THE 88th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANC

Issued by African National Congress

7 January 2000

On the occasion of the 88th anniversary of the African National Congress we celebrate the beginning of a new century and millennium.

The ANC has committed itself to make the 21st Century an African Century. As from the Year 2001, we will launch the African Century and observe that year as the Year for the Beginning of the African Century.

The Year 2000 will therefore be dedicated to preparing for the African Century.

A number of challenges threaten our achievement of this goal. Too many people are immersed in poverty; lose their lives as a result of preventable diseases; have no jobs and no land; are ruled by tyrannical regimes; cannot live in conditions of safety and security; are denied basic services as resources are squandered by those that enrich themselves by corrupt means; and, are divided by racism, narrow nationalism, tribalism, ethnicity, regionalism and religious fanaticism;

Furthermore, some of the best African brains have left our Continent and we are today seen as the least advanced of all human societies anywhere in the world; we are yet to break the feeling of defeat, surrender and lack of initiative; much work remains to be done to ensure the emancipation of the women of Africa; and we have not yet won the struggle against racism.

These challenges need to be addressed in order for Africa to take its rightful place if we are to realise the dream of an African rebirth.

On this anniversary, the ANC has asked itself the question – what must it, as the ANC, do to discharge its own obligations in this mission.

In relation to this question, the ANC has set for itself the following strategic tasks to be pursued during the Year 2000 :

1) We must strengthen the ANC as a movement.

2) We must ensure that we strengthen our links with the masses of our people on a sustained and not a sporadic basis.

3) We must ensure that the masses of our people are mobilised to engage in active struggle and do not become passive recipients of the positive results of the process of progressive change.

4) We must ensure the active and consistent implementation of our programme of action by all members and structures of our movement. This programme of action includes amongst others:

• entrenching democracy including mobilising our people to participate in the local government elections
  
• fighting corruption in government and the public sector.
  
• pursuing anti-poverty programmes
  
• addressing the issue of black economic empowerment and the growth and development of our economy.
  
• promoting integrated rural development as well as urban renewal
  
• continued focussing on primary health care and the AIDS epidemic
  
• paying serious attention to the question of education and training
  
• waging an all-out struggle against criminal elements who continue to prey on our people and society, among other things raping women and abusing children
  
• addressing the apartheid legacy of racism in our country
  

5) We must work for the development of a strong all-Africa movement for the pursuit of the objectives of the African Century.

For almost nine decades, the masses of our people have looked to the ANC to free them from the great suffering. We are committed to accepting this responsibility.

We are recharged and rejuvenated to meet the challenges presented by the new millennium and to play a meaningful role in ushering in the African Century.

We will not fail in discharging our responsibilities in the concerted struggle for Africa’s Renaissance.

We commend our programme of to all our members, supporters and our people as a whole.

It must constitute our order of the day as we mark the Year 2000 as the Year of the Dawn of the African Century.

The struggle continues! Victory is certain!

Amandla ngawethu! Matla ke a rona! Matimba a hina!

Issued by the ANC Head of Presidency, Smuts Ngonyama
Department of Communications
African National Congress