Speaker, from 25 to 28 October 2012 ...
Order, hon members. Order! Proceed, hon member.
... convened by the ANC, former anti-apartheid movements; national liberation movements; the ANC's alliance partners; solidarity groups; nongovernmental organisations, NGOs; trade unions; the faith-based sector; various left formations; and very many other organisations gathered in the city of Tshwane to participate in the 3rd ANC International Solidarity Conference.
This was a follow-up to the solidarity conferences organised in Tanzania in 1987 and Johannesburg in 1993, respectively.
The conference took place in the context of the ANC's centenary celebrations and coincided with the birthday of Comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo on 27 October, in recognition of the pre-eminent role he played in galvanising international solidarity for the struggles of the oppressed, particularly in South Africa and the world over.
In organising this conference, the ANC was informed by the resolution of its 52nd national conference held in Polokwane in 2007, which directed that:
The ANC embarks on a programme to strengthen the progressive movement in Africa and formalise relations with the global progressive movement.
The conference recalled and celebrated the anti-apartheid movement as the largest ever global solidarity movement and acknowledged its contribution to the liberation of South Africa. Participants paid particular tribute to Comrade Nelson Mandela as one of the enduring symbols of the struggle for justice, human rights, peace and reconciliation. [Time expired.]