The ANC’s chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday called on party and alliance members to ‘resist the seeds of division and tribalism in society’.
Siboniso Duma was speaking at the memorial service for former Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, who passed away last week after a period of illness.
Duma, speaking at Kendra Hall in Durban, said he was making a strong call to the ANC rank and file and alliance partners.
“We must close ranks. There is a systematic agenda to plant seeds of division and tribalism in society.
“We must resist this as it is aimed at reintroducing racial segregation and isolating certain members of society from the ANC.”
Duma said attacks on Gordhan are aimed at ensuring that a feeling of marginalisation is strongly felt in the Indian community.
“It is important to point out that no minority community is targeted for isolation within the ANC.
“In the Indian community, there are thousands of compatriots who made the ultimate sacrifice but whose names are not prominently recorded in the annals of history,” Duma said.
He said that Gordhan and other ‘brave heroes and heroines’ had forfeited the comforts of their homes and families and fled to foreign lands to attain training as freedom fighters in order to engage the forces of oppression.
“Thousands lost their lives, and we owe them deep gratitude for their dedication to the fight for liberation – and their selflessness.
“By all accounts, this province and the country as a whole achieved democracy through collective efforts by Whites, Indians, Coloureds and Africans.”
He said Gordhan’s memorial service provided the opportunity to strengthen the solidarity amongst all the people of the province.
“This evening, we are called upon to reflect with pride on the close working relationship between Monty Naicker with Inkosi Albert Luthuli.
“This evening we must remember the dedication shown by comrades such as the late Billy Nair, Comrade Natoo Babenia and Comrade Ebrahim Ebrahim.”
He said they were amongst the earliest to volunteer when Umkhonto weSizwe was formed in 1960, and were subsequently incarcerated for many years on Robben Island, together with Ahmed Kathrada, Mac Maharaj and many more others.
“They spent time with leaders such as Comrade Harry Gwala. The pathfinders of this democracy relied on each other as they wedged a struggle for liberation.
“We must rely on each other as we build this province and the country for future generations.
We must all ensure that we don’t get distracted on the important task of uniting the people in order to build the most powerful province and the country socially and economically,” Duma said.
He said the ANC acknowledges that it cannot build KwaZulu-Natal if society is divided.
“We are reaching out to members of society across all racial groups to step forward and take up their place in the team that has to deliver a prosperous KZN.
“We recognise the role of business to grow our economy. We recognise the role of organised labour to protect and promote productivity of our labour force and we recognise the role of civil society organisations.”
The Mercury