President Mbeki’s lessons in nation-building and reconciliation

South Africa’s Former President, Thabo Mbeki, gave a wide range of unique and far-sighted points to ponder about the future of Sri Lanka, by describing the liberation struggle, reconciliation and nation-building process of South Africa, in conversation with CMG Group Director Chevaan Daniel.

President Mbeki was speaking on the topic of ‘Looking Forward – The Importance of Building the Future While Reconciling the Past’, in the presence of top corporate CEOs and diplomats at the Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka.

Responding to a question by Chevaan Daniel on how the African National Congress party (ANC) successfully brought together a nation that was enormously fragmented, politically, and wove it together into a united country, President Mbeki stressed that the oppressed people of South Africa defined for themselves the new South Africa they were fighting for.

President Mbeki pointed out that it is important to understand when a country is at a major turning point in its history. He said that many matters that appear simple can have very complex solutions, and that it is essential to negotiate solutions.

He added that the ANC accepted that white dominated parties must be a part of the transition government, and therefore decided on a position that a new constitution must be prepared, and the steps to the transition were approved by the United Nations, the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement, making it an internationally accepted position.
He stressed that changes into a new system must always involve an inclusive process, to take the people along on the journey.

Asked how his party managed the demands of the majority community, which was the main electorate supporting the ANC, President Mbeki asserted that those in office must be honest with the people, and be firmly committed to a process of regular consultation with the people, to explain to the people why you are doing certain things in a certain way.

He emphasized that South Africa’s liberation struggle was not an elitist movement, but one that involved millions of people, all of whom were the liberators of the nation. He firmly declared that these people must not be forgotten once the struggle ends, and that they must be conscious participants in the process of change.

Responding to a question by Chevaan Daniel as to how the ANC balanced the multiple requirements of feeding the people, rebuilding the economy, giving people hope and working towards reconciliation, President Mbeki pointed out that as an economy improves, the government must strengthen its social security net.

He added that as the quality of life improves, political support for the party in office also grows. The ANC received 62% of the vote in the 1994 election, which grew to 66% in five years and 70% in another 5 years.

However, President Mbeki warned that those who oppose change will try to disrupt the process. He explained that there has been a deliberate attempt to weaken the South African government by disrupting the work of key institutions such as the South African Revenue Service, electricity and transport.

He noted that the response to such disruptions must be a further national dialogue that should involve all segments of society such as women, youth and business people, and not simply politicians. They must decide that this is the South Africa they want, and the South Africa they don’t want, as there is no sovereign authority above the people.

President Mbeki emphasized that when ordinary people bring about a revolution, these same people must be involved in defending the new nation.

He declared that the ANC, although banned for decades by the white regime, could never be destroyed because the people had a sense of ownership of the ANC, although they were not members of the party.