THE ANC has reiterated its non-aligned stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.
ANC national executive committee (NEC) member and International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor told a media briefing at Luthuli House on Friday, 5 April, that the governing party doesn't want to be used by powerful countries.
"Why do we say non-alignment. You would know that the alignment that is sought is alignment with powerful countries. If you get alignment that says whatever they desire, you, as South Africa, has to follow it. That's why we're not aligned to any powerful countries," Pandor said.
She said Mzansi didn't want to follow powerful countries blindly.
"This is how I'd set out our belief that we can't be attached to particular powerful countries to be a mouthpiece when we have our own notions of how we see global affairs."
Pandor said the current geo-political context is underpinned by a range of troubling developments that have severely distracted global attention from the global agenda of human security and universal access to human rights and social justice.
The ANC was unpacking its manifesto which focuses on the so-called Priority 6 which is about building a better Africa and a better world.
Pandor said as part of the community of nations, which includes membership of the United Nations, the African Union, BRICS and the Southern African Development Community, South Africa plays an important role in changing the world for the better.
She added that that the ANC will continue with its mission to build a world devoid of war, famine, disease, military coups, foreign occupation and exploitation.
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She said: “Ours is a vision of a new global order, based on collaboration and partnership.”
Pandor said as a progressive organisation, the ANC will continue to lobby and mobilise through party-to-party relations and strive for growth by ensuring that its policies on regional integration cover the movement of goods and people and resolve the issue of undocumented immigrants.
She pointed out that through these priorities, the ANC will work towards achieving the National Development Plan 2030 objectives to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality.
“Through this manifesto, the ANC makes a solemn pledge to South Africa to drive faster progress, more action, accountability, citizen involvement and better implementation," she said.
"In addition to advancing the agenda of a better Africa and a better world over the next five years, the ANC will recommit South Africa to working with others to take its responsibilities in the fight against climate change, global poverty, and inequality in line with applicable international resolutions forward.”
