At its 1969 conference in Morogoro
was principally about building a united,
the ANC initiated community dialogues
in Tanzania, the ANC officially opened
non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and
in all provinces on social cohesion and
its membership and leadership to all
prosperous South Africa. Up to this
nation building in 2011. These commu-
races, transforming itself into a truly
day this remains the guiding vision of
nity dialogues culminated in the first
non-racial organisation both in form
the ANC.
National Summit on Social Cohesion and Nation Building in Kliptown, the
and character. Morogoro also reaffirmed that South Africa belonged to all who
Drawing from the ANC’s rich and proud
live in it.
history of promoting an inclusive
home of the Freedom Charter.
society, the country’s democratic
That historic summit brought togeth-
In articulating an alternative vision
constitution reaffirms that South Africa
er more than 3 000 delegates from
for South Africa, President O.R. Tambo
belongs to all who live in it, united in
across the country representing various
stated: “Our task is to remake our part
our diversity.
religious, political, business and civil
of the world into a corner of the globe
society organisations to take stock of
on which all of humanity – Black and
The National Development Plan: Vision
the process made in uniting the South
White – shall live and work together as
2030, the lodestar to the future, envi-
African nation. Delegates recommitted
equals in conditions of peace and pros-
sions a South Africa where everyone is
themselves to the vision of a South Afri-
perity.” According to the view of O.R.
able to say: “I cannot be without you,
ca where we are one people, one nation,
Tambo, it was the ANC’s responsibility
without you this South African com-
one humanity with a shared destiny.
to break down barriers of division and
munity is an incomplete community,
create a South Africa where there will
without one single person, without one
The summit asserted that true and
be neither Black nor White, just South
single group, without the region or the
lasting reconciliation, social cohesion
Africans free and united in diversity.
continent, we are not the best that we
and nation building is not an event but
can be.”
a process – it is a journey. This journey
The ANC has learnt from its forebears
will require that we redouble our efforts
that the struggle for liberation was
As part of practical efforts to con-
to address key challenges such as
never about replacing one form of
tribute towards building an inclusive
joblessness, poverty, unequal access
oppression with another. The struggle
society and to promote social cohesion,
to opportunities, landlessness, home-
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REPORT ON THE SOCIAL COHESION SURVEY
