From the 2nd to the 7th July 1991, 2,244 delegates representing 760,000 members met in the 48th National Conference of the African National Congress. This conference was the first of its kind held inside South Africa for over 30 years. It brought together leading fighters against minority rule and apartheid from ANC branches throughout the country, from the underground structures of the ANC, from the camps of Umkhonto weSizwe, from the Women`s and the Youth Leagues and from the ANC`s missions abroad.
Our 48th National Conference was also graced by the presence of 450 foreign guests from 57 countries in Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Antipodes, demonstrating the wide-ranging support the ANC has achieved. The cause of South African freedom has won the support of millions of people throughout the world. We shall remain ever grateful to these friends for the assistance they have rendered us. We are confident this firm base of support will contribute to the process of transformation and serve to strengthen the links between the future democratic South Africa and the international community.
Under the theme "People`s Power for a Democratic Future", the conference examined the current political situation and charted the path to a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa. Intense discussions ensued in both plenary sessions and in the various Commissions into which conference was divided on a whole range of issues, including:
- The Strategy and Tactics of the ANC in the Current Period.
- Negotiations.
- International Policy.
- The ANC`s Constitution.
- Umkhonto weSizwe.
- Building the ANC as an Organisation.
The ANC adopted its new Constitution during the course of this conference, in terms of which the incoming NEC was elected. In this connection we wish to point out that though the Women`s League withdrew the resolution affecting 30% representation of Women in all ANC elective structures, the conference fully accepted the principle of affirmative action to ensure the equal and full participation of women in the movement as a whole, and stressed that appropriate mechanisms to make this effective be determined.
The Conference was particularly pleased that the debate on Affirmative Action was permitted to run its course and due recognition was given to the gender disabilities suffered by women in our society. We are confident that each branch and region shall take to heart the truths pronounced during the course of that debate and will act on them.
Conference was also seized of the issues of a Democratic Constitution for our country and a Bill of Rights. The documents placed before conference were the outcome of many months of work undertaken by the ANC`s Constitutional Committee. They received the unanimous support of conference reaffirming the ANC`s commitment to the democratic principles and values that have inspired our movement since its inception.
The delegates once again endorsed the course chosen by the ANC leadership to explore the course of a peaceful transition from minority rule to democracy, and passed an enabling resolution vesting the incoming NEC with discretionary powers, within the broad framework of the movement`s policies in relation to peace process as a whole.
The removal of all obstacles to free political activity was reaffirmed as essential to speeding up the peace process. The ANC remains of the view that the transition to democracy can only be overseen by a sovereign body that enjoys the confidence of the overwhelming majority of South Africans. An Interim Government, so constructed that it will command such support, will therefore continue to be at the centre of our perspective.
Conference also re-examined the four pillars of our struggle - underground activities, Umkhonto we Sizwe, mass mobilisation and international support - in the context of the new situation in our country and concluded that as long as the threat of repression looms over the democratic forces, the ANC would be remiss in its duties if it did not maintain its underground structures and Umkhonto weSizwe as an indispensable force for the defence of our people. Delegates however accepted the conclusion that during the current phase mass organisation and mobilisation have assumed a higher profile in our strategy both to expedite the peace process and to ensure that the people continually advance their political and socio-economic interests. Great attention was also paid to strengthening international solidarity.
The building of a strong, grass-roots based ANC is the most important dimension of the entire peace process. Conference noted the deficiencies we uncovered in our organisational work in this regard and the problems we are encountering in reaching important sections of the oppressed.
The Violence sweeping the country was seen as among the factors militating against organisation building. While we endorsed without reservation the peace initiatives undertaken by religious and business leaders, we reasserted the people`s right of self-defence. Conference therefore instructed the incoming NEC to ensure that the self-defence programme is put into action without undue delays.
Conference elected a new National Executive Committee by means of secret ballot conducted under the auspices of an independent electoral commission. Most delegates were voting by this system for the first time in their lives. They expressed the supreme democratic right of electing their leadership. Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela were unanimously elected National Chairman and President respectively. The other four top officials are Walter Sisulu, (Deputy President), Cyril Ramaphosa (Secretary General), Jacob Zuma (Deputy Secretary General) and Thomas Nkobi (Treasurer General). The remaining 50 members of the NEC were elected from a list of 130 nominations. The newly elected NEC is a truly representative body of men and women, from all regions and sections of our population, enjoying the full confidence of our membership. A full list of the National Executive Committee is attached to this statement.
Delegates were satisfied that conference completed its primary tasks. However, owing to the extension of time allocated to particular plenary debates, we were unable to finish our entire programme. Some of the incomplete items shall be carried over into a separate conference on developmental policy to be held during the course of the next six months.
To us the greatest significance of this 48th National Conference was that it was the culmination of a long and often arduous democratic process which began in almost a thousand ANC branches, passed through fourteen regional conferences before it reached national conference. This entire process was characterised by untrammelled debate and open discussion of every manner of problem and issue that exercised the minds of our membership. No other party or organisation in our country can claim such an achievement. It is the clearest demonstration of our commitment in practice to democracy.