Madam Deputy Speaker, last week Friday, 26 June, marked the 54th anniversary of the Congress of the People gathering in Kliptown and the Freedom Charter. It is an occasion that challenges all patriotic South Africans to reassess how far we are in light of the ideals of the Freedom Charter.
The Congress of the People expressed profoundly and authentically the common aspirations of the overwhelming majority of South Africans, both black and white, to live in peace in the country of their birth, to shape its future and share its fruits, and to put an end to the centuries of colonial domination, racist tyranny, exploitation, misery and humiliation.
Its significance does not lie in its fine words, but in the fact that it is a document drawn up by the people themselves. It is the expression of the collective demands of the people. It embodies their aspirations.
The Freedom Charter is not merely a historical document. It is a living document, an important guide about the direction in which we should all take our country. Its visionary prescriptions have served as an educational tool for different generations of freedom fighters and the masses of the people of South Africa. It continues to provide an enduring vision of a new South African society. I thank you.