Statement

As we commemorate the birth of Isithwalandwe-Seaparankwe Comrade Oliver Reginald ‘OR’ Kaizana Tambo, we honour a revolutionary whose life embodied sacrifice, humility, integrity and an unwavering commitment to the freedom and dignity of all South Africans.

Cde President Tambo sustained the movement through the darkest days of exile and oppression. He was forced to make the hardest of decisions and respond to the most difficult of circumstances.

Faced with low morale, internal dissent and military setbacks, he convened the Morogoro ANC Conference in secret and pulled the ANC from the brink of collapse. When a negotiated solution became possible in the late 1980s, at the expense of his own health, he crisscrossed the world to win support for a document that would form a blueprint for negotiations for a democratic South Africa – The Consensus Resolution.

This is the mark of a true leader and shows what is possible when leadership prioritises the will of the people and trusts them.

In the face of the rise of authoritarian and right-wing governments, irresponsible and uncaring presidents like Donald Trump and the genocidal actions of Netanyahu and his cohorts, one may believe that trusting in the will of the people has been in vain.

Yet, on Sunday 25th October, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won an unprecedented fourth term by as many as four million votes, against precedent and global anti-incumbent sentiment, to put the brakes on a wave of right-wing election victories across Latin America.

On the same day, a student-led movement defeated Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in a snap parliamentary election, ending his 14-year grip on power. And this with a voter turnout of 70%! Young people and students are asserting their agency and power in France, India, Nepal,

Bangladesh, Madagascar and other places with increased vigour.With Israel going to the polls tomorrow and the United States’ midterms next week, let’s hope that the tide against exploitation, extraction, violence and wanton disrespect for the lives of those who are ‘other’

– migrants, Palestinians, black people, LGBTIQ+ – will turn.

We face a similar challenge in South Africa. Will the local government elections next week reaffirm or betray Tambo’s legacy and faith in the will of the people?

A vote for the ANC should not be a vote for the ANC’s liberation legacy, but for effective governance for a better life. Thirty-two years into our democracy, we have made significant strides, but poverty, unemployment, inequality and social exclusion continue to undermine what freedom promised.

As a result, many people are turning to parties that offer quick solutions to the complex challenges we face. Others turn away from voting and a belief in government; some even call for a change in our Constitution. And others look for scapegoats in migrants.

The ANC is the only political party most committed to the constitutional principles that Cde President Tambo introduced and to preserving democratic processes and practices.

The true measure of our respect for Cde President Tambo lies in translating the principles he fought for into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary South Africans. It lies in acknowledging the complexity and not scapegoating, in ‘telling no lies and claiming no easy victories’. It calls for ethical leadership, accountability and a renewed commitment to serving our people.

OR Tambo’s enduring commitment to non-racialism reminds us that our diversity must be a source of strength, not division. At a time when social fragmentation and intolerance threaten our national cohesion, we must reaffirm our common humanity and embrace the values of

Ubuntu, mutual respect and solidarity.

OR Tambo did not live to witness the democratic breakthrough of 1994, but his contribution helped lay its foundations. We honour his legacy by defending our democratic institutions, holding leaders accountable and ensuring that the aspirations of our people remain at the centre of governance.

This is the task of the over 10 000 candidates the ANC has deployed across the country. And to continue the shift to greater democracy and away from fascism and authoritarianism across the world, let us encourage everyone to vote ANC on 4th November!

ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS VETERANS LEAGUE (ANCVL).

ENDS//.

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