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January 12, 2004, VIPs For A Day, by Chris
It all started out innocently enough. On Friday of last week Marilyn Aitken who runs the woman's leadership program in the area phoned and asked if we wanted to attend an ANC (African National Congress) rally in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. We figured that it would be an opportunity to learn more about the issues for the upcoming national election and that it would be fun to go to a real life African political rally.
Contrary to the forecast, the weather yesterday dawned warm and clear. We met Marilyn and Sibongile in Pietermaritzburg (about 130 km from here) at nine and after stowing our bakkie safely at a convent we proceeded to the stadium. Marilyn informed us that Mbeki was scheduled to speak at noon and that this was actually the kick-off of the ANC campaign. We had arrived without passes of any kind assuming that we would stand with the throng on the grass. As it turned out, the throng consisted of 80,000 people wedged together in sweltering 32 degree heat. By 11 am the gates were closed and many thousands more milled about on the perimeters of the stadium.
But the fun started before we even got to the gates. It turns out that Marilyn had been actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement since the 1960's. She is one of a very small minority of white people who took an active stance during the years of the worst oppression, going as far as giving refuge to black leaders. Marilyn seemed to know everyone and one of these connections quickly came to our rescue. The party whip for the ANC, obtained VIP passes for the four of us, allowing us to sit in the shade with free access to bottled water. Imagine two "kids" from Canada hobnobbing with cabinet ministers, MPs, provincial premiers, mayors and tribal leaders from all over South Africa.
The highpoint of the day came when we met the secretary general of the ANC, Smuts Ngonyama. This man passionately believes in South Africa and its people. I shared with him what we were trying to do with Edzimkulu. Our ideas about the power of the individual and true sustainable community development were so in synch that I think we have found a big supporter in the ANC.
After the excitement of the morning the actual rally and speeches were somewhat of a letdown. There was lots of multi-ethnic entertainment - Hindu dancers doing a Zulu dance - and lots of Viva Mbeki, Viva ANC. Mbeki’s speech centered around the people’s contract to create work and alleviate poverty. He also referred repeatedly to the importance of free and democratic elections. However not once did he refer to AIDS and its current and future impact on the country. In that respect he still seems to have blinders on. Many of the provincial governments are much more enlightened.
At the end of the day we trudged wearily to the car, delighted to have been VIPS for a day. We'll forever treasure our ANC guest badges.
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