DA congratulates ANC on centenary

Johannesburg - Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille on Saturday congratulated the African National Congress on its centenarary event. "I extend my sincere congratulations to the African National Congress (ANC) and its leader, President Zuma, on reaching this impressive milestone," Zille said in a statement.


"These 100 years show an extraordinary record, without parallel on the continent of Africa. If the ANC is saying this is much more than a celebration of the 100th birthday of a political party, we agree.


"It represents a history of progress, a quest for human rights and the advent of democracy after a long, arduous struggle that took over 80 years," she added.

She said the values espoused by the father of the new South Africa, Nelson Mandela, still resonated strongly with the people of South Africa and his humane, non-racial vision of equality for all under a democratic system led the country out of the dark days of repression and put it firmly on the path to freedom.

However, the centenary event also called for introspection and reflection as without the values articulated by Nelson Mandela, the ANC also risked becoming a rudderless vessel, Zille warned.


http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/DA-congratulates-ANC-on-centenary-20120107