EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE SPEECH BY THE MF LEADER, MR. A. RAJBANSI AT THE LAUNCH

This year’s election coincides with my half a century of service to South Africa as I have had the unique occasion of walking into SACTU offices in my road in Clairwood where I resided in 1954 and meeting Dr. Albert John Luthuli, Mr. Nelson Mandela and Mr. Moses Mabida. I look back to the 50 years with a tremendous measure of pride as the media has given me lots of praises and criticism, Masters and Doctoral theses have been written about me and faculties of universities have made special studies about me.

South Africa is a great country but unfortunately negative forces capatalise on the birth pains of a new born democracy which is prevalent in any country during the period of great change.

When I look back on the past 50 years I place on record that I have chartered a course based on principle and ideology from which I have not deviated and strictly adhered to the advice of the great Mahatma Gandhi who left a message for us on the night before his departure that we must not lose our self-respect. His great pupil and the great first Prime Minister of India, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru on a visit to Kenya, delivered a special message to South Africans of Indian origin about the future direction and that is work with the masses.

Our great grandparents, the indentured labourers and the traders have left behind an excellent legacy of intercommunity bond and partnership and South Africans of Indian origin owe their success to the mission and vision which they espoused.

My 50 years in public life coincides with this election and I have received tremendous inspirational support from Madiba when he honoured me and visited my home for lunch and thanked me for the contributions I have made.

The Minority Front was placed in a rather invidious position as in the past six weeks there were numerous requests from various municipal areas for us to contest elections and the MF is contesting elections in the following municipalities, Newcastle, Ladysmith, Howick Pietermaritzburg, Port Shepstone, Umdoni, eThekwini, KwaDukuza and Richards Bay. The MF has fielded approximately 86 candidates and in the municipalities where the MF is contesting elections we have a candidates name on the ballot paper in every ward. The MF enters this election against the background of improved results in the 2004 parliamentary elections, noting that 50 % of the Indians did not register and of those registered only 50 % voted.

Since 1996 the Minority Front has been placed in a significant position as it held the balance of power in quite a few municipalities because of the failure of the major parties to achieve 50 % of the vote and the eThekwini municipality is an excellent example.

The MF is not an opposition and it is not negative. We support major parties and oppose them on matter of principle and we have no alliance with any political party and unfortunately one negative political party is using this as propaganda against the MF. The Minority Front’s election team is lead by the following three persons who are responsible for logistic support, publicity and preparation, Mr. Patrick Pillay, Mr Jayraj (Paris) Singh and Mrs. Shameen Rajbansi. Unfortunately a few refer to the MF as a one-man band. At this media briefing the big team we have is evidence that the Minority Front has a team of broad leadership. In your folder you will find copies of the MF Manifesto which includes the mission statement, the MF’s vision, why the MF is distinct from other parties, why vote MF, effectiveness of minorities, the reliance of minority movement in the new South Africa, the new MF logo and the MF principles. The MF’s key election issues can be summarized under the following themes:

• Fair administrative justice which is enshrined in our constitution;
• Equality for all;
• Respect for the democratic rights of the citizens to choose a party of their choice;
• Fair treatment, recognition and the respect for multi-party democracy.

Summing up the MF wants fair delivery to all areas and to all communities and to ensure that in the decision-making process there is fairness and equitability whilst accepting that much of the development must yield in the direction of Black people because of the terrible oppression and suppression they have suffered.
We are emphasising that there should be a clear understanding of the meaning, of a better life for all, and for all requires to be printed in this election campaign very boldly. We require economy and efficiency in the management of municipalities with decisions that must be free of party political interference and strict attention must be given to the removal of outdated legislation; by-laws that impede the facilitation of development especially the fast-tracking of SMME programmes. That councils review their housing policies in the light of increased discount benefit schemes to ensure that there is better low-cost and middle-income housing.

That services be provided to all areas on a fair and equitable basis; that infrastructure development takes place also in all areas on the basis of fairness, that representatives of all communities according to the demographics are allowed to play a role in the management affairs of council.

The MF will also campaign to review the valuation for rateable purposes of properties so that every one in similar situations pay the same rates and the valuation not be influenced by an artificially inflated situation of supply and demand; that communities get a fair return for the rates investment; that fund allocated by the national government by way of municipal infrastructure grants are utilised in all six priority areas; that sanitation be improved and water and electricity supply is available in all areas.

Finally the better life for all must be given a real practical meaning and that councillors account for their performance so that the interests of the taxpayer and the rate payer become a matter of paramount importance.

The Minority Front is super-prepared for this election and we are confident that the MF will double its support and appeals to other political parties to have respect for each other and respect for the truth.