Open letter to to ANC President Jacob Zuma and ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe from Pieter Vorster, Chairperson of the Afrikanerbond, April 27 2011
A National Dialogue extremely crucial as we need a new understanding and interpretation of the SA Constitution
When South Africa celebrates the 17th year of democracy, on 27 April 2011 it is celebrated with a South African society that is increasingly polarised from each other, sometimes in conflict with each other, and where self-interest has become more important than the broad national interest.
Freedom Day must be seen against the background of a minority and majority which started from a position of conflict and eventually found each other around a negotiating table. From these negotiations a national accord was agreed upon which was eventually formalised in a transitional constitution and the final constitution of 1996. Although not perfect, the constitution provides sufficient space to any government for extensive decision-making and civil rights are adequately protected.
However, an overview of the current state of affairs, after 17 years of democracy, highlights the dark side of majority rule. It has become clear that the ruling party's policy implementation and public pronouncements, by some individuals, are at times bypassing the provisions and ideals of the South African constitution and at times even undermining the constitution.
Where the SA constitution is very clear about non-racialism, South Africa has increasingly become a society which are defined by race. Policy implementation of affirmative action, Black Economic Empowerment, quotas, and many more, all in the name of transformation, are symptomatic of the newly defined racial divisions in South Africa .
Where the SA constitution is very clear about democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights, the democratic values are undermined daily by feuding factions in the ruling party in the abuse of state structures and institutions. Also fundamental rights such as property ownership is undermined by irresponsible demands for nationalisation of land, mines and banks.
Where the SA constitution is very clear about a united South Africa with recognition of diversity, the diversity is at times viewed with suspicion and sometimes undermined. The constant name changes of towns and streets and the contempt of the Constitution's language arrangements are but a few examples.
After 17 years of democratic government, it has became clear that the SA constitution is often subservient to the ANC's policy and implementation as dictated by the National Democratic Revolution. This is the single biggest threat to the freedom of all South Africans which has been achieved through a negotiated settlement.
It has therefore become time that the ANC as ruling party, involve the broad South African society, particularly minorities in South Africa , in a national dialogue about our understanding of our Constitution, the values contained therein against the practical reality today in South Africa .
Our call for a national dialogue can be a starting point in an effort to get understanding and appreciation for the history of all South Africans, as selective history is sometimes used to encourage conflict.
The outcome of a national dialogue can in turn lead to a new social accord in which the constitutional provisions can be re-confirmed and consensus be reached on the interpretation of all constitutional provisions and regulations.
This combined effort will allow the constitution to once again take its rightful place as the supreme law against which policy and public pronouncements can be tested.
After 17 years of democracy, Freedom Day is celebrated, but it is celebrated with a measure of trepidation and anxiety. Our appeal is that the ruling party will involve the full diversity of South African society in the coming year in a national dialogue to give effect to the ideals of the South African Constitution.
Only when the ideals of the South African constitution are widely accepted and practiced will we be able to give Freedom Day its true meaning. With some urgency Freedom Day in 2012 can already have new meaning and content. It however requires the necessary political will.
Issued by the Afrikanerbond, April 27 2011
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