Cadres of the Alliance were at the vanguard of this mobilisation in every province, in every community. In countless face to face meetings with masses of our people the Alliance was able to identify problems that ordinary South Africans face, and listen to the solutions that the masses themselves put forward. Through Iimbizo and outreach to numerous structures of civil society the message of our movement's election manifesto was given life and the quality of democratic participation was deepened. As election observers, sometimes deployed to the most hostile environments, members of all four organisations were able to extend the frontiers of democracy and further advance the consolidation of the NDR.
The extent of this mobilisation was premised on a renewed sense of unity of purpose within the Alliance that emerged out of a series of engagements over the last few years. Amongst the most important milestones were:
This unity of purpose, as well as the broader national unity and popular support signified by the outcome of election 2004, represents a new and decisive shift in the balance of forces in favour of the democratic movement. In order to consolidate and advance it is vital that the Alliance build upon the legacy of 2004, and intensify popular mobilisation in order to further advance the goals of the NDR.
2005 presents our movement with another 365 days in which to advance and consolidate the people's advance towards a non-racial, democratic, non-sexist, united and prosperous South Africa.
The Alliance remains united around a common vision of a better South Africa articulated in the Freedom Charter, which remains the foundation stone for our common programme. Having assessed the last ten years of freedom, the partners in our Alliance have advance a clear set of perspectives on our programmes in the second decade of freedom.
The vision of 2014 which is outlines in manifesto 2004 identifies tangible targets for the end of that second decade, including: * Reduce unemployment by half through new jobs, skills development, assistance to small businesses, opportunities for self-employment and sustainable community livelihoods.
As part of the process to realise this objective we have advanced the slogan of "A People's Contract to Create Work and Fight Poverty", which speaks to the fact that achieving these ambitious goals cannot be left to government alone. Rather, the broad mobilisation of the masses of our people behind practical activities to achieve these objectives is vitally necessary. This is the mandate that lies at the heart of our Alliance programme for 2005.
This programme, which should consolidate the unity in action of our Alliance, is build on five pillars.
The Ekhuruleni Summit agreed that the strategic mandate to all our organisations in the current phase derives from our commitment to the NDR as enshrined in the Freedom Charter and the Strategy and Tactics documents of the ANC. This requires the Alliance to coordinate its activities and give leadership to social transformation in all spheres of society, including civil society and the state.
With respect to government policy, the Ekhuruleni Summit agreed that the ANC governs on the basis of a broad mandate elaborated in the RDP and Election Manifesto. The policies and programmes of the Alliance are aimed to give expression to these objectives.
It is critical that the process of policy development and implementation is informed on an on-going basis by collective endeavour. Consistent discussion in the Alliance and tighter co-ordination is important to give effect to our common programme of social transformation.
In order to provide a basis for this, as well as to ensure the implementation of the Alliance programme as a whole and maintain the unity of purpose of the Alliance during 2005, the following mechanisms are proposed:
In 2005 we will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter.
In 1980, then President O.R. Tambo declaring that year the 'year of the Charter' said:
"The Freedom Charter contains the fundamental perspective of the vast majority of the people of South Africa of the kind of liberation that we all of us are fighting for. Hence it is not merely the Freedom Charter of the African National Congress and its allies. Rather it is the Charter of the people of South Africa for liberation. It was drawn up on the basis of the demands of the vast masses of our country and adopted at an elected Congress of the people. Because it came from the people, it remains still a people's Charter, the one basic political statement of our goals to which all genuinely democratic and patriotic forces of South Africa adhere."
This point remains valid today. The clauses of the Freedom Charter will guide the themes of our programme of action throughout the year. During 2005 each Alliance partner will:
The Growth and Development Summit establishes the programme of joint action required to meet the vision of 2014. The Alliance must place itself at the vanguard of advancing this programme and ensuring that all signatories to the agreements do indeed implement them as envisaged. During 2005 the Alliance partners commit themselves to:
The critical challenge over the next decade will be to ensure that democratic and developmental local government, which empowers our people to act as their own liberators and directs reconstruction at local level, becomes a reality. Amongst the important tasks that local government must address is the creation of Integrated Development Programmes which are the product of mass participation of the community, and which reflect the priorities identified by our people. The creation of one million jobs through the expanded public works programme, as well as many of the other commitments of manifesto2004, will require the solid foundation of popular local government to succeed.
During 2005 the Alliance partners commit themselves to:
Meeting South Africa's developmental challenges cannot be separated from the quest to Peace and Democracy in Africa and the World. Each of our organisations is a pioneer in these struggles and an inspiration to many on our continent. These strengths need to be deployed to strengthen the progressive forces for peace, development and democracy on the African continent.
At the same time the forces of religious fanaticism, greed and militarism are on the rise in both east and west. It is incumbent on the progressive movement to intervene decisively in favour of multi-laterialism, democratic rights and national sovereignty. South Africa has a particular role to play in bringing to bear its experience of negotiated and peaceful solutions to the many conflicts that bedevil the world today.
During 2005 the Alliance partners commit themselves to:
In addition to and as part of the other activities identified in this programme, the Alliance partners agree to work together to maximize the mobilisation of our people around the following days:
Also of importance in the coming year are the following events:
The Alliance fully aware of the critical responsibility we have to lead the process of transformation in our country and contribute to the strengthening of efforts to build a humane world order. Unity, a sense of common purpose, the depth of understanding of our historical mission, activism, loyalty to the people - especially the poor - and commitment to international solidarity and joint action are some of the critical attributes that have placed the Alliance at the head of the forces of change in our country. We are duty-bound by the realities of our history, the yearning of our people for a better life and the confidence that they have placed in the ANC and other components of the Alliance to ensure that these qualities continue to characterise the relationship among ourselves and our interaction with the motive forces of change, and with society at large.