The Natal Indian Congress (NIC) was established in 1894 to fight discrimination against Indians in the Natal Colony and later what became the Natal Province. Here is the last speech drafted by Pravin Gordhan from his hospital bed to commemorate 130 years since the formation of the NIC.
Sanibonani, Namaskar, As-Salam-u-Alaikum, Vannakkam. Greetings to comrades Mac Maharaj and Kgalema Motlanthe.
Congratulations to the organising team for arranging this 130th year commemoration of the formation of the Natal Indian Congress.
This is an opportunity for us to reflect on the past decades of political developments and more importantly to highlight the values and spirit that were embedded in the Congress Movement and how they should be reinvigorated in the years ahead.
This is also an opportunity to reflect on the last 60 or 70 years after the signing of the Dadoo-Xuma-Naicker Pact. This Pact laid the political basis for:
• Unity in action among all oppressed communities;
• The Defiance Campaign and the Anti-Group Areas Act Campaign, and many boycotts;
• The Congress of the People and the formulation of the Freedom Charter, our lodestar;
• A set of values, a progressive political culture;
• And the understanding that activists and leaders were serving a greater cause – freedom and democracy – not serving one’s self-interest.
Today we reflect on the gap that has developed between those values; integrity and dedication to the national interest, on the one hand, and the self-interest, greed and corruption we find on the other.
It is time for a “reset”.
All progressives, including those with a Congress orientation, must reinvigorate the so-called old values and reassert those values.
Anti-democratic tendencies must be eclipsed by a commitment to national interest and to public service. This “epidemic” of promoting oneself and accumulating wealth through patronage and authority within the state must be anathema to genuine democracy.
Let us briefly look at the 70s and 80s.The NIC was re-launched in 1971. As the late Farouk Meer said:
Our intention was to fly the Congress flag and the Freedom Charter within the country.
It was the only arm of the Congress movement that was not banned.
The 70s marked the emergence of the Black Consciousness Movement; a period of intensified mobilisation; trade unions were activated; student campuses were alive and active. There were initiatives from the progressives and Congress throughout the country, to set up different types of organisations, in order to both mobilise people and to confront the apartheid system.
These organisations eventually formed the United Democratic Front. By the late 70s, the first campaigns against organs of apartheid like the LACs were extremely successful and later the puppet SAIC and the tricameral system.
This was combined with the armed struggle, building the underground and international mobilisation against the apartheid system.
So also began the process of linking struggles around local grievances; rentals; housing; workplace issues; facilities; and the larger political disenfranchisement.
By the early 80s, there was an emerging convergence between the local and national challenges, to lay the basis for the Release Mandela Campaign and the launch of a non-racial, internal political leadership.
Institutions must be made ‘state capture proof’
The formation of the United Democratic Front in 1983 and Cosatu in 1985, made a huge contribution to the intensification of the internal struggles.
The underground of the ANC and the SACP were well entrenched and widespread in our communities and organisations. Activists were part of a union, movement or a social organisation at one level, but also members of the underground at the same time.
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Today our task is, if I may humbly suggest, to advance the values of genuine democracy, of a democratic culture, and to ensure that the country progresses in the right direction.
That it’s institutions of democracy, created by the Constitution, are made “state capture proof”.
We cannot again have a National Prosecuting Authority, certain arms of law enforcement and the Public Protector’s office recaptured for abuse, by those whose only intent is to fill their own bank accounts. Democracy will not survive on its own.
Democracy must be constantly secured and enhanced. In many parts of the world, democracy is being undermined by right wing populism, massive inequality, identity politics, geopolitical tensions and authoritarianism.
The super-rich are imposing an inordinate influence on democracy. Democracy must be entrenched, and more work must be done among society to own and defend it. Integrity and ethical conduct in our politics appears to be sadly declining.
Lessons from our past
Populism seemingly represents the interests of the majority of South Africans, but actually represents the interest of just a few.
Those that are active in either political, social or non-governmental fields must all contribute to working in the public and national interest, as opposed to self-interest. Further, we must draw a clear line between public funds and resources and private resources.
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Public funds must be spent to improve the standard of living of the poor, their upward economic mobility, and to build an inclusive economy. Yet what we have is a plethora of “extractors”, particularly at a local level: “tenderpreneurs”, extortionists and mafias.
There are many lessons from our past.
Now is the time for those that are progressive, politically and socially active in the non-governmental field – to come together to ensure that we:
• Build consensus around a common platform of progressive politics;
• Not focus on ourselves, but rather on what we can do for the majority of our people; and
• Improve the standard of living of South Africans expeditiously and ethically.
Let us open a new chapter on united, progressive, mass mobilisation and campaigning which builds national unity, social cohesion and a new optimism and determination to build a better South Africa.
Thank you for the opportunity to make this contribution to the celebration of the 130th anniversary today.
– Pravin Gordhan, anti-apartheid activist and former Cabinet minister.
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