South African History Online

Speech by President Mandela in aftermath of KZN election

Claremont: Durban, 6 July 1996

Chairperson;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Comrades and Friends.

(Translated from Zulu)

If I was a praise poet, today I would be singing praises to you, the people
of KwaZulu-Natal. It is with great joy that I stand before you. Around the
country our people are proud of the great feat you have pulled in this province
last week. On the 26th of June the people of KwaZulu-Natal voted overwhelmingly
for peace, democracy and development.

You came out in your numbers to vote because you understand that strong
democratic local government will give communities the power to make
reconstruction and development happen where you live. You understand that
democratic local government can move this province forward to peace and
prosperity. You came out in your numbers to vote because you know that the
people must govern.

The whole country was with you on June 26. And from a province fraught with
violence and serious underdevelopment, you have emerged as a guiding light; you
have strengthened our confidence that the era of peace has arrived for
KwaZulu/Natal. You have shown that this province shall not be left behind.

All the people of KwaZulu/Natal, and those from other parts of the country,
who have made a contribution to the free and fair elections must share in the
glory of what is an enormous victory for democracy, a victory for South Africa.
I commend all political parties which took part in the elections; and for making
peace one of their central messages.

I would like to thank in particular members of the South African Police
Service, the National Defence Force and intelligence organs. Through your
conduct, discipline and sacrifice in securing the elections, you have, once
more, done much to strengthen the legitimacy of your chosen profession in the
eyes of the community.

I thank all the people of KwaZulu-Natal for the leadership that you are
giving to all political parties. You have spoken loudly and clearly for peace,
for development, for a better life.

All political parties must ensure that the message of peace was not simply an
election campaign strategy. It must become an integral part of the programmes of
all parties; it must be the focus of all newly elected councillors.

I congratulate in particular the African National Congress for the
exceptional performance especially in the important urban industrial centres.
These areas will be critical to ensure growth and development in both urban and
rural areas, in order to improve the lives of especially the poorest of the
poor.

Long life the Provincial, Regional and Branch leaders! Long life the
organisers, amadelakufa! Long live the people's candidates!

(Translated from Zulu)

Although the ANC is strong in those areas where the main financial decisions
will be taken, we shall not be arrogant. We will co-operate with the Provincial
Government. Our most important duty is not to engage in party political point
scoring, but to work to build a better life for all the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
And there will be no discrimination between urban and rural areas.

I call on all councillors - regardless of the political parties that they
represent - to work hard together in the various councils, and especially with
all the people who voted for them, to ensure that the message of peace and
development becomes inscribed in the consciousness and actions of all in
KwaZulu-Natal.

June the 26th was the day 41 years ago when the Freedom Charter was adopted
by the Congress of the People at Kliptown. Now the 26th of June will also go
down in the history of the liberation struggle as the day that the people of
KwaZulu-Natal made their mark for peace and development; the day on which you
followed in the footsteps of Cetshwayo, Bhambatha, Mafukuzela Dube, Mahatma
Ghandi, Monty Naicker, Albert Luthuli, Moses Mabhida, Johnny Makhathini and
Harry Gwala.

The election results are of such a nature that in some areas alliances will
have to be formed in order to ensure proper governance. The ANC, although we
have many differences with the IFP and also with the Minority Front, will try to
find ways to co-operate with these parties because their supporters come
primarily from those communities who have been so brutally oppressed by the
previous apartheid regime. The ANC's constituency and theirs are those who were
denied opportunities, the poor, the landless and illiterate. This fact should
direct us to have similar perspectives and goals, to help these communities to
catch up.

We offer a hand of peace and co-operation to the IFP and Minority Front, for
us to work together to improve the lives of the disadvantaged. We extend a hand
of peace and co-operation to the Democratic Party and the National Party for us
to join hands to build this province into a home of our dreams. All of us -
Afrikaans, Indians, Coloureds and Whites - have a central role to play.

In some areas the election results are being contested. Legitimate cases must
of course go ahead. However, we must accept results where elections have been
substantially free and fair, and work together to make this province the giant
that it ought to be. There is no time for squabbling in those areas where the
elections have gone well. There is no time for petty politicking. The people of
this province have spoken and they want change.

We know that in many areas, especially the villages, many things made it
difficult for people to express their wishes freely. But this problem will be
solved steadily and surely, as all of us - the parties, the religious bodies,
individual citizens and the security forces - join hands to eliminate violence.
But for peace and free political activity to succeed, they must live int he
hearts of the people. We must co-operate with the security forces to root out
the criminals.

What is clear from this election is that no political party can claim to be
representative of any ethnic group. I sincerely hope that we can now once and
for all bury the myth that South Africans of Zulu extraction are under the spell
of an ethnic party. We are one South African nation; and the politics of narrow
ethnic mobilisation is on the way out.

However, support for political parties is still divided in terms of rural and
urban areas. The newly elected local authorities must ensure that party
political divisions do not undermine either the rural or urban people of this
province. KwaZulu-Natal must be united in a common vision of development that
benefits all the citizens of this province.

(Translated from Zulu)

The great kings and leaders of yesterday were an inspiration to our people.
And now you, their noble descendants are becoming an inspiration to the whole
country. I thank all the people of KwaZulu/Natal for your discipline, commitment
to peace and contribution to nation-building. You have made the country stand
tall and proud before the whole world. This is indeed a momentous occasion. If I
was a praise poet, I would surely be singing praises to you today.

Thank you.

Issued by: African National Congress