Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Ministers, hon members of the House and distinguished guests and officials, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, this year and the theme is this: The year of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance. We must use these year-long celebrations to obtain a better understanding of the challenges facing Africa.
Former President Nelson Mandela, in his address to the Summit Meeting of OAU heads of state and government, cited the following, and I quote:
The tree of our bitterness has come full leaf and the fall of our century will carry the foliage away.
Our Freedom Charter was clear when it pronounced on various issues that affected our people over the past six decades. Its drafters drafted the aspirations of our people and as such these aspirations translated into living documents through the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the policy positions that emerged out of the policy conferences of the ANC that shape government policies.
In this regard, when it came to foreign policy the Freedom Charter asserted, and I quote: There shall be peace and friendship ... The right of all peoples of Africa to independence and self-government shall be recognised, and shall be the basis of close co-operation.
This aspiration translated into South Africa's actively advancing the goals of democracy, peace, stability, development and mutually beneficial relations among the people of Africa as a whole, as well as a Pan-African solidarity.
The foreign policy of South Africa is guided by seven principles. Amongst these the ANC has asserted:
A belief that our foreign policy should reflect the interests of the continent of Africa; a belief that South Africa's economic development depends on growing regional and international economic co-operation in an interdependent world.
South Africa's future is intertwined with that of the rest of the continent. Significantly, our foreign policy ensures that the continent's people are able actively to participate in the processes of democracy in their own countries, in order to improve their basic human conditions.
The Southern African region sustained the ANC during our liberation struggle, thus our destiny is connected with this region and our people are one. Southern Africa is thus a pillar upon which South Africa's foreign policy rests. Thus, as the ANC in the postapartheid era, we committed ourselves to regional co-operation, economic integration and greater unity within the region and amongst all of the people. Balanced growth and development is needed that will be enhanced through regional co-operation and integration, and this will serve the interests of our economy. This will mean that opportunities in trade will be optimal in a region that is growing.
South Africa is a member of the Southern African Development Community, SADC, and the South African Customs Union, SACU. We will continue to promote within Africa the diaspora for cohesion, unity, democracy and prosperity of the SADC and the African Union, AU. [Applause.] We will continue to advance regional economic integration in Southern Africa following a developmental model that comprises infrastructure development, co-operation in the real economy and the development of regional supply chains. This is done to pursue and ensure that there is a fair, equitable and developmental approach towards SADC integration.
The political will within SADC needs to be consolidated to ensure that the region achieves its objectives. We as the ANC have been leading in strengthening and consolidating the region politically. We have to continuously ensure that our approach is developmental and ensure that there is diversification of our economies in our region.
Regional integration is crucial to ensure that the region becomes one of the nodal growth points of the world. [Applause.] This refers to issues relating to the developing of a common market and having the region as a significant destination point for investment within the context of political stability and economic policies. We also need to deepen democracy and human rights and the consolidation of peace in the region.
We acknowledge that Africa sacrificed a lot for the ANC during the time of our liberation struggle. We as the ANC envision transformation on our continent because we want an Africa that is free, peaceful and vibrant and is able to actively participate in and contribute to areas of human endeavour and in the multilateral fora.
We are committed actively to advancing the African Renaissance, the rebirth of the continent, as it is a strategic objective and a call to action. Africa's renaissance should consolidate collective sovereignty. Critical to the Renaissance are the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament and regional economic communities that must be strengthened continuously to meet the modern-day challenges. Continental co-operation and economic integration have yielded benefits in strengthening Africa's economic relations. We will continuously commit ourselves to the process of regional and continental peacekeeping and peacemaking in order to track possible conflict.
The ANC commits to playing a meaningful role on the continent in order to actively participate in the development of our continent. Work also continues to attain economic prosperity, intra-Africa trade and other positive and progressive interventions designed for Africa to move forward towards prosperity and a better life for her peoples.
The ANC believes that economic and political co-operation with other countries can improve the lives of our own people, and will continue to work towards a better life for all, a better Africa and a better world, one without hunger, disease, conflict and underdevelopment.
The 50th National Conference of the ANC in Mafikeng in 1997 contributed to the development of a New Partnership for Africa's Development, Nepad, as a programme of the AU aimed at bringing about peace, stability and security; the eradication of poverty; development; human resources; the economic revival of Africa; democracy; good governance; and human rights.
Fundamental change has been developed through the launch of the AU and the adoption of Nepad for significant development and growth to promote Africa's cause.
The establishment of the AU and the final drafting of Nepad is work mainly led by the heads of government and states. The sustainability and successful implementation of Nepad and the functioning of the AU involves women, youth and organs of civil society. Africa's development in the multilateral arena has been formally and officially recognised through the adoption of Nepad by the United Nations General Assembly.
The AU must play a leading role in defending the interests of Africa in multilateral bodies such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and even the coming new Brics bank.
Different organisational and government strategies and mechanisms have been implemented to involve the broader South African society in the implementation of Nepad and the AU as the organisational articulation of the vision of the African Renaissance. We have been developing a theoretical framework and content for better expression of our vision of the African Renaissance.
We strive to ensure that we reach into the resources of the countries of Africa and establish partnerships amongst the countries of the South. This is done in order to mobilise the developed countries of the South to actively participate in Nepad.
Critically, democracy, good governance and accountability are the essential elements for the success of the AU and Nepad. The speedy implementation of Nepad is good governance of all and by all African countries.
The ANC should continue to play an instrumental role in strengthening the role played by the Pan-African Parliament, PAP. We should continue to guide the debate on the future of the PAP, especially whether or not it should be awarded legislative powers to mould its character. We should advocate and celebrate the existence of the PAP in South Africa.
South Africa should assist the PAP to revitalise its role as a key catalyst achieving unity in, and the further democratisation of, Africa and its member countries. We should assist the PAP to establish regional parliaments in line with the regional bodies of the AU.
Working together, we can build a better, transformed, unified and democratic Africa. [Applause.] In conclusion, hon Chairperson, many people are saying that we are overstretching our role in Africa, especially on the side of the DA. Let me quote the hon Minister Nkoana-Mashabane when she addressed a church gathering on 21 April 2012, as follows:
We cannot afford the luxury of saying Africa's problems are not our problems. It is also in our national interest to have a stable, peaceful and developed Africa.
Rise, Africa, rise! The ANC supports the Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]