Thursday, May 28, 2015

ANC Statement on Africa Day
25 May 2015

The African National Congress joins millions of Africans in celebrating the Africa Day today, 25 May 2015. We celebrate this year's Africa Day under theme "Building a better Africa and a better World". It was on this day in 1963, when leaders of 32 African nations came together in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, and formed the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The year 2015, also marks 14 years since the formation of the African Union (AU).

The OAU was formed to confront as a collective, the challenges facing the African continent then. The Organisation's main objectives include; the promotion of unity and solidarity of the African states, co-ordinate and intensify the co-operation of African states, and to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of African states in order to achieve a better life for all Africans. After the attainment of our liberation and the first democratic elections in 1994, South Africa joined the OAU on the 23rd of May the same year.

The ANC remains committed to working together with the people of Africa in order to achieve the AU fifty-year vision called Agenda 2063. This is the African vision of building effective institutions, enhancing accountability, strengthening solidarity and integration, promoting gender equality, and promoting peace and security. In addition, Agenda 2063 talks about the reform of institutions of global governance, which includes among others the United Nations (UN), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

As we celebrate this historic day, we reiterate the call made by President Jacob Zuma at yesterday's Africa Day celebrations in Mamelodi that "every school, church or community choir and individuals, must practice the African Union anthem so that we can sing it at all our important gatherings and celebrations".

We are Africa! We are One!

Issued by
Zizi Kodwa
National Spokesperson
African National Congress

Enquiries
Keith Khoza 082 823 9672
Khusela Sangoni 072 854 5707

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