Sabela uyabizwa! Respond when called

Sabela uyabizwa, ("respond when called") is used when you’re called for important matters, go on errands or when raised to a podium as a hero. It is a call for heroes and heroines to stand up for a mission that not all can be called.

You are called by name, an identity not familiar to others next to you. You are called for a destiny beyond your thoughts and imaginations. Sabela Uyabizwa, you have to stand up for a nation has placed a yoke on your shoulders, you’re the trusted one.

A Convention held on 1 November 2008 was a call so significant it was applauded in Europe and other African countries seen as a change that would transform the politics of this continent and align it and the people with political and economic possibilities.

On 16 December 2008, the Congress of the People was formed and Hope was again restored in people. About 4 000 delegates gathered in Bloemfontein in bright yellow Cope T-shirts at the inaugural conference, most of which were overwhelmingly working class and poor. Those who were from the middle class and better-off showed clear solidarity with these fellow South Africans who have yet to benefit economically from our democratic transformation.

Most promising was the conference’s unifying effect on the majority of South Africans. The members of the congress have decided to go out to South Africans with the following, simple message:

We are all South Africans, some black, some white, some of mixed race and some of Indian, Asian and other ancestry, but we are all equal in our diversity.
The Constitution, based on the Freedom Charter, is the founding document of our nation. We will defend these values and principles, with our lives if necessary.
We will build a society based on the values of the Freedom Charter; of freedom, of solidarity, of non-racialism and non-sexism.
No South African is above the law, whether he or she is a president or a pauper - we are all equal before the law. We will promote good governance, sound administration and policies that ensure we have a nation that works.

Since the 2009 National Elections, where 1.3 millions of South African voters entrusted their votes to the Congress of the People, Cope floundered and not because of poor governance but greed and self-positioning, where people wanted to wrestle control of the Congress for their own benefits. This led to people failing to understand as to why the new party went into obscurity within months.

The situation was exacerbated even further when the Youth Movement without a mandate from its members / supporters decided to call for the removal of the CNC for the benefit of an individual, and the attempted ‘hijacking’ of Cope’s Policy Conference at St George.

People saw these leadership squabbles as the death of the Congress of the People. Fortunately this is the rebirth of the Congress of the People. The people have stood up and are reconstructing, calling: Congress of the People, Ukhongolose Wa-Bantu! South Africans need us! We are the Hope for this country, we are the Change for this country, we are this country and we are the only Chance that this country has.

It is time the Congress of the People stood up, sabela uyabizwa!

Written by Bongane Mahlangu, a member of the Congress of the People in Mpumalanga, in his personal capacity.