Hon Speaker, hon President and Deputy President, distinguished members of this House, the strategic objective of the founders of our democracy, which President Jacob Zuma continues to pursue, is to build a cohesive, united, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous society in which the value of every citizen, regardless of their station in life, is measured by our common humanity - ubuntu-botho.
The commitment to improve the quality of life of all South Africans, both black and white - evident in your speech, hon President - is an integral part of the ANC's strategic objective of building a cohesive and prosperous society based on human values.
The 100 years of selfless struggle for the recovery of African humanity and its inherent and inalienable right to human dignity, equality and freedom produced our value-centred and value-driven democratic dispensation from the ashes of slavery, colonialism and apartheid. These crimes against African humanity opened deep wounds in the hearts and minds of African people, which will take a long time to heal.
Our icon, Nelson Mandela, understood that this healing would entail the spiritual, social and economic transformation that you are pursuing, hon President. Madiba defined this spiritual transformation as the Reconstruction and Development Programme, RDP, of the soul. Madiba maintained that the RDP of the soul of all South Africans - both black and white - is required, because apartheid colonialism degraded and dehumanised both the victims and the victors. Hence, the ANC waged the national liberation struggle to liberate both black and white from the inhuman apartheid system.
The erosion of our spiritual and social fibre manifested itself in greed and crass materialism, corruption and the abuse of women and children. As part of the anticorruption and anticrime strategy, we believe in the deepening and the entrenchment of Madiba's RDP of the soul. Madiba's vision was informed by the revolutionary morality of the founders of our democracy, who envisaged new African societies that would be spiritual, humane, caring and prosperous.
The values of unity and co-operation, unity in diversity and nonracialism are the hallmarks of the new nations envisaged by our founders. Your concern about communities that have no water and children in need of care reflects the commitment to the values of the founding fathers and mothers of this nation. As we continue to celebrate the ANC centenary and Africa Month of May dedicated to Pixley ka Isaka Seme, it is important to recall the values of a just and caring society that our founders espoused. These values remain relevant for rebuilding the moral and social fibre of our nation to combat the deepening moral decay which leads to the abuse of women and children, corruption, and racial and cultural intolerance.
Pixley ka Isaka Seme foresaw these challenges and called for a new civilisation for Africa and Africans. He said that:
The most essential departure of this new civilisation is that it shall be thoroughly spiritual and humanistic - indeed, a regeneration eternal and moral.
Parliament worked together with the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and the Department of Arts and Culture to prepare for Africa Day celebrations at the Pan-African Parliament, in Midrand. Parliament held a debate on Africa Day with the theme: Celebrating the African Cultural Renaissance through Dialogue. We also participated in the Intellectuals Conference, which was a side event of the Global African Diaspora Conference. All this was in keeping with our strategic objective of enhancing co-operative governance.
The Africa Day debate on 24 May was a clear endorsement of your call for a dialogue on nation-building and social cohesion. We welcome the presidential Unity in Diversity project because it is a great forum through which we, as this Parliament and the executive, can collaborate in this national challenge of building a nation united in its diversity.
Building a cohesive nation is a journey, not an event. Our icon and father of the nation, Nelson Mandela, realised and acknowledged this, as early as 1994:
From the moment the results were in and it was apparent that the ANC was to form the government, I saw my mission as one of preaching reconciliation, of binding the wounds of the country, of engendering trust and confidence. I knew that many people, particularly the minorities, whites, coloureds and Indians, would be feeling anxious about their future, and I wanted them to feel secure.
I reminded people again and again that the liberation struggle was not a battle against any one group or colour, but a fight against a system of repression. At every opportunity, I said all South Africans must now unite and join hands and say we are one country, one nation, one people marching together into the future.
The announcement by the President that a summit organised by the Department of Arts and Culture will take place in Soweto is most welcome. This is something that is long overdue. The African Union, AU, adopted the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance in 2006, which, just as you do, advocates the dialogue on unity in diversity. The United Nations, UN, itself also adopted a resolution declaring 2011 as the International Year of People of African Descent.
This was a recognition, hon President, of the observation you made of the sufferings that we went through under apartheid and colonialism. The fact that the AU and the UN have come to the same determination as you did, is an indication that it was correct to characterise the 21st century as the African Century. I dare say that the ball is now in our court. As Parliament, we will continue to support your government and the steps that you take to ensure that the quality of life of all of our people is improved.
I also want to recall that O R Tambo, our former President, said that the nation that does not take care of its children has no future. Declaring this week Child Protection Week is a clear indication of the continuity of the policies of our founders. We want therefore to say, as the ANC, we fully endorse your Budget Vote and we say ...
... halala [well done] ANC! Halala, [well done] President Jacob Zuma, halala! [Applause.]