Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has taken a swipe at MPs and government officials, accusing them of having lost touch with ordinary citizens, and saying the fact that they had seats in parliament and offices in state was not a cure-all.
The drive for democracy, he told a secondary 25th anniversary celebration of the United Democratic Front (UDF) on Sunday, had been brought to a standstill by the government, and the public's lack of self-belief, passion and determination that once characterised the struggle for freedom.
These vital characteristics, Manuel said, had defined the UDF.
The celebration in Belgravia, Athlone, on Sunday followed the official UDF commemoration in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, last week.
Manuel compared the battle for democracy in SA to a journey that had not yet been completed.
"It is a journey that has no endpoint; the (1994) election was only a milestone along that journey, but when we reached the elections, we paused to rest," he said.
Government officials, however, should not have rested in the comfort of their new offices, but instead engaged with the people on how they could do things in a way that was "substantively different from anything we've done before".
MPs and other government top brass had been "deluded" into thinking their seats and offices in state would solve broader problems.
There had to be a way by which disengaged leaders in public office could reconnect with the people they served.
"We should not be pausing. We should be quickening the pace because we've lost time and we need to catch up," he said.
Manuel did not believe "the journey" could be completed in our lifetimes, saying the passion, self-belief, determination and unity that were associated with the UDF had been lost. This had to be reinstated if headway was to be made.
He questioned the quality of South Africa's democracy and of public services, the safety and peace of mind of the country's most vulnerable, and assurances for the futures of the country's children.
But, he said, the public should not simply blame the government for all their woes and urged people to tackle their concerns.
Communities had to take responsibility by building community strength that matched that of the struggle days.
Other speakers included struggle stalwarts Willie Hofmeyr, Andrew Boraine and Zoe Kota.
Boraine warned that while the UDF was filled with "creativity, energy and comradeship", the idea of the organisation should not be romanticised.
"If we are honest, we will also look back on many mistakes, wrong decisions and factional problems."
Hofmeyr quoted the late anti-apartheid activist and government minister Dullah Omar with a strong message that although it was tough to overthrow a government, it was tougher to build a democratic one.
Kota said the spirit of activism was still relevant today, and that one could not "let the blood spilled in Belgravia, Gugulethu and Manenberg be eroded overnight". - Cape Argus
The drive for democracy, he told a secondary 25th anniversary celebration of the United Democratic Front (UDF) on Sunday, had been brought to a standstill by the government, and the public's lack of self-belief, passion and determination that once characterised the struggle for freedom.
These vital characteristics, Manuel said, had defined the UDF.
The celebration in Belgravia, Athlone, on Sunday followed the official UDF commemoration in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, last week.
Manuel compared the battle for democracy in SA to a journey that had not yet been completed.
"It is a journey that has no endpoint; the (1994) election was only a milestone along that journey, but when we reached the elections, we paused to rest," he said.
Government officials, however, should not have rested in the comfort of their new offices, but instead engaged with the people on how they could do things in a way that was "substantively different from anything we've done before".
MPs and other government top brass had been "deluded" into thinking their seats and offices in state would solve broader problems.
There had to be a way by which disengaged leaders in public office could reconnect with the people they served.
"We should not be pausing. We should be quickening the pace because we've lost time and we need to catch up," he said.
Manuel did not believe "the journey" could be completed in our lifetimes, saying the passion, self-belief, determination and unity that were associated with the UDF had been lost. This had to be reinstated if headway was to be made.
He questioned the quality of South Africa's democracy and of public services, the safety and peace of mind of the country's most vulnerable, and assurances for the futures of the country's children.
But, he said, the public should not simply blame the government for all their woes and urged people to tackle their concerns.
Communities had to take responsibility by building community strength that matched that of the struggle days.
Other speakers included struggle stalwarts Willie Hofmeyr, Andrew Boraine and Zoe Kota.
Boraine warned that while the UDF was filled with "creativity, energy and comradeship", the idea of the organisation should not be romanticised.
"If we are honest, we will also look back on many mistakes, wrong decisions and factional problems."
Hofmeyr quoted the late anti-apartheid activist and government minister Dullah Omar with a strong message that although it was tough to overthrow a government, it was tougher to build a democratic one.
Kota said the spirit of activism was still relevant today, and that one could not "let the blood spilled in Belgravia, Gugulethu and Manenberg be eroded overnight". - Cape Argus
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