Congratulations and best wishes to the newly-elected provincial executive committee (PEC) of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal. The PEC is the supreme decision-making body, making decisions and implementing policies of the ruling party in KZN.
It also determines office bearers for deployment to government structures, like the premier and members of the executive council (MECs) to the provincial cabinet. The PEC has the daunting task of rebuilding KZN post the Covid-19 pandemic, the civil unrest and the recent floods.
Of equal importance is the agenda of transformation of the provincial economy to tackle poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Political freedom would be meaningless if the vast majority of citizens are excluded from the economic activities of the region. It has its work cut out for the next couple of years and we wish them well in all of their endeavours.
The ANC government defines black as being inclusive of African, Indian and coloureds and embraces the Freedom Charter, which proudly declares that "South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white".
The Freedom Charter also reflects that "All national groups shall enjoy equal rights", not promoting ethnicity but in recognition of the diversity of our nation and promoting the non-racial agenda.
Indian compatriots were an integral part of our freedom struggle, producing stalwarts like Ahmed Kathrada, Billy Nair, Mac Maharaj, Yusuf Dadoo and Monty Naicker to name a few, and others that laid down their lives like Ahmed Timol, Dr Hoosen Haffejee, Lenny Naidu and Krish Rabilall.
With the onset of democracy, we have witnessed the Indian community voting against the ruling ANC and a steady drifting away from the liberation movements to the opposition ranks.
Political analysts have ascribed this to unfolding events of crime, corruption, social unrest, declining service delivery in particular by municipalities, lack of job opportunities and perceived racism.
But it is not just Indian South Africans who have lost faith in the party that led us to democracy. South Africans in general are disappointed with the ANC, as can be seen by the falling support it has received in recent elections.
Now, many of the men and women who led the ANC in 1994 have died or are reaching the end of their political lives. We need a younger leadership to take up the cudgels and influence decision making.
With the election of the new PEC, we see the emergence of a new, younger generation of black African leaders. Where then are the new generation of leaders from the Indian community?
In recent times activists from the Indian community have been notably absent in ANC structures, especially at a branch level. Indian representation at all spheres of government began to dwindle with no representation on the PEC.
Maggie Govender was co-opted after the previous PEC elections and in the recent one, no person of Indian origin was elected. Ravi Pillay served on the PEC up until 2014 and was also not re-elected thereafter.
Yet Indian participation in the ANC is critical for the strengthening of our non-racial democracy, building social cohesion and integration in our beloved South Africa.
ANC branches in areas like Chatsworth, Phoenix, Merebank, Newlands,Tongaat and Pietermaritzburg could become vibrant branches promoting these ideals. It is time for unity, renewal, moral regeneration and transformation of our country and KZN could lead the way.
Those who came in 1860 as indentured labourers had the opportunity to go back but many chose to stay in South Africa because they saw a better future. But they did not sit back and wait for others to solve their problems.
They became involved in every aspect of life, including politics. Such was their commitment that one could argue that our freedom in 1994 would not have been possible with the contribution of those of Indian origin.
It is a past Indian South Africans as a community can be proud of. But today, our country faces a set of new challenges equally daunting as apartheid. We need our sons and daughters to come to the fore and to help build the society that is envisioned in our constitution.
The election of a new provincial leadership provides an opportunity for those who want to get involved to become involved. It is time to rebuild.
Logie Naidoo is a former deputy mayor and former speaker of eThekwini. He writes in his personal capacity.