BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa -- Tens of thousands of chanting and dancing revelers waved the green and gold colors of the African National Congress as Africa's oldest liberation movement celebrated its 100th anniversary Sunday, though many South Africans say the party hasn't delivered on its promises since taking power in 1994.
African leaders, former heads of state, kings and chieftains attended a midnight ceremony where President Jacob Zuma lit a flame, expected to stay alight the entire year, at the red brick, tin-roofed Wesleyan church where black intellectuals and activists founded the party in 1912.
Absent because of his frailty was Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, who is just six years younger than his movement. The icon was jailed for 27 years by the racist white government, and his organization once was declared a terrorist group by the U.S.
Joy at the ANC's leading role in ending white minority rule in 1994 was tinged with sadness over its failure to bring a better life for most South Africans and corruption scandals that embroiled its members.
"It means a lot to be alive when the ANC is celebrating 100 years of its existence," Mayor Tulani Sebego of Bergville said Sunday.
He said the party had gained strength along with challenges, "but it has managed to come through it to today ... and I want to believe it will reach 200 years."
The stadium at Bloemfontein, upgraded to a 45,000-seater for the 2010 soccer World Cup, overflowed Sunday with crowds that spilled outside, dancing and singing under a blazing sun.
"We need to ensure that our program of transforming our country is accelerated and taken to new steps," Zuma said in an afternoon address, next to an aide holding an umbrella.
He acknowledged the problems confronting the ANC, saying that it needs to take "urgent and practical steps to restore the core values, stamp out factionalism and promote political discipline."
Thousands of people left the stadium during Zuma's speech. It was unclear whether that was because of the heat, because people had to leave town because of lack of accommodation or because they were sending a message. One woman left saying she was bored.
Meanwhile, in the town of Clarens, protesters demanded that ANC municipal leaders be fired for failing to deliver basic services such as tap water, threw stones at vehicles and blocked the road to Bloemfontein, news media reported.
No comments:
Post a Comment