‘We must work for a majority larger than two-thirds’ – Zuma
Izwi Labantu Forum held their first event at Silverstar Casino on Saturday, 30 June, welcoming former president Jacob Zuma as the keynote speaker.
Jacob Zuma graced the Izwi Labantu Forum (ILF) event at Silverstar Casino as guest speaker last weekend, touching on a number of issues relating to land and radical economic transformation.
The event was the first of its kind for the Forum, a fledgling non-profit organisation whose title is Zulu for ‘The voice of the people’. They aim to be exactly that, with objectives such as creating jobs for the youth, empowering and supporting local businesses, as well as providing charitable services to underprivileged communities, among many other objectives laid out by the organisation.
All of their objectives will be carried under one slogan: ‘My Voice – Your Voice – Our Voice’.
The evening got under way with song and prayer from Pearl Tau before ILF’s chief communications officer, Qhawe Zulu, officially opened the evening and welcomed the evening’s master of ceremonies, comedian and presenter Nina Hastie. The first speaker of the evening was none other than the ANC’s Progressive Youth in Business Head of Strategy, Dr Bandile Hadebe.
Hadebe brought his trademark scientific approach to radical economic transformation to the fore, earning him a standing ovation from the crowd once his speech concluded. Following on Hadebe’s phenomenal presentation was Pastor Louis Tau, who provided an eye-opening look on land and the economy from a Biblical perspective.
Finally came Bongani ka Mahlangu, who made sure to live up to the standards set by the earlier speakers. He brought to light just how pivotal a role the media has played in the shaping of the country over the years, as well as how big a purpose it still currently serves in communities nationwide.
What was undoubtedly the most-anticipated speech if the evening came after dinner, when former ANC and South African president Jacob Zuma walked on stage to speak to the crowd, touching on several matters relating to land and radical economic transformation.
“The population is growing, but the land is not,” he said. He also proposed that, “The state must own the land, and if people want to use the land, the state must lease the land to those individuals.”
He also highlighted the need for black South Africans to unite, and work together. “We must work for a majority larger than two-thirds, we must use the majority to amend the Constitution and its laws,” he said. Zuma concluded his speech by saying, “We [black South Africans] must be more pan-Africanist, and must not be shy to be black”.
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