Now the ANC must act on the people’s concerns
SINCE its founding in 1912, the ANC has dedicated itself to uniting our people – the rural poor, the workers, professionals and business people, young and old, male and female, black and white.
The ANC belongs to its membership. It subscribes to the principle of democratic centralism in which internal democratic discussion and debate flourish and collectively agreed decisions bind all our members. Racism, tribalism, regionalism, sexism and other aberrations have no place in the ANC.
President Jacob Zuma is expected to emphasise the tasks of political education at the top of our agenda. Out of hundreds of thousands of our members, we seek constantly to develop cadres of high quality with a level of revolutionary consciousness and organisational discipline, as well as moral and political integrity.
I believe this is a movement that constantly seeks to connect with the people. We have to improve the practice of listening to the people, understanding their concerns and, practically, taking up the issues they have raised while refusing to act merely as a conventional political party whose only interest is to win votes during elections.
Our aim is to work together with people and to ensure that our actions are not only people-centred, but also people-driven.
I urge the people to be proud of these progressive traditions; and to commit themselves to improving what we have achieved in the 101 years of our ANC existence, and beyond. — Thabang Maseko, EC spokesman, Young Communist League Hook Elementary School in Newtown, US.
Even those of us who have lost our own children cannot begin to imagine the horror of losing so many precious little lives in one place at one time. The hearts of The Compassionate Friends (TCF) around the world ache for each family. I passed the town five months ago on my way to the Friends’ international gathering in California. The countryside was so tranquilly beautiful it is hard to believe the peace was so horribly and tragically shattered. Being a full-time kindergarten teacher at the time of my son’s death 22 years ago, and now a relief teacher in the 5-10 age group, I try to visualise such a dreadful event taking place in my own school but it’s just too horrible to contemplate.
Pat Loder, US director of the Friends, responded to my note of sympathy by saying: “When the cameras are turned off and people around the world go back to their own lives and put this tragedy behind them that is when we, as caring and loving members of TCF, will come and welcome them sadly into our family.”
The Compassionate Friends is a worldwide family of bereaved parents and their families caring for each other with 3 000 chapters, 648 in America, helping the bereaved overcome their grief.
Thank you to those who recognise the value and are supportive of this heartbreaking and endless work. — Myrtle Fleming, The Compassionate Friends, East London Chapter and international chairperson