BY
HON MB GWALA MPL, KZN LEGISLATURE
Hon Speaker,
The 16th of December became known as the Day of Reconciliation in 1995, when our Government sought to recognize the significance of this date for both the liberation movement and the Afrikaner community. It was first celebrated as the “Dingane Day” and stood for the triumph of the Voortrekkers against the Zulu army led by King Dingane at the ‘Battle of Blood River’.
On 16 December, 1961, Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) was launched as an armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). uMkhonto wesizwe awusungulelwanga ukubophela izinkabi ulime odedangendlale bamasimu ukuze kutshalwe imifino kodwa wasungulelwa ukubhuqabhuqa umbuso ngenhlamvu. Kodwa ngeshwa impi yabhekiswa kwabamnyama ngohlelo lwempi yabantu (People’s War).
This day provides us with a unique opportunity to reflect on the road we have travelled to establish a truly democratic state in South Africa and to create a society where people are valued according to the contribution they are making to the development of our country rather than their ideological persuasion, race, creed or gender.
Somlomo, kuyinkinga ukuthi iqembu le-ANC lingama lithi phuhle kuleNdlu likhulume ngesikhulu isibindi ngodaba lokubuyisana ekubeni lingayiphili into eliyikhulumayo. Leliqembu lahlinzela iqembu leNkatha ezibini ngokuthi lisungule isinyenyela iqembu le-NFP ngenhloso yokuthi iNkatha inqindwe amandla ukuze iphenduke isicacogwana. Lokhu kwashiwo ngisho uMongameli we-IFP uMntwana waKwaPhindangene ePhalamende likaZwelonke phambi kukaMongameli weZwe uMhlonishwa uJacob Zuma kodwa kuze kube namhlanje akakaze ayiphendule leyonkulumo. Bukhona ubufakazi balokho obuqoshiwe.
Besicabanga ukuthi uma uKhongolose uzoba sophondweni ekuholeni umkhankaso wokuthelelana amanzi phakathi kwawo neqembu leNkatha lapha esifundazweni kodwa lutho lokho akwenzeki. Okunye okusicasulayo njengeqembu leNkatha indaba yokuthi uKhongolose uma kunenkinga uthi sonke asibambisane kodwa uma sekukuhle iwona wodwa ozichoma uphaphe lwegwalagwala. Sitshelwa ngokuthi asisukume sakhe kodwa uKhongolose wakha wodwa thina njengamanye amaqembu usushiye ngaphandle. Ubufakazi balokhu iloludaba lwaloluhlelo lukahulumeni wesifundazwe okuthiwa uSukuma Sakhe lapho ongqongqoshe beqembu likaKhongolose beholwa uMhlonishwa uNdunankulu baye bahambe bodwa basishiye thina uma beyodlulisa izijumbana zempuphu kanye nezikhwama zenyama yenkukhu uma kunokhetho. Uma ubhekake konke lokhu ungasho kanjani ukuthi kumele kuthelelwane amanzi buyiswane ngokuphelele. Mhla uKhongolose wakwazi ukumela ukubuyisana ngokuphelele ilapho sonke siyovumelana khona ngazwi linye sithi impela ukubuyisana sekukhona lapha KwaZulu-Natali.
We must all recall that on 4 January 1974, Harry Schwarz, leader of the liberal-reformist wing of the United Party, met with uMntwana waKwaPhindangene, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and signed a five-point plan for racial peace in South Africa, which came to be known as the Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith. Kudala uMntwana waKwaPhindangene abe sophondweni lokuthi kube nokubuyisana kanye nokuthula kulelizwe kodwa abanye ngenxa yezinhloso zabo abazazi bona abafuni ukukuvuma lokhu.
The declaration stated that “the situation of South Africa in the world scene as well as internal community relations requires, in our view, an acceptance of certain fundamental concepts for the economic, social and constitutional development of our country”. The declaration’s purpose was to provide a blueprint for government of South Africa for racial peace in South Africa. It called for negotiations involving all peoples, in order to draw up constitutional proposals stressing opportunity for all with a Bill of Rights to safeguard these rights. It suggested that the federal concept was the appropriate framework for such changes to take place. It also affirmed that political change must take place through non-violent means.
We must also recall that all talks were preceded by the Record of Understanding between the ANC and NP government. To this end the ANC delegation advised the South African Government that it would recommend to its National Executive Committee that the process of negotiation be resumed, where after extensive bilateral discussions were held. These meetings entailed discussions with a view to remove obstacles towards the resumption of negotiations and focused on the identification of steps to be taken to address issues raised in earlier memoranda. The discussions took note of various opposing viewpoints on the relevant issues and obstacles.
Furthermore, the negotiations began with a meeting between the African National Congress and the then South African government on 4 May 1990 at the presidential residence, Groote Schuur at that time.
This resulted in the Groote Schuur Minute, a commitment between the two parties towards the resolution of the existed climate of violence and intimidation as well as the removal of practical obstacles to negotiation including immunity from prosecution for returning exiles and the release of political prisoners.
Therefore, we are sick and tired about the ANC’s insane utterances of being obsessed about the IFP. They always accuse us of being working with apartheid oppressors. Surprisingly, it is the ANC itself that worked with the South Africa’s once all-powerful National Party, which ruled the country with its apartheid policies for 46 years. The NNP vanished from the political map after joining the African National Congress, the arch-enemy it once sought to crush. This further resulted to Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk to be appointed minister of tourism and environmental affairs in President Thabo Mbeki’s government. Ngabe izivumelwano phakathi kweANC neNational Party kwakungeyona yini ingxenye yokubambisana?
IFP believes that the focus of the National Day of Reconciliation must be on nation building and the eradication of racism in our society.
We call for concrete action to eradicate the sources and causes of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We further call upon all citizens to speak out against racism and to lay charges against anyone who promotes racism. These individuals who promote racism must not destroy our peace and the joy in our country.
Tackling racism is key to ensuring that reconciliation is not just celebrated as a national holiday, but is a reality for all South Africans. Until justice and equality are not attained, then reconciliation itself is still work in progress.
Kuyahlupha Somlomo ukuthi kusekhona lapha ezweni lakithi elihle kakhulu elingafelwa nkonyane okuthi uma sihuba ingoma yokuthi akuthelelwane amanzi bayivume kanye nathi kuthi kungahlukwana ngezindlela bese ontabakayikhonjwa beziveza ukuthi bona bangobani. Ukuthi siyisizwe esesathelelana amanzi ngokwenzeka endulo kufana ncimishi nokufaka amakha anuka kahle kodwa ungazange udlule endlini yengwenya (phecelezi ukugeza). Uma sikhuluma ngalolusuku kubalulekile ukuthi singakhohlisani kodwa kumele sijule ngempela ukuthi ngabe uthuli olwasingcolisa ngezikhathi zobandlululo seluhlambuleke ngendlela efanele yini. Uma sisenenkwethu olimini ngenxa yezinto ezazikhulunywa endulo namanje leyonkwethu izoqhubeka ibe khona ngoba asiyisusile ngokwanele.
Uma kusekhona abazibona bengamabhoklolo okukhala esabo isicathulo kuthi uma kukhona abavungamayo ngokuthile noma ezindaweni zokusebenza bese bekhacwa ngamazwi ayiziswana noma babizwe ngezilwane ezifana nezimfene noma bavalelwe emabhokisini emingcwabo kuthiwa bazoshiswa bephila noma baphoqwe ukuthi abagile imikhuba nezilwane ezifana nezinja lokho kuvusa amanxeba ezinhliziyweni zabaningi abesepholile. Akudingi ukuthi sikhumbuzane ngezinto ezenzeka endulo ngoba ziyasithunuka, okuthi uma lokho sekwenzekile kube nzima ukulapha lesosilonda esesiqale phansi sabhibha.
You cannot make remarks contrary to the Constitution and offend South African society. Condemnation against this kind of behaviour is not enough but, such rotten elements must be arrested and prosecuted. We must not allow people to be treated in such a manner in a democratic country by self-centered racists. South Africa is a glass house that must be guarded and protected against such practices.
The values, enshrined in the Constitution, of dignity and worth of the human person, equal rights of men and women, tolerance and living together in peace and harmony are under siege. Prejudice against those of another faith, history or culture is always toxic.
Through commemorations like the one we are having today, each and every one of us can now play a vital role in reinforcing these values of peace, reconciliation, justice and human rights.
I thank you
