DURBAN – The tough lady of ANC politics, Dr Frene Ginwala, choked back tears as she questioned why children were being killed, and why there was rape, violence and corruption in the country.
Ginwala, struggle stalwart and the former speaker in the National Assembly, was delivering the Chief Albert Luthuli Memorial Lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.
In a heartfelt address, she expressed her bewilderment at the loss of values in South African society and what leaders like Chief Albert Luthuli stood for.
Ginwala said she was often ashamed at government’s failure to reduce poverty when she saw the conditions under which people lived.
“None of us appreciate the tremendous damage the apartheid system has left on our country’s legacy. Still I think we should have done better,” Ginwala said
She called on those who worked in government to look inwards, saying, “you must want to deserve to be elected”.
She went on to ask why people were crying, why people have to throw stones and burn down buildings to get attention, and why no one was listening.
A former chancellor of UKZN, Ginwala called on the university community to also engage in dialogue on the ills in South African society. “If we don’t put things right now a lot of sacrifices would have been in vain.”
She said there was hope. “At Mangaung, the ANC decided to establish an integrity committee to deal with such issues as tenderpreneurs; how did that word creep into our vocabulary? The committee is also looking at re-introducing the values of the liberation struggle. That integrity committee is working and I hope you will see the results soon,” Ginwala added.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
