As South Africans commemorate Freedom Charter Day, the ANC Veterans League joins the nation in reaffirming the enduring values contained in the Freedom Charter, adopted at Kliptown on 26 June 1955. The Freedom Charter proclaimed that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white”, and envisioned a country where “there shall be peace and friendship” and where all shall enjoy security and comfort. These principles remain the moral foundation of our constitutional democracy and continue to guide our collective own hands, target foreign nationals, block access to communities or incite hatred and division.

The painful lessons of July 2021 must never be forgotten. The orchestrated violence and destruction claimed the lives of more than 350 people and inflicted economic losses estimated at more than R50 billion. The country cannot afford a repeat of such devastation. Those dark days demonstrated how quickly misinformation, fear and opportunism can be exploited by counter-revolutionary forces seeking to destabilise our democracy and undermine constitutional order.The concerns around illegal migration and pressures on public services are legitimate and must be addressed through lawful and constitutional means. South Africa can secure its borders, protect its citizens and uphold the rule of law without abandoning its humanity or the values enshrined in the Freedom Charter and our Constitution.The ANC Veterans League, therefore, calls upon all veterans of our liberation struggle to provide leadership at this critical moment. Veterans must not be swayed by false information, inflammatory rhetoric or campaigns designed to sow division among our people.

We have a historic responsibility to defend the values for which generations of freedom fighters sacrificed, namely peace, non-racialism, human dignity and social cohesion.

On this Freedom Charter Day, we call on all South Africans to reject fear, violence and vigilantism, and to recommit themselves to dialogue, peace and nation-building.

Let us honour the vision of the Congress of the People by reaffirming that:

• There shall be peace, security and comfort for all

Differences must be resolved through democratic and constitutional means; and no force of intimidation, division or counter-revolution will deter us from defending our democracy.

The ANC Veterans League takes its cue from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for calm and restraint and urges all South Africans to stand united in defence of peace, stability and constitutional democracy. We also impress upon Border Management to further strengthen operations, and on Home Affairs and SAPS, to act swiftly and lawfully against undocumented foreigners.

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ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS VETERANS LEAGUE.

Enquiries:

ANC Veterans League President

Comrade Dr Snuki Zikalala

082 561 3900