Commit to build unity
Three Doctors’ Pact has great significance
IN THE wake of racist remarks made by some people, anti-Indian sentiments expressed by others, xenophobia being displayed violently and the issues of race and ethnicity posing problems in so many countries around the world, the celebration this year of the 70th anniversary of the Three Doctors’ Pact has great significance.
The most important observation in this Pact, signed by Dr AB Xuma, president of the ANC, GM Naicker, president of the Natal Indian Congress, and YM Dadoo, president of the Transvaal Indian Congress, is the fact that all the race groups, Indians, Africans and coloureds, agreed that they must co-operate with each other in order to be liberated.
It reads (and these words are important):
“This Joint Meeting declares its sincerest conviction that for the future progress, goodwill, good race relations, and for the building of a united, greater and free South Africa, full franchise rights must be extended to all sections of the South African people, and to this end this Joint Meeting pledges the fullest co-operation between the African and Indian peoples and appeals to all democratic and freedom-loving citizens of South Africa to support fully and co-operate in this struggle.”
Later the predominantly African People’s Organisation joined this Pact and a few years later the Congress Alliance was formed, which included the Congress of Democrats, a white organisation, and South African Congress of Trade Unions, bringing all those opposed to the racist oppressive government together.
The doctors identified six points on which to collaborate: universal franchise, economic emancipation, land rights, workers rights to organise freely, free and compulsory education, freedom of movement and the removal of all forms of discrimination.
But 70 years hence and despite our liberation, we are still struggling with educational issues because our system at present does not offer free equal and accessible universal education.
There continues to be massive differences in education.
While certainly strides have been made in providing free compulsory education, the quality needs to improve.
Looking back, some mistakes we made were effecting major changes in the curriculum before we educators were properly skilled.
We closed down training colleges rather than upgrading them and helping them to provide a higher quality of education to our educators.
We offered packages and saw the exodus of good educators from the system.
It would appear that the education which our leaders received in the mission schools in the past was of a much better quality than the education that our children are receiving today.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons for the dearth in new and budding leadership.
Other issues of the economy and land rights are also major issues which, if not adequately addressed, can lead to major problems in the future.
Strife arises from economic inequalities. While certainly there are many programmes and policies of our government, which can result in many more people benefiting, the rampant corruption, mismanagement, laissez-faire attitudes and incompetence resulting from lack of proper training and supervision has resulted in the suffering of the most vulnerable section of our population.
Another important issue emerging from the Pact is the recognition of our common oppression and our common destiny. Transforming a racially divided country into a united nation requires a strong commitment to unity which can not only help to precipitate our liberation from the economic trap, but also help towards the development of our country.
Some of the important key words are “co-operation, active work and commitment ”. Continued recriminations and hostilities are not going to help to bring about change.
Historically, the defining factor leading up to the Pact was the rising commitment and servant leadership qualities of the new leaders of the Natal and Transvaal Indian Congresses and the ANC in 1943.
If the Pact can inspire us to work harder and jointly to wipe out corruption, to continue to train and retrain and to instil a sense of greater responsibility and compassion in ourselves as South Africans, we may help to attain these ideals sooner rather than later.
There is not only an urgent need but a crucial need for the spirit of this Pact within which lie the seeds of unity and development to be revived once again so that strong bridges can be built towards the creation of a strong united and egalitarian South Africa.