By Marimuthu Subramoney
(aka Subry Govender)
April 27 is one of the most historical days in South African history. It's a day, 17 years ago, when all South Africans for the first time in more than 300 years went to the polls after a negotiated settlement was reached at Codesa between the then ruling National Party, the ANC, and other parties.
The ANC won the first democratic elections by an overwhelming majority and went onto form the first Government of National Unity, headed by the country's iconic leader, Mr Nelson Mandela.
But Mr Mandela immediately adopted a conciliatory attitude towards the former oppressors and outlined a programme that would not only promote South Africa as a country for all citizens, but also to improve the quality of life for all South Africans, irrespective of race, colour, creed or religion.
Delivering his inauguration address as the country's first democratic president in Cape Town, Mr Mandela was clear that the new South Africa would promote the interests of all South Africans.
"Today," he said, "we are entering a new era for our country and its people".
"Today we celebrate not the victory of a party, but a victory for all the people of South Africa."
He added: "The struggle for democracy has never been a matter pursued by one race, class, religious community or gender among South Africans. In honouring those who fought to see this day arrive, we honour the best sons and daughters of all our people. We can count among them Africans, Coloured people, Whites, Indians, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews - all of them united by a common vision of a better life for the people of this country."
Mr Mandela then went onto promise the people that the new South Africa would be protected by a constitution and Bill of Rights that would not only promote the well-being of the majority who had been marginalised during the apartheid era, but would also protect the rights of minorities.
He said: "Democracy is based on the majority principle. This is especially true in a country such as ours where the vast majority has been systematically denied their rights. At the same time, democracy also requires that the rights of political and other minorities be safeguarded.
"The people of South Africa have spoken in these elections. They want change! And change is what they will get. Our plan is to create jobs, promote peace and reconciliation, and to guarantee freedom for all South Africans.
"We will tackle the widespread poverty so pervasive among the majority of our people. By encouraging investors and the democratic state to support job creating projects in which manufacturing will play a central role we will try to change our country from a net exporter of raw material to one that exports finished products through beneficiation.
"The government will devise policies that encourage and reward productive enterprise among the disadvantaged communities - African, Coloured and Indian.
"While we are and shall remain fully committed to the spirit of a government of national unity, we are determined to initiate and bring about the change that our mandate from the people demands.
"We place our vision of a new constitutional order for South Africa on the table not as conquerors, prescribing to the conquered. We speak as fellow citizens to heal the wounds of the past with the intent of constructing a new order based on justice for all.
"This is the challenge that faces all South Africans today, and it is one to which I am certain we will all rise."
Seventeen years after the first democratic elections, the establishment of a new democratic government and the installation of Mandela as the first democratic president, one needs to reflect on what has been achieved and the negatives.
There's no doubt whatsoever, the ANC Government has gone a long way in promoting the vision of a country for all citizens - irrespective of race or colour; it has done a great deal to open up opportunities for the majority in the educational and health fields; it has built more than a million RDP houses for the poor and disenfranchised; and has opened up opportunities for the creation of a powerful and strong black middle class.
It has also ensured that the different sporting codes were transformed to represent all the people of the country.
However, at the same time the ANC has failed miserably to control and stem the ever increasing violent crime wave that affects all citizens; it has failed hopelessly to curb the spread of fraud and corruption that have become endemic in almost all areas - especially in government departments, provincial governments and in almost all municipalities and town councils; and has failed to stem the deterioration of the educational and health sectors.
It has also failed to stimulate the police force to tackle drug lords, illegal shebeen operators and other liquor lords; and contributed to the disintegration and break-up of families through the establishment of casinos in the urban centres of our country.
The ruling ANC has failed to create a climate where business people can create jobs for the millions who are finding it extremely difficult to find employment. This failure is one of the main reasons for the daily increase in violent crime in almost all areas of the country.
Another major failure on the part of the ruling ANC has been refusal to bring to order elements such as Julius Malemas and other "johnny come latelies" and promote fully the vision of the Mandelas, Walter Sisulus and Govan Mbekis that "the struggle for democracy has never been a matter pursued by one race, class, religious community or gender among South Africans."
What has become tragic that instead of bringing to order the Malemas, we have veteran leaders like Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela "singing, dancing and sharing the stage" with a "too big for his boots" Malema.
South Africa is not only one of the most beautiful countries in the world, but also a country rich in material terms where all citizens could be provided opportunities to "better their lives".
One hopes that on this 17th year of our democracy that the ruling ANC will go back to its founding values, principles and ethics while at the same time it creates an environment where the former marginalised majority will be able to work to better their lives.
We must continue to re-iterate that "today we celebrate not the victory of a party, but a victory for all the people of South Africa".
Mr Mandela must not be made to feel that the sacrifices made by him and thousands of others were meant to "benefit the powerful few" rather than the majority, irrespective of race, colour, creed or religion. - Subry Govender, Chief Editor
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