Chairperson, hon members, on 18 November 2007, the 192- member UN General Assembly, stressing the need to promote democratisation, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, agreed to observe 15 September each year as the International Day of Democracy.
In addition, the Assembly affirmed that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of life.
The quest of the ANC for a better Africa and a better world derives from the internationalist tradition, with its origins in the Freedom Charter, which states that "There Shall be Peace and Friendship!" and that-
South Africa shall strive to maintain world peace and the settlement of all international disputes by negotiation - not war ...
South Africa's geopolitical location continues to shape and inform this agenda for a world order which must be characterised by greater security, peace, dialogue and greater equilibrium between the poor and rich.
In this, we are guided by the ANC's principles of a better life for all and a vision of a better Africa and a just world, hence our country entered a global discourse with a clear reform agenda and with a view to promoting the democratisation of international, political and economic relations.
South Africa, while cognisant of its status as a middle power on the global stage, has deliberately set out to confront the global realities of a skewed distribution of political and economic power, mass poverty and conflict resolution. It is committed to the promotion of human rights, to democracy, to Africa and to international peace through participation in the global system of governance.
To this end, and recognising the relationship between armed conflict and poverty, the ANC has prioritised the reconstruction of Africa, particularly where internal and armed conflict, poverty and underdevelopment militate against democracy, peace, stability and development.
History informs us that parts of the African continent, especially postcolonial Africa, have been subjected to dictatorships, armed conflict, ethnic wars and genocide. This culminated in the displacement of her peoples, concomitant outbreaks of disease, hunger, and the absorption of millions of refugees in countries that were perceived to be safer.
As a signatory to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, we have, as a country, reaffirmed our commitment to the relevant decisions of the OAU: the 1999 Algiers Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government, the Lom Declaration for an AU response to Unconstitutional Changes of Government, and the 2002 AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa.
In fact, the preamble to the African Charter commits the member states of the AU to the principles enshrined in its Constitutive Act, particularly the articles which emphasise the critical importance of good governance, popular participation, respect for the rule of law and upholding human rights.
It places obligations on African countries in relation to the holding of regular, transparent, free and fair elections; the separation of powers; the promotion of gender equality in public and private institutions; effective participation of citizens in democratic and development processes and governance of public affairs; the condemnation and rejection of acts of corruption, related offences and impunity; and the condemnation and total rejection of unconstitutional changes of government.
It currently remains uncertain as to how many countries actually ratified the Charter. Although the Charter does provide for state parties to initiate measures, including legislative, executive and administrative actions to bring state parties' national laws into conformity with itself, it leaves a lot to be desired.
It can therefore be argued that the African Peer Review Mechanism, established by Nepad as an instrument for voluntary self-monitoring for good governance by AU member states, was neither adequately applied in terms of its injunctions, nor addressed by parliamentarians on the continent.
But, even so, in all countries, democracy is about much more than a single decision or a hastily organised election. It requires a deeper process of political development to embed democratic values and culture in all parts of society and a political maturity to sustain it.
In fact, let me correct hon Lees by pointing out that the apartheid regime never practised democracy. It protected only the few at the expense of the majority of South African citizens, Africans in particular. So, real democracy was ushered in by the ANC, for the people, by the people, for the people's power, in 1994.
In South Africa, under the ANC-led government, the Constitution has enshrined a number of institutions supporting constitutional democracy. These include the Public Protector, the Auditor-General, the Public Service Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Commission for Gender Equality, the Independent Electoral Commission and the Commission for the Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, and the Hawks - formerly known as the Scorpions.
The independence and impartiality of these institutions are entrenched in the Constitution. Hon Lees, mazambane. The three pillars of democracy are Parliament, the judiciary, and the executive.
It is of great significance that Parliament has ensured maximum public participation and public accountability, which is central to democratic governance. Public participation enables popular participation by nongovernmental organisations and institutions, various stakeholders and all those who have an interest in various pieces of legislation, specific debates and the performance of the state in general.
Public accountability has ensured that there is transparent and robust debate and scrutiny of government actions. Overall, the transparent functioning of particularly select committees of this august House and the dedication of parliamentary activists has deepened accountability.
In conclusion, let us always remember that it was the ANC who introduced the Freedom Charter. I heard my hon colleague from Cope quoting from the Freedom Charter. The first systematic statement in the history of our country of the political and constitutional vision of a free, democratic and nonracial South Africa can be found in the ANC's 1989 Constitutional Guidelines for a Democratic South Africa.
That document stated that the creation of a truly just and democratic South Africa required a constitution based on, among other principles, a Bill of Rights and that such a Bill of Rights should guarantee the fundamental human rights of all citizens irrespective of race, colour, sex or creed. I thank you. [Applause.]