Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for a debate on the Freedom Charter

Jaimie-faith Poonah
29 April 2015

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa while addressing the Freedom Charter Forum on Tuesday said the recent attacks on foreign nationals have no place in a country like ours which is founded on its Constitution, that guarantees the rights and dignity of all people.

He added that sixty-years later we celebrate the Freedom Charter as an enduring vision of a free and democratic society that continues to inspire and guide our struggle.

Ramaphosa said we should have a discall, a concerted drive to eradicate poverty and to reduce inequality, this imperative is central also to the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan and the outcomes contained in the governance medium term strategic framework.

Ramaphosa said as we grapple with this momentous task we need to turn to the Freedom Charter for guidance, inspiration and perspective.

Meanwhile while address the forum Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said over the last six decades there has been much debate about the ideological intent of the Freedom Charter.

He has encouraged for an in-depth debate on the charter.  

Ramaphosa said the Freedom Charter should indeed be debated. It needs to be interpreted and where needs be it needs to be critiqued and we want people to debate it fully and discuss the Freedom Charter.

Ramaphosa said we must understand that the Charter is not a set of policy instruments; it is a vision of a new society, as former President Oliver Thambo said to which we must give effect.



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