ANC TODAY VOICE OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

4 – 10 June 2021

Conversations with the President Relegating the apartheid constitution to the dustbin of history

n By President Cyril Ramaphosa

ST May is the anniver- public’ is generally defined as gave them this as their own.” sary of an event in our state in which supreme power is history that most South held by the people and their elect- It was a Constitution written by Africans would rather ed representatives, this was not and for a racial minority, and it 31not remember. the case in South Africa. used faith to justify tyranny. It out- lined the administration of gov- Sixty years ago, in 1961, apart- The Constitution of the apartheid ernment, providing that only white heid South Africa became a re- republic pledged allegiance to people were eligible to vote and public, cutting its ties with the God, “who gathered our forebears serve as public representatives. It British Empire. But while a ‘re- together from many lands and contained no Bill of Rights.

Revolutionary Dear Mr President We stand with the women of morality Youth and Morality: Palestine: their struggle A New Programme is our struggle 4 of Action 7 9 2 ANC Today CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT

We have said that in our demo- cratic republic, everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.

South Africa today is a country where the administration of justice is vested in independent courts and a judiciary that is subject only to the Constitution. We live in a country where everyone has the right to approach the courts for the fulfillment of their rights.

We live in a country where com- Architect of Apartheid - Hendrick Verwoerd munities can stake a legal claim on land they were forcefully moved The country’s majority was rele- celebrate the 25th anniversary of from, and where individuals or gated to a footnote towards the the adoption by the Constitutional families are protected against ar- end of its 121 provisions, in a sec- Assembly of our new democratic bitrary eviction from their homes. tion titled ‘Administration of Bantu Constitution, which became the Affairs, etc.’. birth certificate of a real united na- We live in a country where every- tion. one is permitted to freely practice In a televised message from the their culture and traditions. It is a Prime Minister’s residence, now Now we have one law for one na- country where anyone can freely known as Mahlamba Ndlopfu, tion. protest in support of social, polit- Prime Minister HF Verwoerd said: ical and other causes anywhere. “We seek the gradual develop- Together, we have chosen ment of each of our groups in a for ourselves a system of Our constitutional dispensation is certain direction. Here the solu- government that gives true premised on accountable govern- tion is openly sought by retaining meaning to the concept of a ment, where the Executive is an- the white man’s guiding hand.” republic. swerable to the people and where

“We are very happy to be a united people,” he declared to the world.

But the reality was that we were not a united people.

We were inhabitants of a country where one’s rights, prospects and life expectancy were determined by one’s race. For two decades, the Republic of South Africa Con- stitution Act of 1961 was the le- gal impetus for the repression of nearly ninety per cent of the South African population. It provided le- gal cover for discrimination, dis- possession and exploitation.

This unhappy anniversary takes Jackson Mthembu place in the same month that we 3 ANC Today CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT

Parliament is representative of moral validity. lives of our people. Unless we do the people. It is a country where so, this progressive and revolu- the law applies equally to any cit- Indeed, no system that entrenches tionary document will be rendered izen. We now have a government the systematic denial of people’s irrelevant and meaningless. of the people, for the people, and rights can be sustained. Though it by the people. would be over three decades be- We have long decided what kind fore the demands of the liberation of society we want to be. It is a We share a common responsibil- movement were met, we eventu- society rooted in human dignity, ity, as both the state and citizens, ally won our freedom. equality, freedom and non-dis- to respect, protect, promote and crimination. fulfill the Bill of Rights. In relegating the apartheid con- stitution to the dustbin of history, For a quarter of a century we have As elected officials, we have a we committed ourselves to a new worked to build such a society. We responsibility to uphold our oaths constitution and a new set of val- have made undeniable progress, of office, and to not steal from the ues. but we still have many challenges state, engage in corruption, or and there is much work still to be mismanage resources meant for When I addressed the Constitu- done. the benefit of our citizens. tional Assembly 25 years ago, I said our Constitution must be- As we mark the anniversary of the When the apartheid regime trium- come more than words on a page; adoption of our democratic Con- phantly paraded its racist consti- it must become a reality in the stitution, let us remember what tution to the world 60 years ago, a decisive break it was with the it had misplaced confidence that it In relegating the apartheid system underpinned by racism, would endure. exploitation, dispossession and constitution to the dustbin oppression that had come before. In an unanswered letter to Verwo- Let us also remember that it is up

erd a month before the Republic of history, we committed to us to make the vision contained

was declared, Nelson Mandela af- ourselves to a new in our Constitution a reality. firmed the liberation movement’s ‘ rejection of the forcibly imposed constitution and‘ a new For it is only by ensuring that all white republic. He said that no South Africans are able to freely constitution or form of government set of values. and fully exercise their constitu- decided without the participation tional rights, that we will truly be- of the African people would enjoy come a united people. 4 ANC Today COMMENT & ANALYSIS

Revolutionary Morality

n Remarks by the ANC National Chairperson, Comrade Gwede Mantashe during a virtual political lecture hosted by the ANC Sarah Baartman Region, in the Eastern Cape

E were asked to talk We must understand the princi- on a very complex ples guiding the revolutionary pro- subject “Revolu- gramme of the ANC. Is the ANC tionary Morality”. programme revolutionary? It is W that programme that will make the For me, morality must be under- ANC to be known and accepted stood first in many of its aspects. as a revolutionary movement. If That is, morality as determined by there is doubt on the revolutionary society, morality as determined nature of the programme of our by religion and morality as deter- movement, then, we would be in mined by the revolution. trouble.

Any revolutionary who does not The question that must be an- pay attention to standards set up swered is, what is a revolution in by society in general cannot be simple terms? a good revolutionary. Adhering to these standards distinguishes It is a change in the governance revolutionaries from elitists. Elit- of society for the better. It is about ists at times project themselves changing a repressive regime as having monopoly of ideas and Comrade Gwede Mantashe and replace it with a democrat- ic government. This change may wisdom. For example, Gender be smooth and negotiated, it may Based Violence (GBV) is the en- Morality as a set of principles, be violent or it may be a combi- emy of society irrespective of their making a distinction between right nation. This may end in a violent stand or identity in society. If one and wrong, and between good rupture and violent takeover of of us is soft or non-committal on and bad behaviour: It is based on power. It may be a smooth hando- this major challenge to society but values and principles of conduct. ver of power on negotiated terms claim to be a revolutionary, that in- If you are a member of the ANC, or it may go through a painful dividual must be examined. you must understand the values transition. When power changes of the ANC and respect them hands, it is a milestone in a rev- Believers always fight about the all the time. Without those basic olution. Transformation of society relevance of the “Book of Leviti- rules and values, the ANC will not and changing the life of the peo- cus” in setting up standards that be a revolutionary movement. We ple begins in earnest. make a distinction between them must make a distinction between and the ordinary. Many of the strict an ANC that worked under condi- The revolution is executed within rules are said to be out-dated but tions of illegality, where discipline a frame of rules and prescriptions. without clear replacement test of and security were intertwined, Development of an individual from compliance with religious morality. and an open ANC where it is an being an activist through to being I am not arguing for any change all-comer movement. Therefore, a revolutionary is a long journey. thereof, but I am asking a ques- that should tell us that not every It is not mere membership of a tion as to how do we practically member of the ANC is a revolu- movement but an outcome of a see morality in religious terms? tionary. process of development. 5 ANC Today COMMENT & ANALYSIS

In the ANC, we have a policy on “Cadre development” where we pay attention to individual mem- bers. An ANC member must go through a process of developing the understanding of the princi- ples, the values and behaviour distinguished and distinguishable from that of criminals and vigilan- tes or enemy agents. That is what President OR Tambo urges us to do. Revolutionaries must be dis- tinguishable from criminals, vigi- lantes, or enemy agents. This re- quires of the movement to be able to distinguish between revolu- tionary conduct and revolutionary sounding articulation, but empty in content.

Revolutionaries are described as out before all others, it was that many people in the movement those who constantly advocate he was incorruptible. He was in- who have stepped aside to protect and seek fundamental different corruptible not only in his politics the ANC. To adapt a resolution to reality to that which is oppressive, but also in his personal life.” situations is counter revolutionary. exploitative or abusive in any It is a painful process for the ANC manner. These are characteristics of rev- to navigate through the journey of olutionaries as seen by our fore- cleansing itself. From the pains of The Communist Party of China bears, which are very scarce the Cultural Revolution, the Com- talks of the most advanced ma- today. This highlights the im- munist Party of China (CPC) had ture productive forces. Orientation portance of higher standards to embark on a painful journey of to an advanced culture, motivated for judging revolutionaries. We not only dealing with mosquitoes by the interest and aspiration of cannot use the behaviour of the but also with tigers. Hence, the the overwhelming majority char- nationalists to measure the stan- CPC can today boast that factions acterises the revolution. Once dards of revolutionaries. When we and corruption are an exception. we have personal interests, over- are told not to loot, we cannot say, That resolution is not about con- shadowing the interests of the the apartheid government used to stitutionalism. It is about the rep- majority, then the revolution would loot. You do not take the lowest utation of the ANC as a revolu- suffer. common denominator to measure tionary movement in the eyes of revolutionaries. Revolutionaries society. Therefore, every revolution must are measured against the highest be motivated and characterised standards. Revolutionary morality is not by by the interests and aspirations of association - that we are members the overwhelming majority. Trust There is a Conference resolution of the same movement, therefore, among revolutionaries must be on “Step Aside”, which is lifting we are all revolutionaries. It can- based on revolutionary morality. the bar for revolutionaries. It is not work that way. Commitment One must be able to trust a Com- not a tool to target individuals. is not to the same extent for cad- rade based on morality through Conference resolved that peo- res of the movement. The roles their behaviour. ple who have been charged with to which we are deployed have corruption must be asked to step serious impact on our behaviour. The words of comrade Yusuf Da- aside. Assumption made by Con- For an example, if we put mice to doo eulogising Moses Kotane ference, is that revolutionaries will guard a cheese store, I can tell capture the revolutionary trust: have conscience of their own and, you that real revolutionaries will “But if there is one quality in Mo- therefore, stepping aside will be a emerge, some of the erstwhile ses Kotane which I would single voluntary action. We have seen revolutionaries will eat the cheese 6 ANC Today COMMENT & ANALYSIS

private life. All our actions attract attention of society. Do we still have the quality of membership or branches that can defend the movement in action? That is a preoccupation of building a revo- lutionary movement.

Cadre development should be a continuous programme for the movement to continue graduating activists into revolutionaries. If the programme is weak, we are going to be ‘materialists’ and individual interests will take precedent over the interests of the movement and the revolution.

My experience when Comrades to their own death. Revolutionary the three basic and inter-related are deployed is that the elitists al- achievement can make us better contradictions of colonialism of a ways think that they have the mo- but can also destroy some of us. special type. Progress made in nopoly of wisdom. We have the this regard is quantified regularly responsibility to remind the elitists Revolutionary morality is tested by the revolutionary movement. that there is society. Many things in action and cannot just be as- Once individual Comrades spend will be written about you because sumed. I still cannot understand all their time trying to smear one you stand on the way of those why are our municipalities, which another, you must know that there who are elitists. You will be called are supposed to be led by revolu- is nothing revolutionary about stubborn. tionaries, almost a disaster. Rev- that. We would be in trouble. This olutionary activity is about know- confuses society and destroys the I conclude by reminding all of ing what is good over bad. If you movement from within. us that the ANC is currently go- have been proven to have looted, ing through a difficult period. It in my own view, there should be Revolutionary morality is about requires a concerted effort to no place for you in the movement. upholding the ethics, values, and cleanse itself. We resolved at the traditions of the movement. It is 54th National Conference, that the At the 2017 ANC Policy Confer- about the leadership adhering to “Zondo Commission” must be es- ence, the Secretary General ta- higher standards of behaviour. Re- tablished. Today, there are views bled a document called “A diag- actionary forces cannot be used that the Commission is hurting the nostic organisational report”. for comparison. When people pro- ANC. My view is, it is hurting indi- This report attempted to highlight test against unethical behaviour, it viduals. That is necessary for us some of the issues that impacted is not because they hate the ANC, to cleanse the ANC and ultimately on the revolution negatively. One but because they feel betrayed. be able to confidently say faction- of those was, blurring of common They expect better and higher alism and corruption are an ex- purpose, whereas as a revolution- standards of behaviour from rev- ception in the ANC, not a norm. If ary movement, we understand the olutionaries. The values that must there is a contingent of revolution- direction we are taking as revolu- guide revolutionaries are honesty, aries, then there is hope. If there tionaries and there is no deviation. humility, hard work, commitment, is the death of activists, there is Sheer deviation from the vocabu- sacrifice and selflessness. no hope. lary of a revolutionary movement appears innocent but distorts the The ANC should not be perceived Without claiming to have any mo- political space. as inherently corrupt, because nopoly of wisdom, revolutionary there are corrupt individuals in the morality is something that we The strategic goal of the NDR, ANC. We must always remem- should work on and continue to for example, is the resolution of ber that revolutionaries have no strengthen. 7 ANC Today COMMENT & ANALYSIS Youth and Morality: A New Programme of Action

Dear Mr President ary morality of the founders of this glorious organisation has been al- EVENTY seven years ago, lowed to dissipate at a huge cost young cadres came togeth- to the cause of young people in er to found the ANC Youth our country. The plight of young League. A.P. Mda, Anton people has become pronounced Lembede,S Mxolisi Majombozi, in the era of the pandemic and our Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo society lacks a voice to champion marked the rise of a new gener- their cause during these turbulent ation of leaders in our movement. times. Even before the pandem- It was Lembede, the first President ic arrived, young people bore a of the Youth League who shaped disproportionate burden of unem- its militancy. Nelson Mandela ployment and poverty. Half of the wrote that Lembede had a “mag- young people in our country are netic personality who thought in neither employed nor studying. original and often startling ways.” This is a recipe for disaster and has been described as a ticking Indeed Mr President, it is this mil- Comrade Pule Mabe time bomb. itancy which shaped the charac- The Coronavirus pandemic has ter of the ANC Youth league over exacerbated a situation which the years. The aim of the Youth leaders who graduated to lead the was already bubbling above the League was to galvanise young ANC, such as South Africa’s first surface although as the country people to step up the fight against democratically-elected president, shakes the cobwebs of the devas- segregation within the country. Nelson Mandela. tating virus, it offers young people The exuberance and energy of to emerge and lead the efforts to young people have always been To strengthen the fight for libera- rebuild our country. the fuel that galvanises the nation tion, the Youth League developed into action, as witnessed during a Programme of Action which The youth are strategically placed the June 16, 1976 protests that involved methods like boycotts, to navigate the new normal and started in Soweto and spread strikes and other defiance tac- new ways of going about our busi- throughout the country. tics. In 1949, the ANC adopted ness. The advent of the Fourth In- this Programme of Action, which dustrial Revolution favours young The manifesto of the Youth represented a radical departure people as their era is sufficiently League, launched in March 1944 from the strategies of the past and poised to adapt to new technolo- ahead of its inaugural meet- it ushered a transformation of the gies better than their older fore- ing, stated that the African youth organisation into a revolutionary bears. should be united, consolidated, movement. trained and disciplined because While the digital divide exists as from their ranks, future leaders Mr President, as we take stock a result of the known inequalities would be recruited. History will of the state of the youth in this in our country, the tools exist to reflect that for decades, the Youth country, we must acknowledge expedite the ushering of a new League served as a reservoir of that what is lacking today is a Pro- era which will equalise access to activist cadres and raised many gramme of Action. The revolution- these technologies. 8 ANC Today COMMENT & ANALYSIS

The leadership of the ANC Youth League NYTT at a recent march organised by the PYA

What do I mean about revolution- and while the pandemic has inter- ment. But in terms of championing ary morality, Mr President. fered with their work, we need to the interests of young people and be resolute and ensure the rise of rallying them behind the banner of To an extent that young people are this powerful force of the ANC. the ANC, we have failed. We are of necessity radical and impatient not championing their interests by nature, as leaders of society What is required as a matter of on a daily basis and taking their and our movement, that we chan- urgency is the “magnetism” of struggles seriously,” she said in nel the exuberance and energy of Lembede at the helm to champion an interview with the Rosa-Lux- the youth into worthy causes. In the cause of young people in the emburg Stiftung. the last few years, young people modern era. The incoming lead- at higher learning institutions unit- ership of the Youth league should Mr President, this is the food for ed under the #RhodesMustFall not only be a lobbying structure thought that we need to chew on and #FeesMustFall movements to within the ANC but a force that as we breathe new life into the agitate for transformation at tertia- prioritises the plight of all young ANC Youth League. ry institutions as well as access to people in this country. education. The irony was that free The Youth League must take its We need young leaders infused education has always been a pol- place among the shapers of a with revolutionary morality in order icy of the ANC as enshrined in the new narrative and society the to be on the forefront of channel- Freedom Charter which said the ANC seeks to build to ensure that ling the exuberance and energy doors of learning shall be open for the fruits of liberation are enjoyed of young people properly. While all. by all. radicalism has always been the As has been the case in 1976, hallmark of young leaders, this The time for a new Programme of the youth of this country stood in cannot be at the expense of cold Action to chart the way forward is unison once again to make their logic and ethical leadership. now. The programme should be demands heard. By embarking on led by leaders who possess revolu- In her book, The Rise and Fall of that action, they lived true to the tionary morality and policies which the ANC Youth League, former ideals of the Programme of Ac- seek to attain the goal of a better National Task Team member Re- tion of the founders of the Youth and prosperous South Africa. bone Tau laments that the Youth League which called for the unity League has become inward over Yours sincerely of the African youth. the years. The National Youth Task Team has “Too many members just think Pule Mabe made huge strides to ensure the about getting a job in government National Spokesperson and Head of the resuscitation of the Youth league or becoming a member of parlia- Department of Information and Publicity 9 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

We stand with the women of Palestine: Their struggle is our struggle

n Speech by President of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL), Comrade Bathabile Dlamini on the day of Solidarity with the people of Palestine, 27 May 2021

HE recent cruel bombings rights by the Israeli Zionist gov- Various conferences of the ANC and killings of the innocent ernment. It cannot be correct that have noted their unequivocal people we witnessed in the the ICC only holds African leaders support for the Palestinian peo- past few weeks are a sad accountable for crimes much less ple in their struggle for self-de- testimonyT of cruel acts of brutality than what the world has witnessed termination, and unapologetic in the world has ever witnessed by under the Israel’s leader Prime their view that the Palestinians Israel. The international commu- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. are the victims and the oppressed nity must stop this impunity and President Nelson Mandela right- in the conflict with Israel. At the Israel must be held accountable ly characterised the Palestinian 54th Conference, we resolved on for its crimes against the people of struggle as “the greatest moral is- a more concrete path of solidar- Palestine. sue of our time” and the ANC has, ity. The delegates unanimously throughout its history, affirmed its agreed that the time is now for We must urge our government to support for Palestinian aspirations South Africa to degrade the status support the International Criminal for an independent state along the of its Embassy in South Africa to Court (ICC) in the planned inves- 1967 borders, with East Jerusa- that of a liaison office, similar to tigation of the abuse of human lem as its capital. our diplomatic arrangements in 10 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

callously killing them, the majority of whom are women and children.

The ANCWL remains committed to working with the women from both Palestine and Israel and plays a constructive role in the Middle East peace process main- ly through the Women Peace and Security Agenda which has found expression in the UNSC Reso- lution 1325 and the latest UNSC Resolution 2493 adopted under the UNSC Presidency of South Africa.

We commend our government for using its Presidency to strength- en the WPS Agenda. We there- Taiwan where we continue to sup- conflict, women are at the receiv- fore reaffirm the need to engage, port a One-China policy. ing end. We stand with the women directly if need be, with women of Palestine, their struggle is our across the political spectrum in The ANCWL must to ensure that struggle. both Israel and Palestine to find a this resolution is operationalised lasting solution to this impasse. by our government. We will con- We reject in the strongest possi- tinue to support the two-state ble terms the continued systemat- In various multilateral institu- solution and to vehemently op- ic policy of Israel’s colonial expan- tions, our government, through pose the illegal occupation of sion, ethnic cleansing and military the Department of International Palestinian land, land seizures, occupation of the most brutal kind, Relations and Cooperation, has detentions without trial and extra which as South Africans we read- consistently called for a just and judicial killings; including the ex- ily recognise from our own experi- lasting solution to the Israel-Pal- pansion of settlements, especially ence of apartheid. This conflict is estine question and has also en- in the occupied West Bank. not a religious conflict. It is simply gaged the parties through the about a belligerent Zionist state president’s special envoys. From our own experience of using its military power to occupy apartheid, we know that on this the land of the Palestinian people, Our government furthermore con- 11 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

tinues to emphasise its commit- The ANCWL will continue to in- the Middle-East and anywhere, ment to multilateralism to ensure tensify our solidarity efforts in line where the sound of guns is lasting peace and security in the with the ANC’s principled position louder than the sound of its region. on Palestine. children playing peacefully on the streets. We have, since 1994, played a It is in the best interests of both role in supporting peace efforts the people of Palestine and The ANC Women’s League sup- by, among other things, “shar- Israel that an urgent and last- ports overwhelmingly the state- ing our negotiating experience, ing solution be found to end ment made Minister Dr Naledi supporting capacity building a protracted conflict that has Pandor in the UN. We support the and institutions-strengthening endured for far too long. We Ambassador of Palestine resident in Palestine itself, providing hu- must ensure that the guns are in South Africa for the work she manitarian assistance through not only silenced in Africa. We has been doing to mobilise sup- support to the United Nations must help silence the guns in port for the people of Palestine. Relief and Works Agency (UN- RWA) for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East and facilitating inter-Palestinian dialogue”.

In the words of Albert Luthuli at the opening of the 42nd confer- ence of the ANC in 1953: “Our interest in freedom is not con- fined to ourselves only. We are interested in the liberation of all oppressed people in the whole of Africa and in the world as a whole … our active interest in the extension of freedom to all people denied it makes us align ourselves with freedom forces in the world.” 12 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

Statement on the outcomes of the ANC Free State Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) meeting

n An Extract

HE African National Con- progamme, update on COVID-19, fied gate keeping, careerism, per- gress (ANC) in the Free election of Interim provincial work- sonality cult, political intolerance State held its first Inter- ing committee and deployment to as some of the tendencies that im Provincial Committee regions for purpose of elections. IPC must get rid of in its path to (IPC)T meeting from the 1-2 June renew the organisation. 2021, after its announcement by The ANC PEC elected in 2018 the National Working Committee was dissolved by the Supreme Over the years different genera- of the ANC. The meeting con- Court of Appeal and a decision tions of ANC members contribut- vened through hybrid at Bloem- was taken not to appeal the ver- ed to some negative tendencies fontein Showgrounds. The IPC dict. Instead, we decided to re- one way or another. The ANC is members comprising of Youth and new the organisation through an a living organisation therefore its Women’s league representatives, important path, as resolved in the members are alive to the charac- ex-officios and NEC deployees to last national conference, of uni- ter and values of the organisation our province were in attendance. ty. It is through that path that the and find it in their consciousness The meeting was characterised ANC resolved to establish this In- to strive for a strong organisa- by robust, constructive and frank terim Provincial Committee. tion and take efforts to renew and discussions on pertinent organi- unite the organisation. zational and political issues re- The IPC members acknowledged flective of state of the organisation and accepted their appointment The unity of the organisation is and our revolutionary obligation. by the National Working Com- one of the sacrosanct principle of mittee. We therefore understand the movement, therefore the IPC The meeting dealt with political the huge task to renew and unite will never tolerate any form or divi- overview by Provincial Convener, the organisation. The IPC further sive measures by any member of Cde Mxolisi Dukwana, PEC han- deeply reflected on the causes of the organisation including within dover report, presentation of unity disunity in the province and identi- IPC itself. 13 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF A DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION Socio-economic rights enshrined in the Constitution

n By Yunus Carrim

E vote once ev- rights in a constitution globally. struggle; even if it took a largely ery few years, racial form, it was a struggle of but we have to But these rights did not fall from the have-nots, mainly African and “Weat three times the skies. They were an out- more generally Black, and the a day,” said somebody. “You can’t come of the titanic mass strug- haves, mainly Whites. eat the vote,” others have said. gles waged over decades against Wise words. They capture why the the apartheid system with its en- Ultimately, what was apartheid ANC insisted on socio-econom- trenched class, race and gender about if not economic exploita- ic rights in the constitution, mak- inequalities. Our struggle was not tion? Of course, apartheid was ing ours one of the first and still just for civil and political rights. It about brutal racial oppression. among the few constitutions in the was that. But it was about more. But this racial oppression was world to include these rights. We Much more. Ultimately, it was a ultimately a rationalisation for have, say experts, probably the struggle against grotesque ma- economic exploitation. There is most advanced socio-economic terial inequalities, it was a class absolutely no biological basis for racism. No scientific basis. Rac- ism is a social construct. It’s a myth created by a dominant group in a society to rationalise their ex- ploitation of others on the basis of their skin colour.

Of course, racism has many complex dimensions and has assumed a life of its own inde- pendent of class exploitation and can’t always be crudely reduced to that. Even so, ultimately the roots of racism lie in the false jus- tification – the rationalisation – for economic exploitation. And in the case of our country, it’s clear. Un- less we significantly reduce ma- terial inequalities, we will not be able to effectively deal with rac- ism and the pernicious legacy of apartheid. 14 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

Which is why the ANC, increas- ingly since the 1969 Morogoro Conference, argued that the strug- gle against apartheid was not just against racial oppression but eco- nomic exploitation too, and why it emphasised that the struggle had to be led by the working class in al- liance with other classes and strata.

So it wasn’t just the wisdom of the legislators and the legal experts that enshrined socio-economic rights in the Constitution. It was also the outcome of the heroic mass struggles and the nature of the class alliances that led it. As- and linguistic expression. These anti-retrovirals and other cases. pects of the socio-economic rights are referred to as “third-genera- South Africa has developed a were there in the ANC’s 1943 Af- tion” rights comprehensive globally influential rican Claims document and the socio-economic rights jurispru- 1955 Freedom Charter. These different generation of dence. rights are inter-related. And there too in the ANC’s 1990 Just as people can’t eat the vote, draft Bill of Rights in an explan- Some of the socio-economic they can’t eat the words in the atory note that said: “We do not rights have to be implemented constitution. For the socio-eco- feel that it is necessary to make immediately, for example basic nomic rights to come alive, they a constitutional choice between education, but others, for exam- have to be implemented. How having freedom or having bread. ple housing, have to be realised have we fared? We do not want freedom without progressively through the state bread, nor do we want bread with- taking reasonable legislative and Of course, there have been huge out freedom.” other measures, within its avail- improvements since 1994. Free able resources. water, electricity, education and And the ANC fulfilled this in the health services for the indigent. constitution. Judge Albie Sachs said that for Almost a third of the population the vote to have meaning, it must receive social grants. And much What basically are socio-econom- be an instrument of achieving sec- more. But there is still a very long ic rights? Constitutions usually ond and third generational rights. way to go. have civil and political rights – the right to life, vote, a fair trial, free- “It would be a sad victory,” he Especially disturbing is that South dom of expression, religion and said, “if the people had the right Africa has the most acute income association, and other individual to vote every five years or so to inequalities in the world. This has rights. These are referred to as emerge from forced-removal hov- been made worse by COVID-19. “first generation” rights. els and second-rate Group Area homesteads to go to the polls, And so we need to move faster on Socio-economic rights are the only thereafter to return to their implementing the socio-economic rights to food, water, land, hous- inferior houses, inferior education rights in the constitution. This is ing, health services, education and inferior jobs”. going to be especially challenging and the other basic material given the major economic, finan- needs that human beings need to These rights, importantly, are en- cial and COVID crisis confronting survive. These are referred to as forceable by the courts. And the us. But if we don’t address the “second generation” rights. Constitutional Court has certainly material needs of the poor and not hesitated to do this, as was disadvantaged and reduce the There are also rights to have a seen in the Grootboom hous- widening inequalities, we are go- healthy environment, and cultural ing case, the TAC’s demand for ing to be far worse off. 15 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF A DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION The Constitution as a national compact

n By Qubudile Richard Dyantyi

E join our compatri- ots to mark an im- portant milestone in the history of this country.W

We mark this occasion, not just as an irrational attachment to anniversaries; but we do this to demonstrate the continuity of our struggle and underline the values of our movement: • Humility • Selflessness • Integrity. legal framework, an independent because they are in the minority, Many people erroneously char- Judiciary, Chapter 9 institutions, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HU- acterise the agreements reached active civil society and a free MAN BEINGS” at Kempton Park as the political press, underpin our democracy. settlement that ushered in a dem- The South African compact in- ocratic dispensation in South Af- Judge Albie Sachs – in the book, cluded a commitment to reverse rica. The truth, however, is that “Oliver Tambo’s Dream” says the political, social and economic the final settlement was reached every constitution-making project disparities inherited from apart- when the elected Constitutional has a central drama. heid. In his inaugural address, Assembly drew up the Constitu- President Nelson Mandela said, tion that was adopted in Parlia- The biggest drama in our case “Let there be work, bread, water ment in May 1996. was Group Rights vs Majority and salt for all.” Rule and Bill of Rights. OR want- The Constitution is therefore a na- ed us to look at ourselves as citi- The ANC has been faithful to tional compact among the people zens of a New, Free, United and this pact for socio-economic jus- of South Africa to live with one an- Democratic Society: tice throughout our twenty seven other in one indivisible state. This years in government. We have Constitution and strong formal and “You protect people from abuse also been conscious that the effort informal checks and balances on not because they are black, not to combine growth and redistribu- all the institutions of the state and because they are white, not be- tion would require a collective, so- private sector, including a robust cause they are the majority, not ciety-wide commitment – one that 16 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE cuts profoundly against the grain of South Africa’s historical legacy. THERE SHALL BE HOUSES, We have inherited an economy SECURITY AND COMFORT! on the brink of collapse. We must Freedom Charter not forget that by the end of the apartheid era, the economy had stopped growing. In the first de- cade and a half of the ANC in power, South Africa experienced the longest sustained growth pe- riod in its history.

To assess where we are on the 25th anniversary of the Constitu- tion, we need to look at the de- velopments in terms of socio-eco- nomic rights, and civil and political rights.

RDP houses in the Eastern Cape Socio-economic Rights Over the last 25 years, SA has erty, with a near doubling of real equality will place pressure on the made significant strides in achiev- incomes for the poorest 50–60 institutions of our democracy and ing socio-economic rights, the “life percent of the population. could even lead to the unraveling and soul” of the Constitution, and of the national compact. the rights that have the most tan- Over and above, we take pride gible impact on people’s lives: in many successes such as the At the 53rd National Conference There have been tremendous strong judiciary, our election sys- in Mangaung, the ANC reaffirmed strides in housing, education, so- tem and a strong human rights that our economic vision rests on cial assistance and healthcare. culture. the Freedom Charter’s call that Millions of houses were built for the people shall share in South the poor. Access to potable water For all of the above gains, there Africa’s wealth. The Conference grew from 60 percent to nearly 90 were some stark limitations on the resolved that the ANC would drive percent. Electricity connections progress experienced by those at radical socio-economic transfor- grew from 50 percent in the 1990s the bottom of South Africa’s dis- mation. to over 90 percent of households tributional pyramid. The poorest today. Immunization coverage forty percent are largely unem- The phrase ‘Radical Economic targeting diseases such as polio, ployed and live mostly in rural ar- Transformation’ has been appro- measles, tuberculosis and diph- eas (designated as “homelands” priated by a group that purports theria also grew to over 92 per- in the apartheid era) and informal to be an organisation within the cent. Enrolment at primary school settlements that are poorly inte- ANC. This situation has created is among the highest in the world grated into the social life of the a false perception that some ANC at 99 percent. Tertiary education towns and cities. members are not committed to admissions have more than dou- this resolution of our movement. bled since 1994. Social grants are the principal source of livelihood for our people The ANC has always believed Furthermore, the private sector in these areas. that a thriving future can be investment rose as a share of built around cooperation and GDP from an average of 14 per- We acknowledge that many of of win-win outcomes with cent in the 1990s to 17 percent the underlying structural realities in 2007. With growing revenues in our country have not been ad- shared benefits. That was the and a strong SARS, government dressed. If left unresolved, these essence of the 1994 electoral was able to reduce absolute pov- dimensions of exclusion and in- slogan – “a better life for all”. 17 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – opportunities for SA

n By Fikile Majola, Deputy Minister

N conventional trade inte- gration theory, regional in- tegration is understood as a process through which partic- Iipating partners climb a ‘ladder’ of institutionalised trade arrange- ments: From Preferential Trade Area (PTA) to Free Trade Area (FTA) to Customs Union to Com- mon Market to Economic Union. African countries The “ladder approach” to integra- who are part of tion approach has been criticised the AfCFTA as not being appropriate in devel- oping country regions. In devel- tween the two is inadequate that ing continental objective. From oping regions, the major barriers further impedes trade between the dawn of the independence, to increasing intra-regional trade them. virtually all African countries have are not just tariffs but rather real embraced regionalism. The com- economy, productive constraints: An alternate approach is needed mitment to regionalism was part under-developed production – the “Development Integration” and parcel of the broader aspira- structures and inadequate infra- approach. tion of continental integration, a structure. vision that led to the creation of In this perspective, we argue that the Organisation of African Unity If one under-developed country’s trade integration needs to be seen (OAU) in 1963. trade profile is dominated by the as only part of a broader integra- export of primary product (and it tion strategy. It must be accompa- Integration in Africa since then does little processing in its do- nied by cooperation to overcome has proceeded at the sub-conti- mestic economy), it has little to infrastructure backlogs and policy nental level, notably the Economic trade with its neighbour whose cooperation to promote economic Community of West African States specialisation is also export of pri- diversification, including industrial (ECOWAS); the Economic Com- mary raw materials. development. munity of Central African States (CEMAC); East African Communi- If the road and rail connection be- African integration is a longstand- ty (EAC); Southern African Devel- 18 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE opment Community (SADC); and Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

The AfCFTA builds on these ar- rangements and does not replace them. Very importantly, the strat- egy document – “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want” – adopt- ed by the AU in 2015, speaks of structural transformation that is in line with recent developments on regional integration.

We use some figures to illus- trate Africa’s place in the broader scheme of things, for example, Af- African Heads of State at the inaugural meeting of AfCFTA rica has: • 17% of the world’s population R1-trillion came from other African iron and steel, plastics and phar- countries. maceuticals and in investment in • 3% of the world’s GDP services sectors (telecoms, retail, • 3% of the world’s trade Lowering trade barriers presents banking and E-Commerce). a massive opportunity for South • 2% of the world’s manufactur- African industries, and for devel- South Africa exported R347-bil- ing output opment across the continent. lion to other African countries in • Only 1% of the world’s steel 2019 – mainly to SADC countries. production. Policy initiatives The 10 million jobless South Afri- The AfCFTA provides opportuni- like trade must change this. cans need to have the AfCFTA as ties to export to North, West and There is general concern that a jobs-driven strategy, focusing East Africa. Africa’s share of world trade on an expansion of labour-inten- is small – estimated at 3%. sive sectors and those with strong Foreign direct investment into Afri- Intra-regional trade is also rel- rural and women-employment ca has plateaued in recent years, atively small: between 16%- linkages. Currently, 250 000 direct with investment across the conti- 18% and this compares to jobs are sustained by African ex- nent falling from US$50.6-billion intra-Asian trade at 52%, in- ports. in 2018 to US$45.3-billion in 2019 tra-North American trade at (Source: UNCTAD). The World 50%, and intra-EU trade at The rest of Africa imports R2.9-tril- Bank estimated that successful 70%. lion worth of manufactured goods implementation of the AfCFTA can annually from outside Africa. If raise GDP across the continent While this is the case, it is import- South Africa were to supply just by US$450-billion per annum by ant to consider that despite the 2% of these manufactured goods, 2035. fact that commodities to the rest it would add 1,2 percentage of the world dominate Africa’s ex- points to SA’s annual GDP and An estimated US$100-billion an- ports – such as oil and minerals add R60-billion to our economic nually is needed in infrastructure – Africa is by far the second most output a year. investment on the continent – SA important export market for most will need to drive the effort to at- African countries behind Europe. African countries (excluding SA) tract this investment, backed by It is often said that “Africa con- imported goods worth R6-trillion commitment to policy certainty. sumes what it does not produce; from outside of Africa in 2019. Increased industrial opportunity and produces what it does not Key imports of other African coun- across the continent will spur in- consume”. tries from outside the continent vestment in key “gateway” econo- represent growth areas for South mies like South Africa. African countries imported R8-tril- Africa, including refined oil, auto- lion of goods in 2019 but only motive, agro processing, CTFL, continues on page 22 19 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

We are the leaders we have been waiting for

n By Luzuko Bashman

S we inaugurate Youth our country and thus demonstrate the South African Youth. Month, we have an through our principled actions, enormous responsibility deeds and articulations, conduct We have to make a deliberate ef- to introspect and reflect which restores the trust and con- fort to rise above our differences onA our own personal contribution fidence of young people, in the (real, perceived or sponsored), to the decay of our revolutionary Congress Youth League. to listen and hear each other, to movement and take an extraordi- support and build one another, to narily important decision to desist We’ve got to break rank with neg- train and develop each to be the from any behaviour or conduct, ative tendencies which undermine quality of revolutionary cadreship individually or in a group, which the very moral and ethical stand- which will emulate the founding undermines the task of renewing ing of the Congress Youth League generation of the Congress Youth and rebuilding the revolutionary such as factionalism, gate keep- League, by taking over the reins of youth movement. ing, corruption, bogus branches, liberation movement and provide bogus membership, members of decisive leadership in accelerating Through our progressive activism, members, vote buying and roll up the struggle for the victory of the we have to answer the huge ques- our sleeves to genuinely embark national democratic revolution. tion of whether we are worthy of a on the mammoth task of rebuild- duty to honestly serve the youth of ing the Spear and the Shield of We must build a genuine unity of 20 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE purpose, not only amongst our- selves but the entire South Afri- can Youth and all progressives, around a common programme for the rooting out of poverty, unem- ployment, inequality and underde- velopment across the country.

It must be us, found at the centre of the skills revolution, the defeat of crime, drugs, gangsterism, gen- der-based violence and femicide, the strengthening of organs of Cde Luzuko Bashman people’s power and our democrat- ic institutions to deliver services building of our stagnant economy, most reliable and dependable to our people. That includes the inclusively to reflect equality and voice. promotion of the rule of law, the equity in its ownership, control moral and ethical regeneration of and participation, thus ushering Only then shall we be on a suc- our society, the building of reliable into reality a truly transformed cessful path towards reclaiming public service and an accountable South Africa, where all our people the title we earned in the theatre and patriotic private sector, the truly govern and genuinely share of struggle, of being called the restoration of a reliable energy the wealth in our country. Leader of the South African Youth supply, the turning around of our and thus labeled, as a result of SOEs, the building and support To succeed in this important and our heroic efforts for the liberation of the youth, women, differently existential obligation, we must of our people, as Revolutionary abled and black owned business- be deliberate about organising Young Lions. es and industries, the establishing ALL the youth of South Africa, of and running of successful coop- all races, class, gender and sex, We Are The Leaders We’ve Been eratives in our communities, thus of all sections and sectors of so- Waiting For. Happy Youth Day fel- helping our country to succeed. ciety, rural and urban, including low Young Lions! the differently abled, all religious Our ideas, energy and courage and cultural beliefs, thus making Selflessness is Revolutionary, so are urgently needed in the re- our Congress Youth League their is Integrity!

Members of the newly inaugurated ANC Youth League NYTT 21 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

Celebrating the beginning of a new era at the South African National Defence Force

n By Nomfanelo Kota

N his book “A Time for new as a non permanent member of dreams”, the Nigerian author the UN Security Council. and poet, Ben Okri, writes that Africa has a weird resilience. The political deployment of these IHer future bristles with possibil- capable women in this premier ities. When she heals, Africa will global security organisation un- amaze” dergirded the importance their countries of origin attached to that I couldn’t think of any better quote important office at a time when the in ushering a new era at the South world was battling with pertinent African National Defence Force issues in its peace architecture. as Lt Gen Thalita Mxakato as- cends to the distinguished Office The people Nations choose to of Chief of Defence Intelligence, a lead certain frontiers and certain first for a woman in the tough pa- epochs matter. triarchal history and hierarchy of the SANDF since 1994. When Ambassador Sonto Kud- joe ascended to the Office of Armed with a political background Secretary for Defence (Secretary as a former MK combatant who Lt Gen Thalita Mxakato of Def), the most senior techno- integrated into the newly formed crat in the echelons of the De- SANDF in 1994, under her mili- When Condoleeza Rice served fence Force in the middle of the tary belt Lt Gen Mxakato brings a as Secretary of State under Pres- COVID-19 pandemic ensured formidable experience, having ris- ident Bush, she brought a lot of that we were better prepared to en through the ranks and having experience garnered in this field manage the intricacies of massive been thoroughly prepared for this both from her days in academia deployments when a Nation was role when she was Major General, as well as in practice. It was the facing a global crisis. deputizing in this position a year same case with Ambassador Su- ago. san Rice when she served under At the change of command fare- President Obama at the UN as well, the now retired General Appointments like these are not the US’s Representative. Shoke commended Ambassador easy to come by in the Defence Kudjoe for her sterling role. Force because Defence Intelli- Similarly, Prof Joy Ugwu served gence of a Nation’s life is a very as Nigeria’s Permanent Repre- In the year we mark the legacy sensitive and critical aspect of its sentative to the UN when South of Mama Charlotte Maxeke, we armoury and capabilities. Africa was serving its second stint do not take these developments 22 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE lightly. continued from page 18 Okri tells us that Oye who invest African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Futures, pay need to Africa. To- day she is wounded and is some- – opportunities for SA what downcast. But tomorrow she will flower and bear fruit, as the Nile once flowered into the Pyra- mids, or like the savannahs after the rain. A focused capital-raising strategy will need to accompany imple- Let every young girl out there mentation of the trade provisions know that she can do this, that her of the AfCFTA. dreams are real and that when A number of large and medi- she looks into the totality of the um-sized South African compa- women leadership in the politics nies have established businesses and security sector, she can know across the continent. that her dreams are valid. South Africa’s manufactured prod- Together with our vibrant South uct exports to other African coun- African Ambassador at the United tries is strong, representing 80% Nations, Mathu Joyini, we have a of all exports to the rest of Africa. calibre of women who can heal shared across all members. this land in the peace and security Bilateral engagements (for exam- environment. Countries across the African con- ple, Nigeria) will be undertaken tinent are engaged in a battle to to address practical obstacles to We must as a Nation continue to restore the economy in the midst deepening trade. transcend the limitations we im- of an ongoing onslaught from the pose on the possibilities of being COVID-19 pandemic that has de- Key imports of other African coun- human. stroyed lives and livelihoods. tries from outside the continent represent growth areas for South Today we have a Mandisa Mfeka, One of the instructive lessons Africa. who is a fighter pilot in the De- learned from this crisis is that economic resilience is critical. It fence Force, who mesmerized us There are already companies with is critical to build up industrial ca- with her abilities during the Inau- these demographics active in the pabilities, trade and supply chains guration of our President in 2019. export market. Over the next five across African countries. years, the DTIC will nurture and We must build on this legacy and seek to expand such enterprises Greater supply-chain resilience unfortunately it is left to the likes through the AfCFTA. of Lt Gen Thalita Mxakato to en- needs to include efforts to spread risk by enabling the greater geo- sure that the likes of Mandisa Mfe- Efforts to improve competitive- graphic spread of manufacturing. ka rise to occupy the Chief of the ness of the sectors through in- This resonates with bringing to South African Air Force one day. dustry Master Plans and financial fruition the goal of the ‘Made in Af- support to upgrade local sector rica’ initiative. Mama Charlotte Maxeke, more are underway. than a century ago left us with a We have to seize the opportunity very important message that “If To underpin the AfCFTA, a whole- presented by the African Conti- you can rise, take someone of government implementation nental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with you”. plan will be put into effect during which is aimed at boosting in- 2021. Phakama Mbokotho, ixesha tra-Africa trade. lifikile as we salute the incoming We must also take to heart that for Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt sustainability and legitimacy, the First published in Business Update, Gen Mxakato. benefits of the AfCFTA must be Issue 20 23 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE

Q&A IN THE SPOTLIGHT: n By Leo Ndabambi Phumzile Sithole

1. Briefly paint us a picture of Jo’burg. She was also a teacher, who comrade Phumzile Sithole an advocate on social ills against is? women; she helped organise the I was born as Phumzile Por- anti pass movement of women in tia Sithole in Alexandra by par- 1913. ents who would be classified as the working class. May dad Mam Maxeke founded the Bantu Madoda Alfred Sithole worked Women’s League (BWL) in 1918. as what was termed as “thutha She fought for workers’ rights mabhakede”, which translastes and was the part of the formation to “bucket picker” with reference of the ICU (Industrial Workers to the bucket toilet system in Alex, Union). She testified on matters and my mom Lovely, was innova- concerning African Education. tive and could sell anything and everything in the streets, an Alex- andra true hustler. 3. What can we learn from past leaders such as Mme Florence I attended primary school in Al- Mophosho as she is due for her exandra, Ekukhanyisweni Prima- reburial in Alexandra, which is ry School, and then went on to also the home of Vincent Tsha- Pholosho Higher Primary school, balala? Comrade Phumzile Sithole whose colours are like those of Bo Mme Florence Mophosho was the ANC. ANC Councillor in the City of born in Alexandra Township. She Johannesburg had been an inspiration to many In high school I found myself in young leaders of the Congress impromptu protests against how movement that came after her. we were treated as African black 2. The 2021 theme of the ANC She was also inspired by great learners, fighting for our rights is “The year of Unity, Renew- leaders of the ANC, bo ntate Al- and recognition. I joined the AN- al and Reconstruction, in the fred Nzo, Thomas Nkobi to name CYL in the year 2000, prompted Year of Charlotte Maxeke.” but a few. by the generation of my peers, What is it that you can tell us which made me to realise that my about Mam Charlotte Maxeke Her bravery led her to help in community was deteriorating and as a role model? organising the Congress of the the people required leadership. Mme Charlotte Maxeke, also re- People. She was a full-time or- To this day, my fight is for the ho- ferred to as the “mother of black ganiser for the ANC. She also listic development of my township heroism”, was a woman of many mobilised for the Women’s an- (Alexandra) and this beautiful firsts. She was a pioneer, an ac- ti-pass march, and was a part of metropolis (Johannesburg), both tivist and a true revolutionary. the famous 1957 Alexandra Bus with a rich history. She was the first South African Boycotts Committee. woman to earn a university de- I am an honours student at the gree and the first black women These activities forced her to go University of Johannesburg – to become a parole officer for underground when the ANC was studying African Studies and juveniles. She set up an employ- banned. Mme Florence Mopho- Public Policy. ment agency for black people in sho was an internationalist and 24 ANC Today PERSPECTIVE later served in the NEC of the ning Committee, what is your vived in my care for eleven years. ANC as she continued to fight for opinion on how best we can I am proud that I was nurturing gender equality. Her struggles in- fight the GBVF and LGBTQIA+ and looking after this beautiful spired heroism in young people second pandemic? gift. Her name is Reneilwe Kopa- like Vincent ‘Toivo’ Tshabalala; It is important that we firstly ac- no Sithole. a young man who came to call knowledge the role of women Alexandra his home in the early in society. Young men must be 1980’s. taught from an early age in life 7. What do you think the youth on how to treat women, and that in South Africa can contribute Vincent Tshabalala went to Miner- females are their equal partners towards their own local com- va High School in Alexandra and and not the weaker sex. (Women munities, especially now as we went on to become a member and too, from a early age must also be celebrate Youth Month and ob- chair of COSAS, where he met taught to defend themselves). Lo- serve child protection week? the likes of cdes Paul Mashatile, cal government should invest in Young people need to realise how Dipuo Mvelase, the late Conny media; print media awareness on important their basic right to vote Bapela and countless others. the rights of the LGBTQIA+ com- is, this right that so many have Cde Vincent was also a founding munity. The City must push the vi- lost their lives for; they should ful- member of AYCO, we was very sual campaigns in respect of hu- ly embrace and protect it. Young passionate about the education of manity and free-will – they should people must encourage each oth- a black child. He joined the ANC run campaigns in communities for er to hold government account- underground and went to exile in spreading awareness. able and be a positive voice in 1983 where he joined Umkhonto society. we Sizwe. Vincent ‘Toivo’ Tshaba- lala sacrificed his life for freedom, 6. What has been your proud- he died aged 20 in a heroic battle est moment so far? 8. What is your motto? against apartheid police. I am a mother of the most amaz- It’s not a dead-end, ingly inquisitive girl. She has sur- it’s a plot twist …

4. As a PR councilor in what is known as the City of Gold, what practices do you think people should follow in order to further curb the spread of COVID-19? This is mainly for the young- er people who still believe that COVID-19 has ended. The real- ity is that COVID-19 is alive and active and we are at the verge of a third wave. It is important that lives and health of the elderly are especially protected. We must avoid organising and attending super spreader events where al- cohol is heavily consumed and COVID-19 protocols are ignored. People must continue to wear masks in public, observe social distance and sanitise their hands.

5. On your most recent appoint- ment as the Chairperson of Section 79 Development Plan- 25 ANC Today THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

5 – 11 June 2021 Sources: SA History Online and O’Malley Archives

■ 5 June 1988 strain of pneumonia was found in death of his father and uncle, at COSATU stay-away against patients with weakened immune the age of 25. He quickly estab- the Labour Relations Act systems. These were the first ‘rec- lished himself as a popular chief ognised’ cases of what became and earned the respect of the el- known as AIDS. Therefore, 1981 ders in the Amazondi traditional is often referred to as the begin- council. ning of the HIV/Aids epidemic in the USA, and at this stage doc- tors believed that the disease ■ 6 June 1913 only affected gay men. Later in Women Anti-pass the 1980s, a blood sample tak- Campaign starts en in the Democratic Republic of Congo back in 1959 was tested to reveal the HIV virus. This sug- gested that HIV/AIDS might have been introduced to humans in the 1940s or early 1950s. However, in 2000 the results of a new study presented at the 7th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, suggested that the first At its Special Congress in May, the case of HIV infection occurred as Congress of South African Trade early as 1930. Unions (Cosatu) called for three The June 1913 anti-pass cam- days of national protest against paign was probably the first re- the Labour Relations Amendment ■ 6 June 1890 corded incidence of protest by Bill (LRA) and restrictions on polit- Chief Bambatha ascends women against the Union govern- ical organisations. The bill sought to power ment. About 700 women marched to curb the growing union move- to the Bloemfontein City Council ment and undermine gains made in the Orange Free State to peti- by workers since the 1970s. Co- tion the mayor. The Orange Free satu’s call led to the largest stay- State was the only province in away (5 – 7 June) up to that time which passes were stringently en- in South African labour history and forced to control the movement exceeded all expectations. On the of African and Coloured women first day, between 2.5 and three residing and working in towns in million workers stayed away. large numbers. The pass had to be renewed monthly at a fee, plac- ing financial strain on women. The ■ 5 June 1981 Campaign gained momentum and First recognised cases of Chief Magadu kaMancinza Bham- spread to other areas in Bloem- AIDS reported in USA batha, who was held responsible fontein. 34 women were arrest- On 5 June 1981, the Centre for for the Impi Yamakhanda (poll ed and convicted for not having Disease Control and Prevention tax) uprising that was popularly passes. The direct result of this (USA) reported that 5 gay men known as the Bambatha rebel- campaign was the establishment in California were suffering from lion of 1906, became chief of the of the Bantu Women’s League a rare pneumonia (Pneumocystis AmaZondi people. Bhambatha under the leadership of Charlotte carinii pneumonia or PCP). This succeeded to the throne after the Mannya Maxeke. 26 ANC Today THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

■ 6 June 1995 Constitutional Court abolished the death penalty

others, Chief Albert Luthuli, A. B. ■ 8 June 1963 Xuma, Z. K. Matthews and D. D. Naledi High school founded T. Jabavu, a representative of the Naledi High School, the site where On 6 June 1995, a historic reso- Swazi monarch and the secretary historic anti-Bantu Education stu- lution was taken by the Constitu- of native affairs. When a tomb- dent uprisings were first felt, com- tional Court to abolish the death stone was unveiled at his grave memorated 50th anniversary on 8 penalty. The court ruled that cap- in 1984, Mangosuthu Buthelezi June 2013. On 8 June 1976, se- ital punishment, as provided for spoke. curity police arrived at Naledi High under the Criminal Procedure Act, School and attempted to arrest was in conflict with the country’s the leader of the local branch of 1994 constitution. The ruling did ■ 7 June 1953 the South Africa Students Move- not apply, however, to the crime Johnny Clegg born ment (SASM), Enos Ngutshane. of treason committed in wartime. In retaliation, students stoned the The Court ordered, with immedi- police and burned their car. The ate effect, that “the State and all its students were unhappy about be- organs are forbidden to execute ing compelled to use Afrikaans as any person already sentenced to a medium of instruction in 50% death under any provisions thus of subjects in secondary schools. declared to be invalid.” The rul- On 16 June 1976, unrest broke ing followed the Constitutional out at Naledi High School. Tsietsi Court’s hearing on the death pen- Mashinini led the peaceful protest alty which took place in February of learners in Soweto, in what be- 1995. Until the use of the death came known as the June 16 up- penalty was suspended in Febru- Johnny Clegg, renowned South rising. ary 1990, South Africa had one of African and global music icon was the highest rates of judicial execu- born in England in 1953 to an En- tions in the world. glish father and a Zimbabwean ■ 8 June 1988 mother. He left England for Zim- Four ANC cadres killed babwe where he lived until the near Piet Retief ■ 7 June 1951 age of seven. He and his mother On 8 June 1988, Surendra Lenny Pixley ka Isaka Seme immigrated to South Africa follow- Naidu, Lindiwe Mthembu, Makho- passed on ing her marriage to a South Afri- si Nyoka and Nontsikelelo Cotho- Pixley ka Isaka Seme died in Jo- can Journalist. Owing to his step za, all African National Congress hannesburg on 7 June 1951. He father’s job as a crime reporter, (ANC) members were shot dead was a political activist, journalist, Clegg became exposed to town- when their car was ambushed at lawyer and a co-founder of the Af- ship life when he would accompa- Piet Retief on the eastern Trans- rican National Congress (ANC). ny him on assignments. It was at vaal (now Mpumalanga) border. His funeral service was conducted this stage that Clegg met Sipho Eugene de Kock appeared before by the bishop of Johannesburg, Mchunu, the man who would later the Truth and Reconciliation Com- Ambrose Reeves, on 17 June. become his music partner, when mission in connection with their Tributes were made by, among they formed the band Juluka. murder. 27 ANC Today THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

■ 8 June 1998 ■ 10 June 1990 General Sani Abacha of Miriam Makeba returns to Nigeria died South Africa General Sani Abacha, the 10th President of Nigeria died at the Presidential palace in Abuja, al- legedly from poison, though no autopsy was conducted. Abacha was the first soldier in Nigeria to reach this level, without skipping a single rank. He was Minister of Defense when he seized power from a transitional government in 1993. Abacha’s rule saw signifi- cant growth of the Nigeria econo- my (ending privatization, reducing an end to conscription and to the inflation rate from 54% to 8.5%, apartheid war. investing in road infrastructure, reforming the insurance industry to support SMMEs), but also saw ■ 9 June 1983 political crisis such as the execu- MK cadres executed tion of Ken Saro-Wiwa under his World music icon and anti-apart- On 9 June 1983, uMkhonto we- leadership. heid campaigner returned to Sizwe (MK) operatives, Jerry Mo- South Africa after 31 years in ex- solodi, Terry Mogoerane and Tha- ile. bo Motaung were executed for ■ 9 June 1967 their part in a hit on Wonderboom Military service becomes police station. The ANC declared compulsory for white men ■ 11 June 1977 the execution a crime against hu- The Defense Amendment Bill, Police arrest Student manity and defended the attack designed to make military ser- leader Dan Montsitsi on the police station as an act of vice compulsory for White young Almost a year after the June 16 liberation. It called for the MK op- men, was passed on 9 June 1967 Soweto Student Uprising, Secu- eratives to be treated as prisoners – with the support of the opposi- rity Police announced the arrest of war under the protection of the tion. Conscription was institut- of Soweto Students’ Representa- Geneva Convention. ed in South Africa in the form of tive Council (SSRC) leader Dan 9 months of service for all white Sechaba Montsitsi. Four NUSAS males between the ages of 17 members were also arrested for and 65 years old. Conscripts be- the same reason, namely plans to came members of the South Afri- commemorate the Soweto upris- can Defense Force (SADF), or the ings. South African Police (SAP). They were used to enforce the govern- ment’s stance against liberation ■ 11 June 2010 movements, anti-apartheid activ- Opening game of the 2010 ists and the ‘communist threat’. FIFA Soccer World Cup in As apartheid war in neighbouring South Africa countries and inside the country The FIFA Soccer World Cup Fi- grew in the 70s, the conscription nals opened in 2010, the first to time was eventually increased to be held in Africa, with the match 2 years and 30 days annually for 8 between South Africa and Mex- years. In 1983, the End Conscrip- ico (1:1 draw). Later in the day, tion Campaign (ECC) was formed France played against Uruguay in by various local conscientious ob- the second match of the day, also jectors’ groups, campaigning for with a draw and no goals. 28 ANC Today THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

INTERNATIONAL DAYS

5 – 11 June 2021 Source: https://au.int/en/au-holidays and https://www.un.org

■ 5 June nity to ensure the sustainability of fisheries are being World Environment Day seriously compromised by illegal, unreported and un- regulated fishing activities.

■ 6 June Russian Language Day The day was proclaimed by UNESCO, on the occa- sion of the birth of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, in 2010 to celebrate language diversity and Russian as one of the six UN working languages. There are about 155 million Russian mother tongue speakers, The theme for World Environment Day 2021 is “Eco- and it is the official language of Belarus, Kazakhstan, system Restoration” and will see the launch of the Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The Russian al- UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Ecosystem phabet uses Cyrillic script and has 33 letters. Apart restoration can take many forms: Growing trees, from being one of the UN official languages, it is also greening cities, rewilding gardens, changing diets or an international space language. cleaning up rivers and coasts.

■ 7 June Africa Border Day A year after the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed in 1963, it adopted a resolution where countries agreed to “the principle of the respect of borders existing on achievement of national inde- pendence”, in order to prevent costly border wars be- tween newly independent countries. These borders

■ 5 June International Day against Illegal Fishing Fisheries provide a vital source of food, employment, recreation, trade and economic well-being for people throughout the world. In a world of growing popula- tion and persistent hunger, fish has emerged as an Transforming African borders important commodity for the achievement of food se- from barriers to bridges curity. However, efforts by the international commu- 29 ANC Today THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

Peka Bridge border control between South Africa and Lesotho were of course largely based on colonial borders decided at the Berlin conference, and are therefore often arbitrary, dividing villages, communities and peoples. As a result, although there was/is OAU/ AU agreement on the principle, in practice there has been a number of border dispute between countries, which had to be resolved either through mediation or settled through the International Court of Justice. In on our products. The UN also publishes general food 2007, the African Union Ministers in charge of Border safety information on this day. issues adopted the Addis Ababa Declaration on the African Union Border Programme, which became a section within the Peace and Security Department. ■ 8 June The same declaration designated 7 June as African World Oceans Day Border Day, with the aim to ‘transforming African During the Rio Earth Summit, participants and activ- borders from barriers to bridges.’ ists advocated for World Oceans Day, to raise aware- ness about also protecting the oceans as an integral part of our planet’s ecosystems. In 2008, the UN thus ■ 7 June declared 8 June as World Oceans Day. Oceans and World Food Safety Day seas contribute to the oxygen we breathe, the food This day was adopted by the UN in 2018, to draw we eat especially proteins, and critical part of the awareness about food safety. It will be the first cel- biosphere. The theme for 2019 was “Gender and ebration on 7 June 2019, under the theme “Food Oceans”, with a view to build ocean and gender Safety. Everyone’s Business.” We tend to leave literacy. The theme was to look at different ways to decisions about what goes into our food to those who promote gender equality and women’s participation manufacture food, and because they are about prof- in ocean-related activities such as marine scientific its, they do not warn consumers about what’s in the research, fisheries, labour at sea, migration by sea food we buy and eat, for example pesticides on fruit and human trafficking, policy-making and manage- and vegetables, or hormones in meat. Governments ment. On the continent, the organization Women In play a role by regulating food security and forcing Maritime (WIM Africa) brings women together to ad- food manufacturers to provide consumer information vocate around these issues. 30 ANC Today BOOK REVIEW By Fébé Potgieter-Gqubule

The Pan African Parliament – A Reading List

HE Pan African Parliament (PAP), was thrust into the fore- ground over the last few days with its spectacle of threats Tand disruptions over the issue of ro- tation of the leadership amongst the five African Union regions. Although for the wrong reasons, this focus on the PAP is long overdue, to under- stand its evolution and envisaged role in the body polity of the African continent.

The reading list below focuses on Treaty in 1991. The Abuja Treaty in the development and economic both these aspects of the Pan African rested on two pillars – the economic integration of the continent. Parliament. The book by Dr Francis integration of the continent, and the Kornegay recalls its role in the politi- African Continental Free Trade Area African Union Handbook. 2020 (7th cal integration of Africa, recalling the as a key component towards such in- Edition, AU Commission). two dominant approaches to integra- tegration. The political pillar saw the tion as the founders prepared for the transformation of the OAU into the Af- African Union and a Pan-Afri- launch of the Organisation of African rican Union in 2002. The Pan African can Parliament: Working Papers, Unity in 1963. These strands were Parliament was supposed to be the by Francis A. Kornegay, Manelisi the Casablanca group led by Kwame last institution in a process that was Genge, and Stephen P. Rule (2000. Nkrumah (Ghana, Mali, Guinea, to take place over a number of steps. Egypt and Algeria) which argued for However, with the adoption of the AU State of Readiness of African Par- an immediate move towards a united Constitutive Act in 2002, the PAP be- liaments on the Eve of the Pan Af- Africa; and the Monrovia group con- came one of the nine political organs rican Parliament, edited by Korwa sisting of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Li- of the Abuja Treaty, as explained in Adar (2004. Africa Institute of South beria, Togo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, the African Union Handbook, 2020. Africa): “a study of selected coun- Senegal, Benin, Malagasy Republic, tries’ parliaments and their functions Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger, People’s Article 17 of the AU Constitutive Act in order to extrapolate learning expe- Republic of Congo, Gabon, Central saw this initially advisory continental riences for the planned Pan-African African Republic, Ethiopia, Somalia, legislative body “to ensure the full Parliament. The study further consid- and Tunisia, which was in favour of participation of African peoples in ers the parliaments of some of the a more gradual approach. The form the development and economic inte- sub-regional organisations to ascer- that the OAU eventually took since gration of the continent.” At present, tain their effectiveness at national 1963 was dominated by this gradual the PAP is constituted of members and sub-regional levels, and exam- approach. of parliaments from different nation- ines the implications of the Pan-Afri- al parliaments, but it is envisaged can Parliament of the AU.” As the Berlin wall came down and the that PAP members will eventually be Cold War ended, but also the devas- elected directly by all Africans, on the The Role of the Pan African Par- tating dead decade of structural ad- basis of a universal franchise. liament in African Regionalism justment programmes in Africa drew (2004-2006): an Institutional Per- to a close, African countries again re- The reading list below further exam- spective, by Ogochukwu Iruoma vived the debates about integration, ines this history, but more important- Nzewi (2008. PhD Thesis, University leading to the adoption of the Abuja ly, reflects on the role PAP can play of Pretoria). 31 ANC Today X-WORD

#YouthMonth Youth In Numbers

ACROSS DOWN 2. A major contributor to disempowerment 1. Percentage of African population below 25 years. is ... from education. 3. Never before have there been so many.. ... 9. Number of adolescents and youth in the 4. By the middle of this century, number of youth will world. reach ... 10. Number of youth added to African labour 5. Young women suffer from ...... as a result of reproductive market each year. labour. 12. Percentage of Africa workforce that are 6. Only country with gender parity in secondary enrollment youth. 7. Sheng slang is a combination of English and ... 8. 15-24 year old’s as portion of total African population. 11. Portion of 10 young people who live in developing countries WORD BANK twenty percent (20%) thirty seven percent (37%) sixty percent (60%) eleven million (11 million) Eswatini time poverty disengagement kiSwahili one point eight billion (1.8 billion) young people nine (9) two billion