Seme and three other lawyers - Richard Msimang, George Montsioa and Alfred Mangena - convened the founding conference of the ANC on 8 January 1912. In his opening address, Seme called for unity and co-operation, and unity in diversity.
Concerning the ANC centenary, on 8 January 2012 we began our celebration of the ANC centenary; 100 years of selfless struggle for freedom, equality and justice for all, both black and white. The leadership of the ANC correctly characterised this centenary as the achievement of the people of South Africa, Africa and the world. Indeed, the people of Africa and the diaspora gathered at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, to map out the collaboration of Africa and her diaspora in the development of the continent and its people.
Any African development plan that is hatched should heed Seme's call for a new and unique African civilisation, based on spiritual and human values, underpinned by a moral regeneration programme.
The ANC dedicated each of the 12 months of 2012 to one of the 12 presidents of the ANC. May is dedicated to President Pixley ka Isaka Seme, the founder of the ANC. Our icon, Nelson Mandela, taught us that the seeds of the ANC were sown in the Ethiopian movement, which espoused the values of human dignity, self-help and self-reliance. The ANC is a value-centred national liberation movement that derives its moral vision from religion and other diverse cultures and traditions.
The new and unique civilisation for Africa and Africans envisaged by Pixley ka Isaka Seme is inclusive of all South Africans, both black and white. The second president of the ANC, Sefako Makgatho, confirmed this in 1917. Chief Albert Luthuli also said, "Let us build a civilisation based on human values." Nelson Mandela also said to us that his mission was to promote reconciliation.
I must say that what happened in Johannesburg recently, where art was abused, is unacceptable, racist, vulgar, and cannot be allowed in a democratic society like South Africa. [Interjections.] That event confirms the call by President Jacob Zuma that we need a national dialogue on unity in diversity.
We would want to thank the President for having initiated the Unity in Diversity project. As this Parliament, we want to propose that we partner with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, in terms of our strategic objective of co-operative governance. This would be in order to ensure that this nation debate what values are common and acceptable to all of us, because we do not want an importation of the moral degeneration of Europe into Africa. [Applause.] Africa wants to build a spiritual, humane, caring and prosperous country in which we have respect for self and for others. We hope that we speak for the people of this country, who elected us, to say that what happened in Johannesburg has actually led to violence, which means disrespect for the rights of others. [Interjections.]
The violation of the dignity of our leadership is creating conflict and making the creation of a nation united in diversity difficult to achieve. We are happy that both white and black people who are sensible oppose that occurrence. Only the minority, who are still confused, accepted that. Thank you, hon House Chairperson. [Applause.]