CLOSING RALLY OF THE IFP EASTERN CAPE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

ADDRESS BY

MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI, MP

PRESIDENT OF THE INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY AND MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS

Queenstown: MAY 30, 1999

I have come to the Eastern Cape to close the election campaign of the Inkatha Freedom Party because of the long-held ties I have had with this community. Today, the IFP is closing a campaign which has taken its message of hope and goodwill throughout the length and breadth of the country. Throughout the country, the IFP is growing. The IFP elephant has marched powerfully in the Northern Province and in the Western Cape, has crossed KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng, has been acclaimed in Mpumalanga and the North-West and has rallied people behind him in the Northern Cape and in the Free State. The IFP elephant has brought the message to the people of South Africa, which the people of South Africa have long been waiting for. There is hope through the IFP. Together we can empower better government which will make the next five years the dawn of a new beginning.

When I come here to the Eastern Cape, I know that I am visiting a part of our country in which I do not come as a stranger. The people of this province have known me for a long time. I am a known quantity who has maintained a long-standing dialogue with the people of this province. I have been dedicated to the people of this province throughout my life because I have lived amongst the poorest of the poor and worked for the poorest of the poor all my life and I know that the people of the Eastern Cape deserve better. I spent my formative years in the Eastern Cape at Fort Hare University, which I attended until they expelled me because of my political activism in the Youth League of the ANC. When I went back to KwaZulu Natal, I maintained my ties with the many people I met during my university days. It was then that one of my university colleagues introduced me to Paramount Chief Daliwonga Kaizer Matanzima with whom I have maintained a life-long relationship, a friendship and mutual respect.

We met Mhlekazi Matanzima with other Youth League members in Alice, in the train that was taking him to Grahamstown. He had won a medal as the best student amongst those who wrote the Attorneys Admission examination the previous year. This was arranged by Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, who was our leader in the Fort Hare branch of the ANC Youth League, before he broke away in 1959 to found the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC).

For this reason, I am very pleased that during this election campaign the IFP has organised so many meetings in the Eastern Cape and received such great support. We have earned your support and we will live up to the trust you have placed in us. The IFP knows that trust cannot be bought on credit but can only be earned by the hard political cash of a consistent and clean track record.

Mhlekazi Matanzima and I have had a long dialogue dating back to the 60's and 70's. We were his guests here at Umtata in September 1973 with all the Chief Ministers at that time. It was at that Conference that we took a vow never to take "independence", so-called. We also proposed a federal formula for South Africa. After the Umtata Conference, we went to Bulugha near East London the following day with Nkosinkulu Matanzima, Kgosi Lucas Mangope and Professor Hudson Ntsanwisi where we joined other leaders such as Colin Eglin and Dr Helen Suzman of the then Progressive Party. At this Conference we all made a pledge to promote federalism in South Africa.

More recently in the early 80's, Mhlekazi Matanzima and I again met in oThongathi (Tongaat) where we made another commitment to federalism. The fact that these dreams did not come to fruition as we had hoped cannot obliterate them from the pages of our history. Moreover, I recall these events so that younger people can know what I mean when I state that I am no stranger to the Eastern Cape. I remember the times when I have been to the Eastern Cape on sad occasions for the burial of Inkosi Mteto Matanzima, whose widow, Nosizwe, is our candidate in this election. I was here also on another sad occasion when we buried Nkosinkulu Victor Poto and more recently, for the burial of his son, the former President of Transkei, Nkosinkulu Tutor Ndamase.

There are blood ties between my family and royal families of the Eastern Cape, as many of you are aware. My first cousin, Princess Jessica ka Solomon was married to Nkosinkulu Tutor Nyangelizwe Ndamase. My own sister, Princess Morgina, was married to Dr Mafu Dotwana, whose mother was of the Ndamase Royal lineage. My niece, Princess Nomusa ka Bhekuzulu, is married to Nkosinkulu Maxhobayakhawuleza, the King of the Rarabes. So you can see that I do not come here as an outsider.

The people of the Eastern Cape are putting their trust in the IFP because they realise that now is the time to trust only those whom they know well. The situation is far too dramatic to take any chance or step in the wrong direction. In the past five years, many things have got worse, not better, and we just cannot afford five more years of the same social decay and economic decline. Five hundred thousand people have lost their jobs and no longer have a salary to bring food to their family’s table, or educate and clothe their children. Levels of criminality, lawlessness and social rebellion have risen dramatically in all communities. We all know somebody who has been the victim of a major crime. Many of us have suffered under the hands of people who have no respect for law and order.

The statistics of crime are horrifying. Statistically, a woman is being raped every fifty seconds. Violence is becoming part of the daily life of many families in which women, children and the elderly are abused, or live in neglect. An armed robbery or a major crime is committed with a greater frequency than we breathe. Many of our communities are living in a state of terror while thugs, racketeers and organised crime are imposing their will on the people, as if it were a law. Under these conditions, violence and intimidation are becoming the norm and law is dramatically beginning to be perceived as violence. People are beginning to grow accustomed to this tragic situation.

I, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, will never grow accustomed to anything that violates the dignity of men and women. We must rebuild the rule of law as the most important of our civil and constitutional rights. Our most important right is that of living a life in which our families and our properties are safe and protected. I, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, recognise the rights of all people to be safe and protected. I recognise the rights of teachers to teach, of learners to learn, of patients to be treated with proper medical care, of farmers to farm, of people who need it to receive land to support their families, and for each community to live a life of tranquillity and security. The IFP can turn these rights into reality not because of our own strength alone, but because we are leading a revolution of goodwill which is growing in momentum. Our revolution of goodwill is bringing hope and strength to communities. Our revolution of goodwill calls for transformation together with social discipline and dedication to one’s own families, communities and work-places. We can transform South Africa from the bottom up, changing the quality of life in our families, work-places and communities.

Only the IFP can turn South Africa into a better place, with a better government. Government has become too concerned about itself and does not show enough concern about the people. Those who concede government as a top-down approach are concerned more about government than they are about people. It has been proven over and again, that centralised government does not work. In this region, more than in others, the lessons of federalism can be tested. In spite of its many deficiencies, even the old government which was operating in this region was able to do a little more for the poorest of the poor of this region, than the present government. The present government has failed to deliver, in spite of the good intentions of those working in it, for this province. Unfortunately, this province did not have sufficient powers to address the needs, wants and aspirations of the people of the Eastern Cape. When provinces and other local territorial entities had more powers, they delivered more to the people of this region. The centralisation of power in Pretoria virtually emasculates Provinces. That is why they cannot deliver. The IFP is committed to federalism.

The people of the Eastern Cape are those who are best qualified to care about the people of the Eastern Cape. The people of the Eastern Cape are the best qualified to provide the best feeding schemes, pension services, good quality education, effective policing and good health-care to the people of the Eastern Cape. For this reason the IFP is good for the people of the Eastern Cape because we are fighting to give them more powers and greater autonomy. For this reason the IFP is good for all the people of South Africa because we are the last true defenders of provincial autonomy and the empowerment of the people. The stronger the IFP after elections, the better position we shall be in to negotiate more powers for the provinces and more power for the people.

At present, provinces are nothing but an element of a conveyor belt which carries decision-making from the centre down to the bottom. Most policies are decided centrally, through national legislation, and provinces have become mere implementers of centrally driven uniformity. It is no surprise that there are many proposals authoritatively voiced within the majority party aimed at abolishing, or further reducing, the role of provinces. The people of this region know very well that if provinces are abolished, it would be disaster for them. If provinces are abolished or further emasculated, it would be disaster for the whole of South Africa. The IFP has already delivered in making provinces a reality. We have had provinces for the past five years only because the IFP firmly objected to the suggestion which was already drafted in the interim constitution being negotiated at the World Trade Centre, that provinces would only be established after 1999. It is no coincidence that after 1999, there is now talk of a plan to abolish them. We stopped them once and, if the IFP becomes stronger, we can stop them again.

The IFP has a vision for South Africa which can make it governable and can set it firmly on a path towards economic prosperity and social stability. We wish to reform government because we believe that our greatest strength does not lie in government, but in the people of goodwill of South Africa. Our revolution of goodwill wishes to empower people who are willing to work hard and accept sacrifices and social discipline so that together we can make a difference. We believe that administrative resources and delivery capacity must be pushed down to local governments and communities. Throughout my life, I have noticed over and again that when communities are empowered to provide by themselves and for themselves the services which are intended to benefit them, they will not squander money nor indulge in inefficiency.

When I was the Chief Minister of the erstwhile KwaZulu Government we developed plans to enable communities to build and operate their own schools, which were some of the best, efficiently run and built. Down the road if we choose the direction of empowerment we can move administrative capacity to enable local government to run our schools, hospitals, police stations, welfare centres and housing projects. When the IFP fought as hard as it did for devolution of powers and federalism, many people felt that our struggle was removed from their daily concerns. Now people are realising that our struggle was about the quality of our hospitals, police services, schools, welfare centres and housing projects. In order to enable local governments to become the mouthpiece of administrative delivery it is necessary that provinces are empowered to become a centre of policy formulation and legislation. Our vision will enable the central government to conduct its job efficiently and competently on a smaller number of subject matters. As it stands, the central government consumes too much of our revenue and is producing far too little in return.

We must move financial resources away from government to push them into actual delivery. The IFP can move the country in this direction. The road ahead is not going to be simple or easy. I have never made promises which I could not keep and never during this entire election campaign, have I promised an easy ride ahead. On the contrary, over and again I have stressed that if we are to avoid walking any further on the leisurely downhill ride towards further social decay and economic decline, we must take the other path which is still before us. This path is hard, uphill and filled with difficulties but leads to stability and prosperity. I believe that the people of goodwill, moved by the impetus of our revolution of goodwill, are willing to take this second path, not because it is easy but because it is hard.

For months, across the length and breadth of the country, I have preached the message of economic austerity, social discipline and government transformation. It is a message that does not come exclusively from the vision which I have formulated over the many years I have spent amongst the people of South Africa. This message comes directly from the aspirations of the people of goodwill of South Africa who, in their hundreds and thousands, have spoken to me. It is the heartbeat of the people of goodwill of South Africa who now demand to be empowered through the IFP. It is the heartbeat of the people who suffer and who are willing to lend their efforts to build something better. It is the heartbeat of people who just will not stand for five years of more of the same, and realise that a vote for the ruling party can only give them a continuation of what we now have. Only the IFP can deliver something better. A vote for the majority party will call for more of the same, and so will a vote for the opposition, for the opposition cannot govern. The stronger the IFP, the better the next government will be because our voice will be heard whether we raise it from the seat of government or from the opposition benches.

I was extremely pleased, but not surprised, when this week the IFP received two political endorsements from groups representing large segments of our population. Last week, Archbishop Mzilikazi Masiya of the Apostolic Churches in the Northern Province called a press conference to announce that during a Conference of their Church, they had decided to support the IFP and encourage their members to vote for us at the June 2nd elections. It is shocking that almost no newspaper, television broadcast or radio bulletin informed the public of this great event. However, the word is getting out and it is important that from this place the word is carried from mouth to mouth. Like in all revolutions, our revolution of goodwill cannot count on the official media and must rely on the willingness of the people to spread its message of hope from person to person, from friend to friend, from stranger to stranger and from community to community.

I was not surprised by the endorsement from the Apostolic Churches in the Northern Province. The IFP is the political home for all churches and for all people of goodwill. I have been a dedicated Christian all my life and it is no secret that I belong to the Anglican Church and yet, throughout my life I have called for a new type of ecumenism which brings together, not only different denominations, but all the people of goodwill. All churches belong in the IFP political home together with all NGO’s, community representatives and people of goodwill who are willing to roll up their sleeves and build a better country, day by day, brick by brick and effort by effort.

Therefore, it was also no surprise that this Monday we received the endorsement of the organisation representing the vast masses of people who are unemployed. The Unemployed Silent Majority Organisation (UMSO) signed an agreement with me and the IFP which signalled the formation of a powerful electoral alliance which will be carried into the next legislature. The unemployed are people who can no longer wait for empty promises and have no fear of sacrifices and austerity because they are those who have made all the sacrifices and received no returns for them.

The unemployed people have the courage and determination to push South Africa towards sound macro-economic policies. For this reason I have signed a social covenant with the Unemployed Silent Majority Organisation as the representative of all unemployed South Africans. Our social covenant is based upon the IFP’s recognition that unemployed people have a tremendous role to play in the forging of a better future and that this segment of our society is rapidly becoming the majority. The IFP’s commitment to addressing the plight of unemployment is real.

The commitment of our present government to the plight of the unemployed has not been good enough. We cannot afford for the next five years to render more of the same for our people. Words are not enough. The summits and conferences and workshops of the past five years have discussed the concept of job creation. The IFP has joined our efforts with the people of the USMO to see a new South Africa develop in which we can see a chicken in every pot, transport at every door and a job for everyone. These are the fundamental components of a dignified life and it is our right as South African citizens to demand that our most basic needs be met.

Because our momentum is growing, I know that in three days South Africa will be surprised. In three days the people of goodwill will rise to begin a revolution which will change the face of South Africa. This revolution will be signalled by an IFP electoral victory which will not only be our victory, but it will be victory of the people. When the IFP wins, we will all win. As the revolution of goodwill begins, with an IFP electoral victory in three days, like in all revolutions people will become the protagonists of history and with their effort they will change their destinies directing future developments beyond the point of no return which breaks away forever from the past. However, our revolution will differ from all others because it is not about destroying or tearing down, but it is about rebuilding a new country and the rebirth of a new nation.

We must close the chapter on the past once and forever, and only the IFP has the moral credibility to rise above the conflicts of the past and declare the dawn of a new beginning. The next elections are taking place just six months before the new millennium. The IFP’s victory will mark the unwillingness of South Africans to enter the third millennium without having first closed the chapter on the conflicts of the past. The IFP was a fierce opponent of apartheid and it is no coincidence that former State President, FW de Klerk, on two historical occasions publicly acknowledged that it was my opposition to apartheid which forced them to abandon it. He disclosed this truth during his epoch-making speech of February 2, 1990, when he announced that apartheid would be dismantled and the ANC and other political parties unbanned and Nelson Mandela released. He confirmed this truth again during his testimony before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

While opposing apartheid, the IFP also rejected the armed struggle which brought violence, mayhem and destruction into all our communities, especially in the black communities and amongst the poorest of the poor. We knew that the armed struggle would leave behind a legacy of violence, rebellion and lawlessness which would last long after the demise of apartheid. We opted for the only alternative which, in the end, triumphed, which was that of passive resistance and negotiation. In the end we all ended up exactly where I thought we would, namely at the negotiation table negotiating all together for a better future. We were right at the time and we pointed out the right option and the right direction. South Africa cannot afford to make the same mistake twice. Also on this occasion South Africa is facing a cross-road and this time around it must heed the warnings of the IFP and empower the IFP to exercise its important leadership role in the shaping of our future. The future needs the IFP leadership.

My Party has chosen to complete the last stage of our electoral campaign issuing posters which carry my picture with the slogan which reads "the man you can trust". Trust means responsibility and accountability. Trust should not be only a promise about the future but should also involve an assessment about the past. There are many things in which I take pride when I look back on my half a century of political commitment in our liberation struggle and my forty years of experience in government serving the people. I take pride in the fact that when I left the erstwhile KwaZulu Government I left behind a clean administration with the best financial situation amongst all the self-governing territories and the nominally independent states. Mine was the only black administration which was not bankrupt or showing serious financial irregularities, to the point that the Minister of Finance, Derek Keys told me in the presence of my Cabinet that my government was an example of good administration for the whole of the country.

Every time a government is ransacked, the people suffer from a lack of delivery and insufficient resources. I struggled in our liberation struggle for so many decades and endured so much vilification and personal anguish because I care for the people. This is not the South Africa I fought for. I did not fight to enable a few privileged ones to reap the fruits of liberation. I did not struggle to see economic decline. I struggled for a South Africa where law, order and prosperity equally reign. My struggle continues even though many people have now abandoned the struggle because they have satisfied their personal needs. My struggle continues and I summon all the people of goodwill to join me in not giving up the dream that one day the whole of South Africa can be as prosperous, stable and safe as the most affluent segments of this population once were. The old South Africa was built with the blood and sweat of all but for the benefit of a privileged few. We must now build a new South Africa with the efforts and hard work of all, but this time around for the benefit of all and we need the charismatic and inspired leadership of the IFP to lead this undertaking.

The IFP has always put the interests of the country before any abstract idea or ideological imperatives. We are pragmatists and realists and we do what is right and pursue what works rather than running after what seems to be ideologically correct. We are the only defenders left of the role and function of traditional leadership because we believe that traditional leadership can make an important contribution to economic growth and social upliftment. Other political parties have paid lip-service to traditional leadership while doing everything in their power to undermine it. Traditional leadership is an important component of the formula which guarantees stability and safety throughout the country. Most of the disputes in our country are indeed resolved by traditional leaders who are the repository of a culture of respect, law and order on which the country as a whole must now capitalise.

The undermining of traditional leadership has generated instability in rural areas, which reverberates throughout the country as people migrate towards urban areas which are becoming overcrowded and incapable of receiving them. The role of traditional leadership will need to change with the evolution of our society and ride the wave of progress, modernity and development which must now be brought to rural areas as a matter of urgency and priority. Traditional leaders are amenable to change and are often the engine of change, progress and social upliftment in their communities. The attempts made to sideline and deprive them of their important role will undermine the overall success of development and upliftment in rural areas. For this reason, in this, as in any other provinces, the IFP supports traditional leaders because they are good for South Africa and they can make a contribution towards the building of a better future.

There is a growing alliance of people of goodwill who are coming together under the banner of the IFP. The next elections will bring these people of goodwill into a greater position of power. The churches, traditional leaders, the unemployed, the hard-working people and the great majority of South African people who are people of sound morality, are indeed people of goodwill. The result of the elections belongs to them. Elections belong to the people, not to the media, or to the NGO’s which try to manipulate their outcome through polls and statistical projections. The result of elections belongs to all of us and we can shape it as we please in the next three days. Everyone must now talk to their friends, and their friend’s friends, to send out the message that the revolution of goodwill begins on June 2 when people converge en masse, to the voting polls to vote IFP. Let us urge people to converge en masse to the voting polls to give South Africa a new beginning and commence a revolution of goodwill, by voting IFP. When the IFP wins, we all win. The power of the IFP is the power of the people under the guidance and protection of God Almighty. May God lead our revolution of goodwill and protect us as we take up the challenge of making South Africa finally governable.

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