RAINBOW NATION JOURNEY TO A
Left: A panel from the Keiskammahoek Tapestry, which tells South Africa’s story, from the time of its earliest inhabitants, and ends with the first democratic elec- tion in 1994. This page: Indig- enous traditions have a role in “combatting moral decay and advancing transfor- mation”.
philosophy] and its Pan-African ideal, Madiba (as Mr Mandela is known to South Africans) made moral regeneration an integral part of social and economic change. He also took active steps to make spiritual transformation a pre-requisite for social and economic transformation. At his inauguration as the fourth
democratic President, Jacob Zuma called for partnerships between government and all sectors for reconstruction, development and progress. He told Parliament that the recovery of the common humanity of all South Africans had been the cornerstone of the African National Congress (ANC) from its inception and it directly linked the recovery of our common humanity with the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. The Presidential Summit on Social
public participation programme ever carried out in South Africa. After nearly two years of intensive consultations, political parties represented in the Constitutional Assembly negotiated the formulations contained in the text of the constitution, which represents an integration of ideas from ordinary citizens, civil society and political parties represented in and outside of the Constitutional Assembly. Our constitution represents
the collective wisdom of the South African people, arrived at by general agreement. It is no wonder that apart from being lauded around the globe as one of the most progressive constitutions, it serves as an inspiration to those countries that seek to emulate our inclusive process of democracy.
Bringing all South Africans together Our second major milestone in attempting to heal the nation and set us on a path to reconciliation and nation-building was the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission (TRC). At the Special Debate on the
Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission former President Mandela had this to say: “It would be well to underline at the outset that reconciliation touches upon virtually every facet of our life as a nation. The TRC is an important component in that process, and its work is a critical milestone in a journey that has just started. We say this advisedly, for South Africans cannot abdicate their responsibility for reconciliation by shifting it to the TRC, or gloating at its perceived weaknesses. Nor can the task of reconciliation be confined to narrow legalese. As we reached out across the divisions of centuries to establish democracy, we need now to work together in all our diversity, including the diversity of our experience and recollection of our history, to overcome the divisions themselves and eradicate their consequences.” Taking a cue from Ethiopianism [an African-centred religious
Cohesion confirmed this direct link between the triple challenges. In his opening address, President Zuma said: “The challenges of poverty, unemployment, homelessness, landlessness and the divisions around race, class and gender make it difficult to arrive at a socially cohesive and united society as fast as we would want to. Our responsibility as the government is to lead the South African people towards a national democratic society. This is a society that is united, non-sexist, non-racial, democratic and prosperous. It is a society with a value system that is based on human solidarity and Ubuntu, promoting a society that prioritizes caring for and respecting others.” This means that the African
heritage and indigenous knowledge systems, in particular ubuntu values and principles (of human generosity), have a role to play in our quest to combat moral decay and advance social and economic transformation. Through Secretary-General
Gwede Mantashe, the ANC has endorsed the collaborative relationships between Parliament, the government, the private sector and the national interfaith movement in nation-building. “Our ‘South African-ness’, which we celebrate
through our constitution, is the glue that contributes to and binds social cohesion and nation-building and therefore is an important pillar in our unity-in-diversity,” as he put it.
A role for religious groups Equally, the interfaith movement and the role it plays in nation-building and social cohesion cannot be over- emphasized. President Zuma’s call for the religious community to partner with the government to establish a cohesive and caring society has resulted in the formation and launching of the National Inter-Faith Council of South Africa (NICSA). As its collective mission, the council will “help fulfil the South African dream of unity in diversity, working to build social cohesion, work towards eradicating poverty and social ills and build partnerships with communities, Parliament, the government, non- governmental organizations and the business sector.” NICSA and Lead SA have
partnered with the Department of Basic Education to roll out the Bill of Rights (and Responsibilities) in all nine provinces as part of the national effort to combat moral degeneration and inculcate ubuntu values and principles in the youth and children. NICSA has also endorsed the presidential campaign against rape and the abuse of learners in schools. In March 2010, the National
Assembly and National Council of Provinces passed a motion to form a Multiparty Parliamentary Inter-faith Council. The Council’s objective is to interact with religious structures outside Parliament on moral and spiritual issues, and boost conflict resolution on the African continent. The creation of the interfaith council was also seen as a mechanism that would assist Parliament in forging and renewing relationships amongst different religions, addressing matters affecting different religions in our society, intensifying efforts to contribute to nation-building and social cohesion and promoting peace and co-operation among religious formations in South Africa. On 18 November 2011,
The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue One - South Africa | 27
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