ADDRESS BY ANC DEPUTY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA AT THE ANC NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE 12 MAY 2017 COLESBERG, NORTHERN CAPE Members of the ANC National Executive Committee, Members of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee, Leaders of the Alliance, Comrades and Friends, I am honoured to address this important gathering of our beloved African National Congress. Dit is vir my n eer en voorreg om hierdie belangrike Konferensie van ons geliefde ANC toe te spreek. This a movement that was founded 105 years ago in a church school in Mangaung. Among its most prominent founders were men of the cloth and people who were influenced by missionary teachings. Ours is a movement that has welcomed people of all faiths and creeds, yet the image of the church has become interwoven with the identity of the African National Congress. We say today that the ANC is a broad church because it brings together a diverse range of South Africans in pursuit of the objectives of the National Democratic Revolution. Perhaps now, as we gather to discuss how we can better serve the people, we should think of our movement as a church. It is a church built by great men and women, by Sol Plaatje, Pixley ka Seme, Charlotte Maxeke, Chief Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Dorothy Nyembe, Joe Slovo, Lilian Ngoyi, Chris Hani and Ahmed Kathrada. 1
It is a church in which our people found refuge, solace, comfort, strength and hope at the moments of greatest suffering and terror. It is a church in which they found their voice and from which rang out their songs of freedom. It has always stood for democracy, justice and equality. Dit het nog altyd gestaan vir demokrasie, geregtigheid en gelykheid. It has steadfastly served the poor, the disenfranchised and the marginalised. It has united our people and forged a common struggle for freedom and dignity. Dit het ons mense saamgebind en verenig, en die pad voorberei vir n gemeenskaplike stryd van vryheid en menswaardigheid vir ons mense. Comrades, This ANC is a church of hope, faith, solidarity and unity. In its foundations are written beautiful stories about the resilience and strength of our people. Its architecture shouts volumes about the tenacity of the human spirit. It stands as a remembrance that we as a people can overcome any challenge as long as we stand together and united. Dit staan as n herinnering dat ons as n trotse nasie enige uitdaging kan oorwin, solank ons saamstaan en verenig is. Today, as we gather here in Colesberg, we must acknowledge that this great church, which has withstood many storms, is in danger of slowly disintegrating. Where once there was unity, we now find division. 2
Where once there was selflessness, we now find self-interest. But we are far from ruin. We need to pause, think and take a long hard look at ourselves. We need to ask how we have lost our way and to retrace our footsteps. If we act now, with determination and purpose, we can rebuild, renew and unite our movement. It must start here in the Northern Cape. Dit moet hier in die Noord Kaap begin. It must start with this Conference. Dit moet met hierdie Konferensie begin. It must start with each of us examining our conduct and our intentions. It must start with us putting the needs of our people first and foremost. We must place the branches at the centre of the life of our movement. We must make sure that these branches are open to any person who subscribes to the principles and objectives of the ANC and who wants to be part of the struggle for a better life for all. We must make sure that members are empowered, that they are involved in the life of the movement and in programmes of communities. We have achieved much over the last 105 years. We have done so through humility, unity and discipline. 3
In the two decades of democracy we have worked together to build houses, provide access to education and health care, and ensure that our people have affordable, quality services. We have managed the economy effectively, attracted investment, created jobs and reduced poverty. We have created opportunities for our people to live with dignity and hope. It is this ANC that has made and continues to make higher education more accessible to the poor. It is this ANC that is enabling small businesses, advancing economic inclusion for the black majority and changing patterns of ownership and control in the economy. It is this ANC that is able to bring government, business and labour together to agree on a national minimum wage that will improve the living conditions of millions of our people. It is this ANC that has been able to craft a National Development Plan to guide our work towards a better society. Yet, we still have to do more for our people. We still have to do more to accelerate radical economic transformation. We still have to do more to grow the economy, create jobs and reduce poverty and inequality. We must reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. We must still do more to industrialise our economy and improve access for young, black and female entrepreneurs. We must still restore the land to its rightful owners and use the mineral resources beneath it for the benefit of all South Africans. 4
We must still do more to ensure that our state-owned enterprises are sustainable and perform their role in provisioning vital economic and social infrastructure. We must still do more to end the devastating effects of disease, malnutrition and poor health on our people. But we can only do all of this if the ANC remains the leader of society, if it retains the confidence and support of the people. We can only do this if we are able to set aside our differences and work together to advance the needs of our people. We can only do this if we acknowledge our faults and take corrective action. Only if we ourselves are united can we unite our communities. Only then can we organise our people to participate in building a common South Africa that belongs to all who live in it. Only then can we eradicate racism, patriarchy and all other forms of intolerance. Only then can we unite the motivating forces for our revolution to work in unison to build a national democratic society. It must all begin with you, here in the Northern Cape. Dit moet alles begin by u, hier in die Noord Kaap. You have to provide leadership so that you can restore faith in the leadership of the ANC. U moet leierskap verskaf, sodat u die vertroue in die leierskap van die ANC kan herstel. You have to lead the way to restore the confidence of members, supporters and leaders. 5
You have this opportunity to act with exemplary conduct, to give a sign to the nation that the ANC listens, lives and leads. You have the historical moment to remind our people that the ANC has humility and integrity and is dedicated to the service of our nation. You have the responsibility to honour Oliver Reginald Tambo in the year of his centenary by uniting the ANC and making it an ever more effective instrument of liberation. I encourage you to follow the lead of several structures of our movement to organise OR Tambo Fridays, in which branches dedicate each Friday to addressing the needs of communities. We dare not forget how courageously our people fought to be free. We dare not forget the ultimate sacrifice of patriots like Vuyisile Mini, Solomon Mahlangu, Ruth First, Dulcie September, Chris Hani and many others. We dare not forget the pain and suffering of our people. We dare not betray their hopes, prayers and aspirations. We dare not betray their trust and confidence. This is your moment. Seize it and lead our people to a brighter future. I thank you. 6