Ekurhuleni, 15 August 2005
Comrade President of COSATU, Willie Madisha, and other leaders of COSATU, Comrades leaders of the COSATU affiliates and delegates, Comrade Blade Nzimande, General Secretary of the SACP, Delegates from the formations of the broad democratic movement, Governor of the Reserve Bank, Tito Mboweni:
I would like sincerely to thank COSATU for the invitation to the ANC to address the Opening Session of the Central Committee. We value the occasions when we can further continue our interaction. I am privileged to bring to you comrades delegates, the greetings of the ANC leadership and membership and our best wishes for the success of the Central Committee.
Of course, the convening of the Central Committee is important for COSATU. However it also provides an important occasion for our movement as a whole to take stock of the progress we are making to advance the objectives of the National Democratic Revolution. Its proceedings are therefore of great significance to our entire revolutionary movement.
For my presentation today I will not say anything new, anything that you do not know. Rather I would like to take this opportunity to remind the delegates of what we, as the Alliance, decided in the past, and the commitments we have made to the masses of our people.
I do this because I believe that it would be appropriate for the CC to make an assessment of what we have done to implement these decisions, the progress we have made, and what we need to do next. In our 2004 Election Manifesto we said:
"Over the past ten years, working together, we have built South Africa into a land of peace and harmony, a land of expanding opportunities. We have built a stable and growing economy. We have created the possibility to release more and more resources for social and economic services, while building a modern and competitive economy.
"As we enter the Second Decade of Freedom, at the core of the challenges we face is the task to speed up the creation of work and further to strengthen the fight against poverty.
"Our goal is to create a South Africa in which all can experience an improving quality of life, enjoying equal human rights, with access to opportunities that freedom has brought us, and bound together as a nation by our humanity.
"The ANC speaks with confidence because it has been at the head of this national effort to change our country for the better. We know that together with you we can do more, better. We commit ourselves to do everything that is necessary and possible to meet these objectives.
"Working with you in a People's Contract to Create Work and Fight Poverty, we are confident of success."
I must again underline the fact that we said that "the core of the challenges we face is the task to speed up the creation of work and further to strengthen the fight against poverty." In these words we made a commitment to the people that we must honour.
We achieved a decisive victory at the 2004 Elections. Clearly, the overwhelming majority of our people accepted the vision we presented to them. They voted to say that vision reflected their aspirations. They expressed their confidence in our movement as the political force that would ensure success in the pursuit of the goal of a better life for all.
In this regard I would like to convey our sincere and special thanks to the members of COSATU for their contribution to our decisive election victory. The CC is aware that our comrades in KwaZulu-Natal say that their Province only achieved its liberation in 2004.
The 2004 elections marked the first time that we were able to deploy party agents to all voting stations in all areas of KZN. This included those parts which some of our comrades considered to be dangerous. But it is to these very places that our COSATU comrades went as our election party agents.
They stayed at their posts even when the sun set, when other comrades thought the situation would be intolerably unsafe at night. They said that further to deepen democracy in our country, they would even risk their lives, and not allow the cover of darkness to be used to steal votes.
Our Alliance Programme of Action for 2005 made important observations about the 2004 Elections. Among other things it says:
"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. "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."
Our common Programme of Action states a strategically important conclusion that all of us must take seriously. It presents a strategic perspective that must inform the work we do together as the Alliance. To repeat, the Programme of Action says:
"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 National Democratic Revolution."
The Central Committee must assess what we are doing to sustain the vision projected by this conclusion. Together we must ensure that these were not just words on a piece of paper, but a guide to everything we do. My own view is that as Alliance Partners we are still not doing enough to give practical meaning to this strategic conclusion.
This matter is very important in the light of the critical tasks we have set ourselves, whose realisation will help to determine our country's future. At the same time, we must always remember that the progressive transformation of our country depends on the leadership provided by the Alliance to all the people of South Africa.
The 2005 Alliance Programme of Action also says:
"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 advanced a clear set of perspectives on our programmes in the Second Decade of Freedom.
"The vision of 2014 which is outlined in Manifesto 2004 identifies tangible targets for the end of that second decade, including:
"the reduction of unemployment by half through new jobs, skills development, assistance to small businesses, opportunities for self-employment and sustainable community livelihoods."
The Alliance Programme of Action then goes on to say that we must put in place the necessary programmes to:
"Reduce poverty by half through economic development, comprehensive social security, land reform and improved household and community assets.
"Provide the skills required by the economy, build capacity and provide resources across society to encourage self-employment with an education system that is geared for productive work, good citizenship and a caring society.
"Ensure that all South Africans, including especially the poor and those at risk - children, youth, women, the aged, and people with disabilities - are fully able to exercise their constitutional rights and enjoy the full dignity of freedom.
"Compassionate government service to the people; national, provincial and local public representatives who are accessible; and citizens who know their rights and insist on fair treatment and efficient service.
"Massively reduce cases of TB, diabetes, malnutrition and maternal deaths, and turn the tide against HIV and AIDS, and, working with the rest of Southern Africa, strive to eliminate malaria, and improve services to achieve a better national health profile and reduction of preventable causes of death, including violent crime and road accidents.
"Significantly reduce the number of serious and priority crimes as well as cases awaiting trial, with a society that actively challenges crime and corruption, and with programmes that also address the social roots of criminality.
"Position South Africa strategically as an effective force in global relations, with vibrant and balanced trade and other relations with countries of the South and the North, and in an Africa that is growing, prospering and benefiting all Africans, especially the poor.
"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 of Action goes on to say:
"The Ekurhuleni 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.
"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."
The Programme of Action also says:
"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."
It adds:
"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."
The Alliance Programme of Action also says:
"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.
"It is incumbent on the progressive movement to intervene decisively in favour of multilateralism, 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." It then makes the important Conclusion that:
"The Alliance is 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."
As all of us can see, the decisions we have taken as reflected in both the 2004 Election Manifesto and the 2005 Alliance Programme of Action are of vital importance for the future of our country. The CC should address the question of what must we do to give practical meaning to all the important decisions we have taken as contained in these two documents!
In this context, I believe that our Alliance should radically improve the way it does its work. In addition to the general meetings we will continue to hold, I think we should now focus our interaction on sector-based interventions. Let me mention some examples in this regard.
We share a common concern about job losses in clothing and textiles and gold mining, among others. As we have already started, we must continue to engage one another as members of the Alliance to determine what our response to these job losses should be.
But we must enter into these sector engagements not only in instances where we have to respond to retrenchments. Last week, for instance, I suggested at the CEPPWAWU Congress that we must work together to take advantage of growth and job creation in the chemicals, wood, paper and pulp sectors, which we seek to develop and expand as part of our industrial policy.
We must engage one another in a similar manner on a whole range of important specific issues such as improving service delivery and strengthening local government, including the Ward Committees. These Committees, whose members are ordinary workers, play a critical role in ensuring the necessary contact between the people and our institutions of government.
Similarly, we must engage one another on such other important matters as non-racism and non-sexism. We must constantly measure the progress we are making in these areas and together decide what we should do next to ensure that we actually succeed to build a non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.
And I do hope that the CC has put the challenge of non-sexism on its agenda. This is a defining issue in terms of the agenda of the national democratic revolution. In addition we must note that the CC is meeting during Women's Month.
The challenge for all the members of the Alliance to contribute to progressive change in Africa means that we must interact on the issues relevant to African renewal with greater regularity and intensity than we have done in the past.
These are some of the sector-specific issues on which I believe we have to engage one another as members of the Alliance, to ensure that indeed we work together to formulate and implement the correct and timely programmes of action.
If and when we proceed in the manner I have proposed, necessarily we will have to answer the question whether we have the capacity to cope with this expanded process of interaction? I hope that the CC will give itself time to discuss this matter.
I am certain that if work in the manner I have suggested, we will come up against some capacity constraints. However I believe that we must act soon to enhance our cooperation. This means that we must agree to work to improve our operational capacity as we go along, and not wait for some future date when we would say we have now built the capacity to raise our cooperation to higher levels.
In this regard, once more I would like to remind the delegates of the Conclusion contained in the 2005 Alliance Programme of Action, which says:
"The Alliance is 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."
To achieve the objectives and vision spelt out in this Conclusion requires a strong and united ANC, a strong and united COSATU, a strong and united SACP, and a strong and united SANCO.
It calls for a strong and united Alliance that is determined to uphold our common vision in practical ways, and implement the Alliance Programme of Action. As members of the Alliance we share a common obligation to strengthen one another. None of us can benefit from any weakness and divisions in our ranks, and neither can the National Democratic Revolution.
I am happy and honoured to wish the Central Committee success in its deliberations, which, I am certain, will help us further to advance the National Democratic Revolution.
Amandla!