ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing OR Tambo Memorial Lecture
By Thabo Mosia
At the OR Tambo Memorial Lecture on 27 October 2024 at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke on the African National Congress’s (ANC) current challenges and called for unity and renewal within the party. Honouring the legacy of Oliver Reginald Tambo, Ramaphosa’s address emphasized the need to restore the ANC’s founding values amidst growing concerns over public trust and internal divisions.
“It has been said that the legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example,” Ramaphosa began, invoking the spirit of OR Tambo, who was born 107 years ago. Tambo, the longest-serving President of the ANC, was remembered as a revolutionary leader and principled advocate for the people of South Africa and the African continent. His legacy, Ramaphosa noted, remains “forever and indelibly inscribed in the hearts and minds of the people.”
Ramaphosa’s words echoed a deep sense of respect for Tambo, describing him as a “true revolutionary, a principled leader, a bridge-builder and a servant of the people.” Reflecting on the sacrifices of Tambo and his generation, the President acknowledged the passing of an era of leaders who had been willing to give up their lives and comforts to secure freedom. Now, in the face of what he called “the passing of an era,” Ramaphosa highlighted the ANC’s responsibility to learn from their example and carry forward their legacy.
“We celebrate the life of Oliver Tambo and reflect on his leadership at a crucial inflection point in the history of our movement and country,” he continued. Ramaphosa underscored Tambo’s pivotal role in “mobilising the world against apartheid” and his contributions to the adoption of the Harare Declaration, which ultimately paved the way for South Africa’s negotiated transition to democracy.
Even as the Government of National Unity (GNU) continues to work towards economic growth, transformation, and social progress, Ramaphosa acknowledged that the ANC faces severe challenges. “Support for the ANC has declined. Our mandate to govern has grown narrower,” he stated. Ramaphosa’s frank admission addressed the widening “trust deficit” between the ANC and the people of South Africa, revealing an awareness of the public’s dissatisfaction with the party’s current state.
The President went on to acknowledge that the ANC is facing “a crisis of authority, of legitimacy, and of trust,” adding that there are those within South Africa who “would want to write the ANC’s obituary.” This statement resonated with the frustrations of many South Africans who feel disconnected from the party that once led the nation to freedom. Ramaphosa conceded that the ANC has become “the custodian of the constitution” but emphasized that “all this progress, all this change” has not prevented the party from facing critical challenges today.
Ramaphosa expressed a sense of urgency for introspection and reform within the ANC. He reminded those gathered of the ANC’s past achievements, such as lifting millions out of poverty, transforming labour relations, and advancing gender equality, yet underscored the importance of not becoming complacent. “We would be naïve to assume there are not those too willing to take advantage of our weakened state and exploit the ANC’s internal divisions for their advantage,” he cautioned.
Reflecting on the resilience of the ANC throughout history, Ramaphosa urged members to consider the lessons of Tambo’s leadership during moments of adversity. “The ANC has prevailed in the face of existential crises throughout its history,” he reminded attendees. Even under the oppressive apartheid regime, the ANC, guided by leaders like Tambo, overcame challenges such as organisational decay, state repression, and attempts to divide the movement. He quoted Tambo’s words from the ANC’s 48th National Conference in 1991: “Despite all schemes aimed at destroying our Movement, we grew both in stature and effectiveness. Our survival and growth as a fighting force is the major victory that our people have scored under difficult conditions of illegality.”
In these remarks, Ramaphosa drew a parallel between past struggles and the ANC’s current predicament, warning that the party’s present challenges are internal rather than external. Issues such as “factional activity, naked careerism, and personal ambition” were described as existential threats that could weaken the ANC from within. Ramaphosa painted a stark picture of the consequences of corruption, ill-discipline, and ideological rifts, which he argued are “all the small cuts that have wounded the ANC.”
In a call to action, Ramaphosa reminded ANC members of Tambo’s revolutionary morality, which prioritized “selflessness and self-sacrifice” and a commitment to “the interests of the movement and the people of South Africa first.” He urged the ANC to take a critical look at itself and to act decisively to “rid our movement of elements that have brought the ANC into disrepute.” This call for internal reform emphasized the need for capable and conscientious leadership within the ANC.
“Oliver Tambo was an organisation builder,” Ramaphosa stated, highlighting Tambo’s belief in the importance of grassroots organization. He recalled Tambo’s direction to the ANC to mobilise workers, worshippers, students, and farm labourers and reminded those in attendance that the ANC branch should serve as a centre of political activism in local communities. However, Ramaphosa lamented that today, the ANC branch is often viewed as “a step-ladder to higher office, its members to be bought and traded.”
Rebuilding the ANC in line with Tambo’s vision, he argued, would require a return to the movement’s founding values. Emphasizing the importance of a “truly non-racial organisation,” Ramaphosa urged the ANC to focus on inclusivity, asking, “What are we doing to attract South Africans of all races to the ANC who identify with our mission?” Without unity, he stressed, none of these goals can be achieved.
Quoting Tambo’s words from the Second Pan-African Youth Seminar in Dar es Salaam in 1961, Ramaphosa reinforced the importance of “true and lasting unity.” Tambo had said, “Unity must be a tired word, overused everywhere, by everybody. We are always talking of unity.” Ramaphosa used this statement to highlight the need for principled unity, one that extends beyond slogans and instead fosters genuine solidarity within the ANC.
Ramaphosa further warned that “some amongst us are using the cover of unity as an excuse to try to get away with dishonest actions.” Unity, he insisted, must be founded on integrity and shared values, not as a superficial rallying cry to mask self-serving behaviour. He drew on Tambo’s wisdom to define unity as a collective commitment to “a common set of values and principles that define the character and mission of the ANC.”
The President concluded his address with a resounding call for leadership renewal, advocating for a “visionary and dynamic leadership” that would continuously engage with the people. “Leadership is not a social status. It is a call to act, serve and inspire,” he said, underscoring the necessity for leaders who are attuned to the needs of the communities they serve. Ramaphosa highlighted Tambo’s belief that effective leadership must be grounded in daily engagement with the people.
He ended on a powerful note, quoting from the late Maya Angelou’s poem, “I Rise,” to capture the spirit of resilience and determination that he urged ANC members to embody:
“Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.”
Ramaphosa urged the ANC to harness Tambo’s legacy, stating that the party must commit to a programme of renewal and rebuilding. Drawing inspiration from Tambo’s dedication and values, he affirmed, “We, too, will rise.” In these words, he encouraged the ANC to reflect deeply on its purpose, to address its internal challenges with honesty, and to recommit to the principles that had once united and empowered it.
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