COVID proved also to be brutal in showing untransformed South Africa in particular as it pertains to the historic apartheid socio-economic challenges. We are witnesses to the passing away of friends, leaders of various institutions business, politics including our relatives.
Lack of access to basic water, sanitation, and the state of poor health facilities and roads, are among a few services COVID demonstrated some limitations regarding our readiness for human disasters.
THE POSITIVES
The President’s adaptive response against the background I have already described is highly commendable for the undisputed number of lives it helped to save.
It is not an intervention that did not have weaknesses especially pertaining to the readiness of the quarantine facilities, water installations through such worrisome situations were responded to effectively.
Another huge challenge is the economic damage which worsened a situation that was ailing even before COVID. We look forward to the tabling of the economic recovery plan by our Government; a lot of lessons have been learned.
In the same breath, the departure of a giant in the championship for humanity, George Bizos, has touched the entire Republic of South Africa. He will be painfully missed.
IT WILL BE AMISS TO TALK ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL RENEWAL WITHOUT REFLECTING ON THE HISTORIC PURPOSE OF OUR MOVEMENT
The ANC’s birth was historically incidental upon the state of the country. It is not a mistake that at all material times the ANC’s performance will always be evaluated on the basis of the state of the people. Our resilience is dependent upon our relevance to both the plight and the celebration of our people at any given point in time or dispensation.
THE HISTORICAL PURPOSE OF THE ANC FINDS EXPRESSION IN THE ARTICULATIONS OF RULE 2 OF ITS CONSTITUTION
2.1. To unite the people of South Africa, Africans in particular, for the complete liberation from all forms of discrimination and national oppression
2.2. To end apartheid in all its forms and transform South Africa as rapidly as possible into a united, non-racial, non-sexist, and democratic country based on the principles of the freedom charter and pursuit of the National Democratic revolution
2.3. To defend the democratic gains of the people and to advance towards a society in which the Government is freely chosen by the people according to the principles of the Universal suffrage on a common voters roll
2.4. To fight for social justice and to eliminate the vast inequalities created by the Apartheid and the system of National oppression
2.5. To build a South African Nation with a common patriotism and loyalty in which the cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity of the people is recognized
2.6. To promote economic development for the benefit of all
2.7. To support and advance the cause of the woman’s emancipation
2.8. To support and advance the cause of the National liberation, development, world peace, disarmament, and environmentally sustainable development
2.9. To support and promote the rights of children and the disabled