We have had enough, it is time for change

PEOPLE of all ages, colours and creeds gathered at Gugu Dlamini Park on Wednesday, 2 November in a national show of solidarity and a united call for change in South Africa.

The nationwide initiative which called on all South Africans was hosted in Durban by the Active Citizens’ Movement (ACM), who gathered to support Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, former SARS Commissioner Oupa Magashula and former Deputy Commissioner Ivan Pillay, despite the last hour dropping of charges against them by National Director of Public Prosecution Shaun Abrahams on Monday. The initiative also used the gathering to register collective outrage against the abuse and capture of state institutions to further narrow political and economic agendas.
Important struggle stalwarts and activists, including Crispin Hemson, Paddy Kearney, Ela Gandhi and Jerry Coovadia, as well as ordinary citizens who have said ‘enough is enough’, gathered to show their support.

The gathering took the form of a peaceful protest, placard demonstration and solidarity messages by guest speakers, including Albertina Luthuli, the daughter of former ANC president Albert Luthuli, who echoed everyone’s sentiments that change was needed in leadership in the country. She said it was time to take up peaceful arms to change the status quo in the country.
“We need to look at the bigger picture. This country is in serious trouble, with the cost of living increasing it is difficult to live and even to buy the basics. We are in a situation of crisis. If leadership has failed to perform, they should move aside and others should be able to bring us to where we need to be as a country,” she said.

Luthuli said leadership had to take responsibility and someone needed to be accountable.

“For too long people do wrong and there’s no consequences. There needs to be change in the country. As a nation we are being held captive. We need to keep working for a better South Africa. The challenge is to look for better leadership and have a smooth transition of leadership. We ought to engage in this now,” she said to loud applause.

Comrade, Paul David, said everyone had gathered to stand up for a democracy which the country had fought so hard for and which was being eroded and assaulted. “We need to give notice that we are not prepared to surrender our democracy without a fight,” he said.

A letter of appreciation from Pravin Gordhan was read out during the proceedings, in which he expressed his gratitude to South African citizens for their support, saying he and his family were humbled.
In the letter he said: “Like many, I am a son of the congress movement, the African National Congress and the congress alliance. I was taught the values of democracy and social justice in the Freedom Charter. The Preamble of our Constitution calls on all of us to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights, and to lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law. We have made tremendous progress in all aspects as a young democracy. But we have much more to do – in unity.”

Gordhan said hope, resilience and active involvement would enable the country to overcome poverty, unemployment and inequality – and any form of injustice and unfairness.
“Ours is the formidable task of inclusively transforming our economy – providing jobs and skills for our youth, opportunities for entrepreneurs and a decent and dignified life to all South Africans. President Nelson Mandela reminds us, ‘I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended,'” he said.

Also read: Abrahams: I will not resign but heads will roll