Hon Speaker, Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, hon members of both Houses of Parliament, and distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this year, 2011, marks 48 years since the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity, the OAU, the forerunner to what we today call the African Union, the AU. It was created in Addis Ababa when 37 independent countries came together to promote unity and development, defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of members, eradicate all forms of colonialism and promote international co- operation, among other things. The OAU was also established to symbolise independence, peace, unity and commitment to the principles of democracy and socioeconomic development.
At that time the founding of the organisation was the most significant symbol of Pan-Africanism on this continent. During the decade of its founding, the 1960s, no fewer than 18 new African nations attained their independence, and joined the family of nations as fully-fledged members of the international community. It can therefore be said that the 1960s was the decade of hope for Africa as, one by one, new nations emerged from the yoke of colonialism to stake their claim of nationhood and to stand alongside their former colonisers as equals.
Today, half a century later, Africa grapples with a variety of challenges associated with hunger, poverty, disease, political instability, corruption, and general lack of access to proper health care, clean water and education, to name but a few.
This year's Africa Day theme of "African renewal, advancement and development" is an appropriate description of what this continent dearly needs. The political independence achieved by the peoples of this vast continent cannot be complete while they are still economically deprived. The recent World Economic Forum on Africa, which was held here in Cape Town, observed that Africa was indeed on the move towards economic growth that has not been seen in past decades. However, the reality is that many of the so-called economic advances have not translated into quality growth, as former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria observed.
It is important to remind ourselves that an African should never pretend to be someone else. We should realise the uniqueness of our being, of our problems and our challenges, and of the solutions that we try to fashion for those problems. Former President Thabo Mbeki, while addressing the annual general meeting of the SADC Electoral Commissions Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 27 September 1999. said, "We are Africans! We are not American! We are not British! We are not German! We are not French! We are Africans!"
In this regard, as we reflect on the past half-century of African independence, we also have to look hard at the many trouble spots on the continent. Just next door to us, on the northern part of our borders, is Zimbabwe, which is categorised as one of the failed states in the world. The SADC region is one of the most stable on this continent, and yet Zimbabwe continues to be a source of political and social instability for this region. The recent political upheavals we have seen in Swaziland should also be a source of concern for the leadership of this region. South Africa, as one of the two closest neighbours to the world's last absolute monarchy, has a responsibility to assist those who are advocating and calling for democracy and respect for human rights to be achieved in Swaziland.
The protests we saw in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya should also be a warning to some African leaders that Africans will no longer tolerate tinpot dictators and despots. In reference to these protests recently, President Zuma said:
Exile, torture, jail or even killing did not succeed to stop the masses of South Africa from demanding their freedom and cannot succeed anywhere else. ... The recently erupted and massive protests happened because people were tired of autocratic governments ...
Finally, although democracy has taken root in a number of African countries since independence, in the words of Narnia Bohler-Muller:
Democracy cannot merely be understood as the holding of regular elections. The ballot box is ineffective if the electoral process is not free and fair, or if those who cast the votes are not free - from oppression, war, poverty and an authoritarian state.
Long live Africa! I thank you. [Applause.]