Xasa calls for focus on development
COOPERATIVE Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa spent his 67 minutes for Mandela Day doing gardening and painting at the Phumelela Special Care Centre in Ezibeleni on Tuesday.
Addressing the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality representatives at the event, he said the vision of municipalities focused on resources more than its people, neglecting that people were the real gold of communities.
“Let us focus on human development and not only on economic development and agriculture. The gift of singing in this area has a story to tell. We should use it towards the development of this place.”
He said the day’s purpose was to celebrate former President Nelson Mandela – respected by South Africans and the rest of the world.
At the age of 90, Mandela had visited London for his birthday celebrations.
He had said at the time that it was not only a day to celebrate his birthday but a day that “should keep everyone busy doing something for the less fortunate”.
“However there are people among us, who teach our children things that are unworthy, using Mandela’s name. When Mandela was arrested in Rivonia in Johannesburg he said, “I am fighting against white domination. I will equally fight against black domination. He was implying that he was fighting against the system and not the colour.”
He said there were people, who preached hatred against whites in the name of Mandela, planting seeds of division, which was contrary to what the late statesman had stood for.
“Mandela was preaching reconciliation and not hatred. It is bad when those at the top are the ones teaching the youth corrupt politics.”
Xasa said the freedom charter stated that South Africa belonged to all who lived in it, black and white.
He said there were thieves using their positions to steal money, and citizens would have to play a watchdog role.
“They even want to call the ANC a black political party. Our vision states we want to build a non-racial, a non-sexist SA. That is why veterans of the ANC are angry because they can see we are destroying what they started.”
Xasa said he was anti-Gupta and the people who were following them must not be allowed to divert the revolution of the country.
He also stated his support for ANC deputy Cyril Ramaphosa for president.
Phumelela principal Nobuntu Gulwa thanked the Cogta Community Workers Programme, CTM for donating clothes, blankets and groceries and Protea Spar for sponsoring cakes and groceries.