Cyril Ramaphosa defends ANC's achievements on Freedom Charter amid criticism at NGC meeting

President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly defended the ANC's record in implementing the Freedom Charter, citing achievements in housing, basic services, and democratic elections during his address at the party's NGC meeting.

Ramaphosa said over the past three decades, since the dawn of democracy, the ANC has ensured that it lives up to the ideals of the Charter, which was drawn up on June 26 in 1955, in Soweto.

On Tuesday night, Ramaphosa delivered a keynote address at the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter.

Ramaphosa said those who claim that the ANC has deviated and failed to implement the ideals of the Charter are lying, adding that this landmark document is a total of the country's aspirations and a road to a new life, which the ANC has used to implement progressive policies.

''Since 1994, we have enacted laws that seek to advance the transformation of our economy. We have anchored the Broad-Based Economic Empowerment Equity Act. The progress we have made is undeniable. We need to be alive and aware of the progress that has been made...Those who say the Freedom Charter has not been implemented are lying," he said.

Ramaphosa characterised the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter as a foundation that helped establish a non-racial South Africa.

Ramaphosa's address took place following the second day of the party's 5th National General Council (NGC), currently underway at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg. Ramaphosa said that while the anniversary of the Charter should have taken place in June, the party decided to delay the event and only commemorate it after the G2O Summit, which concluded last month.

Ramaphosa further noted that the ANC-led government has ensured that it leads free and fair elections over the past three decades, which indeed speaks to the party's commitment to the ideals of the Freedom Charter.

Ramaphosa further stated that despite challenges in ensuring a better life for all, the ANC has ensured that many South Africans are living a quality of life that was not there before the advent of democracy. He indicated that the party is still committed to uplifting millions of South Africans who are living below the poverty line.

"Many of our people are living a quality of life that was not there before, but we want them to live even a much better life...Since the start of democracy, the country has held free and fair elections, and these elections continue to reflect the will of the people. This is not our declaration only, this is what those outside our country have observed," he stated.

Furthermore, Ramaphosa said South Africa is the only country on the continent that affords its people free housing and free healthcare.

"The Freedom Charter says, there should be housing, security and comfort...Since the advent of democracy, we have substantially expanded basic housing, services such as electricity, water, and sanitation. More than 80% of households today live in formal houses," he stated.

He said that since the dawn of democracy, the ANC, through its representatives in government, has built more than 3 million houses for the people, which is yet another sign that the lives of ordinary people have improved.

He drew comparisons to some countries in the continent, and other parts of the world that do not have a free housing programme like South Africa's Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).

"We build houses and give them as assets. These are people who had no assets. In some cases, these are the people who had been dispossessed of their assets...I often go around the continent and other countries and ask about their housing programmes... Many countries say people have to pay for houses in one way or another," he said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za