ADDRESS BY THE ANC DEPUTY PRESIDENT, PAUL MASHATILE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OR TAMBO MEMORIAL LECTURE, WATTVILLE, EKURHULENI, 27 OCTOBER 2025
Comrade Chairperson of the ANC in Ekurhuleni, Doctor Xhakaza;
Regional Secretary, Comrade Jongizizwe Dlabathi;
All Members of the REC present;
Leadership of the ANC in the Province;
Leaders of the ANC Youth and Women’s League across structures;
Branch and Zonal leaders of the ANC, ANCYL and other MDM Structures;
Members of the ANC;
Comrades and the community of Wattville;
Sanibonani, Dumelang, Good afternoon!
Long live the ANC! Long live!
Comrades and Compatriots, I am honoured today to join you as we celebrate and remember the life of comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo, an outstanding revolutionary and a statesman.
It is only fitting that we hold this lecture here in Waterville, the home of Oliver Tambo. The political history of Wattville and Ekurhuleni is one that should not be forgotten. In the 1970’s & eighties, the East Rand was one of the most politically active and violent resistance areas in South Africa where anti-apartheid movements grew, including underground ANC networks, Civic Associations, Trade Unions and student movements.
We should also not forget the role of the ANC and the Mass Democratic Movements played during the political violence in the late eighties and early nineties, specifically in Thokoza and Katlehong, resulting in thousands of deaths before the 1994 elections.
Ekurhuleni is indeed a place where some of the best among our leaders have come, and as activists we have the responsibility that the history of this region be written and told. This is what Ta
Comrade Tambo loved the people and dearly loved the ANC.
His life, sacrifice, and dedication to the liberation of Black people in general, and Africans in particular, will remain an important part of not only the history of the African National Congress, but the history of South Africa and the continent at large. As the ANC, we should never forget or even neglect to remember him and let his life and teachings guide us in this path towards total liberation of the people and the equal, democratic, and prosperous country he lived for.
Born on October 27, 1917, in Bizana, South Africa, Oliver Reginald Tambo was a dedicated teacher and lawyer who became one of the founding members of the African National Congress Youth League. Comrade Tambo played a crucial role in the fight against apartheid, serving as a key leader in the ANC, working closely with other anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela.
Among the key legacies that Tambo left for the ANC is the significance of solidarity in itself, but also as an important weapon of the revolution. After being forced into exile, Tambo continued to advocate for an end to apartheid, mobilising international support and leading the ANC's efforts to isolate the apartheid regime globally.
When we stand with the people of Palestine, it is because we have a deeper understanding of what it means to be oppressed and have the world stand by you. The world supported our struggle against apartheid. We can therefore never betray what OR Tambo stood for.
We must continue to fight for peace in the rest of the world. This includes continuing to work towards silencing the guns in Africa and ensuring that there is peace and security. In this regard, we have just returned from Senegal and South Sudan as part of strengthening the relationship that we have with our brothers and sisters on the continent. Specifically, as it relates to South Sudan, we are encouraged that efforts are being made to restore peace and democracy there.
As we have learnt from Tambo, key components of the revolution include strategy, dedication, selflessness, and guided patience. These characteristics are grounded in putting the people first and ensuring that the gains of a revolution benefit the majority.
We remain inspired by Tambo’s leadership and vision for a free and democratic South Africa. We know that it is because of him and his generation that the ANC today can boast of 113 years, and most critically, that in these 113 years, while challenges have existed, the ANC remains the only organisation in South Africa that carries the hopes and aspirations of South Africans.
Comrades and Compatriots,
Allow me to take this time to reflect on what the tasks of the ANC, and the ANC in government should be at this current period, specifically as we approach the Local government Elections in the year 2026. The point of departure is that, as the African National Congress, we have not done enough to improve the lives of South Africans. We must take accountability for this, but most importantly, we must also strategise on how we can turn things around for the better. The ANC of Oliver Tambo sacrificed and fought for us to still have an ANC under a democratic dispensation that is still seen as the leader of society. Of course, we have seen this status challenged, and ours now is to fight to maintain this hard-earned status as a leader of South African society.
The ANC remains committed to the process of renewal and rebuilding. During the roll call session with Councillors, the President outlined six pillars of the ANC’s action plan, which must guide the work of the ANC across structures. In the spirit of carrying forward the legacy of Oliver Reginald Tambo, I suggest that we also do the following:
1. First, we must prioritise a deep understanding of the emotional needs and concerns of the people, particularly in the context of current challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality. We believe that by acknowledging and addressing these concerns, the ANC can create a sense of empathy and connection with the people.
2. Secondly, as the ANC, we should craft a compelling narrative that resonates with the people, highlighting our vision, policies, and achievements. This narrative should be communicated in a way that is relatable, inspiring, and inclusive. In order to do this, the National Executive Committee, at its last meeting, identified ten priority interventions to reignite growth in our economy. These priorities cut across various economic sectors and can be briefly outlined as follows:
i. Firstly, under Electricity and Infrastructure, the intervention is to use electricity tariffs and investments in the power grid to support industries like ferrochrome, manganese, and steel and build 14,500 km of new transmission lines.
ii. Secondly, on freight and logistics, we must speed up the recovery of Transnet, involve private partners in rail and ports, and upgrade export routes.
iii. Thirdly, in the chrome and manganese industries, we must finalise export tariffs, protect local producers from dumped imports, and grow alloy and battery material production.
iv. State capacity for major projects is the fourth intervention aimed at strengthening the government's ability to manage big projects through professional project management, better coordination, and dedicated funding.
v. The fifth intervention focuses on local economic development, specifically investing in township, rural, and small-town infrastructure. Creating local economic development units and linking projects to the District Development Model.
vi. Sixth is to create jobs and skills, building on the Presidential Employment Stimulus and other public employment programmes, including reskilling and training artisans.
vii. The seventh intervention is in the area of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise Support, increasing funding and market access for small businesses and transforming Development Finance Institutions into active investors.
viii. Eighth, we must prioritise Provincial Economic Growth, revive industrial parks and support job-creating sectors like agro-processing, textiles, and cannabis outside main cities.
ix. Ninth, we need to diversify trade by growing exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area, expanding trade with BRICS and new markets, and supporting industries hit by tariffs.
x. Finally, we must strengthen budget and economic coordination, aligning fiscal, monetary, trade, and industrial policies and mobilising public and private finance for key national projects.
To implement these economic interventions, the NEC resolved that an Economic War Room be established in the Presidency to coordinate cross-government performance monitoring and publish regular scorecards on progress.
Fundamental to the success of these efforts is sound institutional governance. Professionalisation and merit-based appointments must be non-negotiable. The ANC supports the implementation of the Public Service Professionalisation Framework, ensuring that the public administration is skilled, ethical, and insulated from factional politics.
3. The third suggestion on how we should draw from the legacy of Tambo to take the ANC forward is that we must rebuild trust between the ANC and the people. In this regard, we should focus on being transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the people. This also includes demonstrating our commitment to the welfare of the people, living out the principle of revolution keBatho.
4. Fourthly, we must empower communities by providing them with the necessary skills, resources, and support to take ownership of their development. This can be achieved through community engagement initiatives, training programs, and economic empowerment projects. We must be where communities are, and all our interventions must be sustainable, people-centred, and people-driven.
5. Fifthly, if we are to honour OR Tambo, we need visionary leadership that inspires and motivates people to work towards a common goal. As leaders, when we are wrong must acknowledge and correct our mistakes. For example, we acknowledge that things have not gone as we would have wished; many of our people are still in poverty, unemployed, and locked into a life of inequality. We also know that we have observed high levels of corruption in the state and society. We are not going to bury our heads; instead, we must continue to fight corruption and root it out.
6. Lastly, OR Tambo would want us to foster a sense of belonging across race, class, and gender lines by promoting inclusivity, diversity, and social cohesion. As a result, the National Dialogue process is a way for us to ensure that no one is left behind in the nation-building process. Indeed, we have recognised and reflected on the challenges that plague our society.
For us to resolve these, the government cannot do it alone; the process of nation-building and development is a shared process that requires the voices of South Africans in all their differences. We thus urge all comrades and community members to participate in the dialogue processes and let your voices be heard! Fundamentally, this is about moral regeneration and restoring the moral fibre in our country that has decayed. It is about fostering a culture of ethics, integrity and rooting out the rot that threatens our democracy.
Comrades,
As I draw to a close, let me take this moment to reflect on the upcoming G20 Summit that South Africa will be hosting in the next few weeks. Comrade OR Tambo, having been an internationalist, would be proud to see South Africa, with our history of struggle and revolution, hosting the first G20 Summit on the African Continent. It must be said that this is not a small feat, and that it reflects who we are as a country, and that we represent not only ourselves, but the continent as a whole.
South Africa’s G20 Presidency is being held under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, a theme that seeks to harness global will and capabilities to confront the enormous challenges the world is facing. Through solidarity, we seek to achieve a future that is people-centred, development-oriented, and inclusive. In an interconnected world, the challenges faced by one nation affect all nations.
We believe that Solidarity: emphasises that in an interconnected world, challenges faced by one country affect others; therefore, collective responses and mutual support are essential.
By advancing Equality, we seek to ensure fair treatment, opportunities and advancement for all individuals and nations, irrespective of their economic status, gender, race, geographic location, or other characteristics. Structured and institutionalised inequality has become a major threat to global economic growth and stability. Inequality exists within and between states, and as actors in the global economy, we have a role in ensuring that this does not persist.
Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It integrates economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection, ensuring long-term health and stability of all people and our planet.
Indeed, these are all attributes that Tambo stood for and left as a legacy for the African National Congress and for all the justice-loving people of the world. We believe that this moment marks an important turnaround for Africa, and a recognition that the world can no longer ignore this rich continent and the treasure that it carries.
I urge that we remain committed to the attainment of a non-racial, non-sexist, equal, and democratic South Africa that Tambo aspired for. When Oliver Tambo returned from exile after three decades, he said, “I have devotedly watched over the organisation all these years. I now hand it back to you, bigger, stronger - intact.”.
This quote reflects Tambo’s consistency in building an organisation of this stature, and his confidence in the future of the ANC. As a champion of renewal and unity, he taught us to guard our precious movement and preserve its essence. This requires that all members of the ANC must have a sense of ownership and shared purpose as we rebuild trust and, more importantly, win the hearts and minds of the people. The ANC belongs to the people of South Africa, and those of us who are in it must be good custodians of this vehicle that carries the hopes of the people. We must never be despondent.
The ANC Lives, the ANC Leads!
Long Live President OR Tambo!
Long Live the ANC!
Amandla! Matla!
