WeeklySA_AdminRESPONSIBILITY: Remembering the ANC stalwart who led the liberation movement through three decades of exile, Deputy President Paul Mashatile urges South Africans to vote responsibly, respect election results and defend democracy…
By Monk Nkomo
Every vote cast is an opportunity to honour those who fought, suffered and died for the freedom South Africans enjoy today, Deputy President Paul Mashatile said this week.
Speaking at the Oliver Reginald Tambo wreath-laying ceremony at Tamboville Cemetery in Wattville, Mashatile said the late ANC stalwart dedicated his life to the service of humanity, the pursuit of justice and the liberation of his people.
“With remarkable courage, wisdom and humility, he held together a diverse movement, mobilised international solidarity and kept alive the hope of a free and democratic South Africa. For three decades in exile, Tambo carried the enormous responsibility of leading the ANC during some of the most difficult years of our liberation struggle.”
Mashatile said the sad reality was that Tambo devoted his life to the struggle for a free, democratic and prosperous South Africa but never lived to experience its achievement. He died in April 1993, a year before South Africans of all races cast their ballots in the first democratic general elections in 1994.
He was not alone. Thousands of men and women sacrificed their lives so that future generations could determine their destiny through the ballot box. Tambo’s passing on the eve of democracy was a powerful reminder that the right to vote should never be taken for granted.
“Responsible voting is therefore an act of remembrance. It is an acknowledgement that our democracy was won through struggle and sacrifice and that preserving it requires active participation from every citizen.
“Tambo believed in democratic participation and constitutionalism. We honour his legacy when we engage peacefully, vote responsibly and respect the will of the people even when the outcome may not be the one we had hoped for. Today, as we lay this wreath and bow our heads in remembrance, let us renew our commitment to the values for which Tambo lived and sacrificed.”
Building the nation
Mashatile said democracy thrived when political differences were expressed through debate and the ballot box, rather than conflict and division. Once the people had spoken and the results were declared, the outcome must be respected so that democratic institutions could function as intended.
South Africans should draw inspiration from Tambo’s unwavering commitment to justice, freedom, human dignity and shared prosperity for all, regardless of race, religion, gender or creed, he said. The task remained incomplete while inequality, poverty, unemployment and social divisions continued to confront many South Africans.
Although the government had an important responsibility to address these challenges, building a better country could not rest with the state alone. Nation-building was a shared responsibility, with everyone having a role in shaping the country’s future.
Mashatile said South Africa could only be built by citizens prepared to work together, take responsibility and contribute to the common good.
“Let us build stronger communities and work together to realise South Africa for which Tambo and countless others sacrificed so much. We are the custodians of his legacy. We are the beneficiaries of the freedom for which he fought and we bear the responsibility of ensuring that future generations inherit a country that is more secure and more prosperous than the one we inherited.”
He urged South Africans to uphold Tambo’s values, defend democracy and place the country’s interests above their own.
“When our journey comes to an end, it is not our status, possessions or titles that remain. What endures is the example we set, the principles we uphold and the contribution we make to the lives of others.”
