New fight for Struggle vets
FIVE prominent, veteran anti-apartheid and Struggle activists have been elected patrons of the new progressive non-parliamentary forum, the Active Citizens Movement (ACM), after it was officially launched at the St Aidan’s Church Hall, Durban, on Saturday.
They are: Dr Albertina Sisulu, daughter of former ANC president and South Africa’s first Nobel Peace Prize winner, Chief Albert Luthuli; Professor Jerry Coovadia, former official of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) and the United Democratic Front (UDF); Judge Thumba Pillay, former NIC and UDF official and activist; Dr Zuleikha Mayet, a veteran activist and author; and Dr Paddy Kearney, former executive official of Diakonia and social activist.
Their elevation as patrons took place soon after the election of officials of the ACM.
Ben Madokwe, a Durban activist, was elected chairperson.
He took over from interim chairperson Siva Naidoo, former NIC and UDF activist of oThongathi (Tongaat), who had held the fort since a new forum was mooted 18 months ago.
Eunice David, the interim secretary of Phoenix, was elected deputy chairperson, Crispin Hemson, general secretary, Xoliswa Ncani, administrative secretary, Himesh Singh, organising secretary, and Fatima Carrim as treasurer.
The guest speaker, Mvuso Msimang, a former ANC MK struggle veteran, called on President Jacob Zuma to step down from office immediately in order to save the country from plunging into further problems.
He was responding to a question after he delivered his speech.
“If Jacob Zuma did the honourable thing and stepped down immediately then he would save the country from further damage,” said Msimang, who was a senior MK combatant during his many years in exile in Zambia and other countries.
“Some of us back in 2014 made an attempt to talk to the president after the release of the Madonsela report. We wanted him to step down immediately but we were not successful,” he said.
“I am a stalwart and veteran and I want the leadership of the ANC to follow the values and principles espoused by the people who were involved in the struggles in the ANC, Mass Democratic Movement and the UDF. But I think you have a bunch of bandits who have staged a coup in government.”
Msimang, in his address, supported the launch of the ACM and said there was a dire need for civil society to become involved in the day-to-day struggles of the people.
“My call is for action by civil society. South Africa is going through difficult times since the dawn of democracy, in April 1994.
“What has brought this about is the paralysis of the ANC leadership when it has been faced with internal challenges.
“While the enormity and complexity of the challenges are not in doubt, millions of members and supporters expected the ANC to overcome these challenges. But this has not happened.”
Siva Naidoo, in his address as interim chairperson, said there was a desperate need for organisations such as the ACM because “the dawn of freedom and democracy in 1994 led to political complacency that demobilised society as a whole”.
“We placed utmost faith and trust in the new South African government. The politically active citizenry relaxed and created an organisational vacuum in society.
“However, once the nation noticed that governing structures were being disabled to serve the narrow parochial pecuniary interests of a few, we observed an upsurge in civil society activism in recent times.”
He said the ACM was working with like-minded civil society organisations to tackle “state capture, rampant corruption, abuse of state resources, nepotism and cronyism”.
“We deplore the prevalence of a materialist, crass culture of greed that is eating at the soul of our beloved country.”
The new chairperson of the ACM, Ben Madokwe, came out guns blazing by supporting the call for President Zuma “to step down immediately”.
“Corruption cannot just disappear. We must actively participate to reclaim our country by removing those who are not serving the people. We must start with the president,” he said.
He encouraged concerned people to participate in protest actions, on August 7 and 8, to demand Zuma step down.
The protest actions coincide with the vote in Parliament on August 8, when members would decide Zuma’s fate.
Now that the ACM is officially launched, it intends interacting with similar progressive organisations around the country, such as Save South Africa, South Africa First, Freedom Under Law, Corruption Watch, Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution and Johannesburg Against Injustice.