18 March 2009
About 50 traditional leaders from various traditional houses and church leaders of diverse religions in the North West province have said they will encourage their communities to participate in the upcoming elections to ensure the victory of the African National Congress (ANC).
ANC President Jacob Zuma held separate meetings with chiefs and organised church leadership in Mafikeng today (Wednesday, 18 March 2009).
Led by Reverend Poet Tlhabanyane of the North West Forum of Religious Leaders, church leaders told Zuma they will ensure that between now and the election date every member of the church is encouraged to vote. Church leaders also committed themselves to help in constructing a caring society, and to fight against moral decay and all forms of abuse.
Responding to the commitment by the churches, Zuma told the leaders that the ANC was the only organisation that can claim that it was baptised when it was born.
"There are three main sectors that were instrumental in the formation of the organisation - they were intellectuals, traditional leaders and religious leaders. Of the 11 former leaders of the ANC, a significant number of them, including presidents Mahabane, Makgatho and Luthuli were priests. As the ANC, we're the child of the church," he said.
He commended the support demonstrated by the church leadership to the ANC, saying it was consistent with the commitment made by their forbearers when the ANC was formed 97 years ago. "It (the expression of support) is an unequivocal biblical declaration that if God is for us, who can be against us."
Zuma said the show of unity by churches in the meeting around common issues was fundamental as it had a potential to unite the society.
At a meeting with chiefs earlier, Zuma reminded the traditional leaders that the historical struggles waged by the ANC to defeat apartheid and colonialism cannot be separated from that led by the traditional leaders. "The ANC is an organisation of traditional leaders. They were present when the organisation was formed in Bloemfontein in 1912. The very foundation of the ANC was a continuation of the battle against colonialism waged by the traditional leaders. So when we come here asking you to be with us, we do so because you are our fathers," he said to thunderous applause.
He said part of the objective for the common struggle of the ANC and traditional leaders was to reclaim the dignity taken over centuries by the colonial and apartheid regimes. "For many years our traditional leaders were undermined and treated as nothing. Chiefs and Kings were put under the authority of magisterial districts. As part of reclaiming that dignity today we have the House of Traditional Leaders. Traditional leaders have an important role of holding the government accountable by criticising us when we go wrong."
Based on this historical relationship with the ANC, it was correct that communities must be encouraged by their traditional leaders to vote for the ANC. "We're not shy to say that everyone must vote for the organisation as there is no formation that has a history as rich as that of the ANC. Therefore, that hard-fought right to vote must be use wisely. We want Amakhosi to encourage their subjects to vote for this organisation. If indeed we are saying this is the organisation of the people, then the people must be reminded by their leaders to vote correctly, for the ANC."
He said that the ANC would continue to deepen interaction between itself and traditional leaders. "All of us have to fix this country, which was destroyed for many years. Traditional leaders have a big role to play in this regard".
Zuma was welcomed by Kgosi Montshiwa of the Barolong to ululation by the assembled community.
Zuma will later this afternoon conclude his visit with door-to-door visits in Mafikeng, meetings with people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, and civil society.
Issued by:
African National Congress
More information:
Moloto Mothapo: 082 370 6930