25 October 2008
I am extremely happy, humbled and feel indeed honoured, to be invited to speak on this auspicious occasion, when our people celebrate Diwali - the festival of lights. I bring with me greetings on behalf of the African National Congress on this event, as we celebrate the triumph of good over evil. As the African National Congress, we have always recognised and celebrated the diversity and multicultural identity of our people.
However, as we are here today, my happiness is dampened by the sad news of the passing on of yet another struggle icon, Billy Nair, who fought for a democratic, non-racial and prosperous South Africa. In the spirit of Diwali and in the memory of Billy Nair, we shall continue to strive for the good of all our people in their diversities as this departed leader did during his lifetime.
We have examples of icons that chose good over evil, such as Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada, who forgave those who jailed them, even after serving nearly three decades in prison. They remain universal living examples of Diwali, the celebration of the triumph of good over evil.
Also, Mahatma Ghandi and Prime Minister Nehru's inspirational role in the liberation struggle that ushered in the independence of India, again resembles the protracted struggle between good and evil, where good emerged as victor. Again, closer to home, the struggle by our people leading to our freedom and democracy in 1994, is yet another example of the festival of lights, the celebration of the triumph of good over evil.
History is littered with examples of heroes and heroines who fought for the good of society against what would have appeared at the time to be insurmountable obstacles. The triumphant home-coming of King Rama of Ayodya after 14 years in exile, after he was banished into the forests, is echoed by the homecoming of our political struggle heroes led by OR Tambo after the unbanning of political organisations in 1990. Similarly, as the Sikhs celebrate Diwali commemorating the freeing of the Sixth Guru and 52 other Hindu Kings who were political prisoners, again, this is echoed by the freeing of comrade Nelson Mandela and other prisoners such as Walter Sisulu, which then led to our famous negotiated settlement. Indeed the festival of lights underlines universal principles, and therefore must unite all of us and not divide us. Diwali says we must celebrate the victory of democracy over apartheid and as the ANC we concur.
The symbolism of light dispelling darkness in its wake, is so profound, that it makes the festival of lights such a powerful occasion as opportunity to teach our people in general, and our youth in particular, of the values of striving for the good of all people irrespective of race, religion, gender, political affiliation or any narrow definition of society.
Diwali enjoins us as a people, to fight against ignorance, crime, unemployment, conflicts, divisions, diseases, corruption, injustice, inequality, lack of development and the various evils that confront our people, both as individuals and as a collective.
Diwali demands from us responsibility on the things taking place in our homes, our communities, our country and our world at large, so that none amongst us must merely plead ignorance of the evils that are encroaching to destabilise the good of people anywhere in the world. Diwali demands that we must make effort to know what is happening in our communities and our country and take informed actions to remedy the situation. Therefore, the Diwali celebration is in fact our vigilance to keep evil out of our people. Diwali therefore says we must all be activists for change!
I am even glad to know that the Diwali festivals are now celebrated in many parts of the world, particularly in India, regardless of faith, and hope that it will give impetus to our belief that all good people must unite against the common forces of evil in our country and the world over. I hope that this will lay to rest the so called clashes of civilisations, which in the minds and practical actions of some people around the world, pits the eastern civilisation against western civilisation, Christianity against Islam. As a country, we have triumphed over the clashes and conflicts which took advantage of our cultural, religious, political and racial diversities. This has indeed endeared us as a people in the hearts and minds of the people of the world, and they have emulated our national experience of peaceful democratic transition towards the new dispensation as nothing short of a miracle, effectively which was a triumph of good over evil.
As we celebrate and commemorate the anniversaries of the Three Doctors' Pact, the Freedom Charter, the 1994 democratic breakthrough, our 1996 constitution, the independence anniversaries of former colonies in Africa and eslewhere, and other such other noble historical land marks, it is because we are celebrating the triumph of good over evil. We do so in order to inspire every generation to contribute to the triumph of good over evil in years to come, and inspire them to consider such triumph as the most-noble thing to strive for.
As I stand here infront of you tonight, there are those who are working to undermine the unity of our people for selfish ends. We must therefore take the opportunity granted us by the Diwali celebrations, to preach unity where others preach disunity, to preach reconciliation, where others preach revenge, to preach working together, where others preach splintering, to preach kindness where others preach anger!
I have this solemn belief , that for as long as our people amongst others celebrate Diwali, the darkness of apartheid and the conflicts of the past will never visit our people ever again. We have more to conquer as a people, let us join forces and ensure that good triumphs over evil at all times in the many challenges we face as a country while celebrating our diversities.
On behalf of the ANC, I thank you and wish you well!