10th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family

Rev Kenneth Meshoe


2004 is the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family and the ACDP has consistently protected and promoted family values.

Now, we believe we have finally turned the corner. Anticipated growth is going to be more dramatic during the next few months and years. The results of the American elections have given us even more hope and confirmation that we are on course.

The newly elected US Democratic Party Senator from Illinois, Barrach Obama said, “The Republicans have been successful in framing themselves as the defenders of American traditions, religious traditions and family traditions.”

A Los Angeles Times national survey found that more that half of voters for President George W Bush cited moral issues as the principle reason for their support. These issues were more important to his supporters - even more that terrorism.

While promoting the ACDP as a family values party, we will not forget the advice that we were given at our “Bosberaad” by a respected political analyst, Aubrey Matshiqi, that for us to grow, we must be seen to be caring for our people. We accepted his advice to foreground job creation and poverty alleviation much more that we have ever done before. The ACDP must be known as a family party that cares about all the people of South Africa, particularly the poor, the destitute and those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Several motions were adopted, which included:

Motion 1: Floor Crossing

The National Convention resolves that the issue of ”floor-crossing” be revisited by parliament in view of widespread public dissatisfaction with defections.

Motion 2: Protection of the Family

The National Convention challenges government not to pay lip-service to moral regeneration and the International Year of the Family, but to ensure family-friendly legislation and policies and promote true moral regeneration by repealing laws and policies that undermine family values. The National Convention also challenges each delegate to actively take steps to, as far as possible, address issues that affect the families such as, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and crime in their respective constituencies.

Motion 3: Corruption

The theme for the conference is restoring integrity in the nation- an issue addressed by the key note speaker, Dr James Seekola.

The conference further noted that the Office of the Public Protector has reported to Parliament that it is concerned that the remedies provided by the Protected Disclosures Act to protect whistleblowers from victimisation are too costly and the procedures too long.

The conference calls upon government to urgently take steps to ensure that employees in both the public and private spheres who expose “corruption” are properly protected from victimisation, and that the purpose of the Protected Disclosure’s Act is not defeated by costly, lengthy procedures.

The ACDP will also address several other issues.

Firstly, we will all promote unity in the ACDP, and ensure that all our members rally behind one common vision of bringing Godly governance to our nation.

Secondly, we will market the ACDP as South Africa’s family values party that cares for our people, particularly the poor, the destitute, the elderly, and women and children. Members of the ACDP will roll up their sleeves and help where it is needed. Caring members of the ACDP will show by their works that they care.

Thirdly, we will start NGOs and projects in needy communities in order to be seen to be doing something to help the helpless.

Fourthly, we will embark on a vigorous recruitment campaign to sign up new members even as we prepare ourselves for the upcoming local government elections.

Lastly, we want to touch on recent reports, about the ACDP, in newspapers. It was reported that Anglicans and Catholics can’t be elected to lead our party. This is not true. People who stand for leadership in the ACDP are not asked to which denomination they belong. What is important for us as the ACDP is to have Christian leaders of integrity regardless of where they come from. Common sense says to us that you cannot successfully promote Christian values if you don’t live them out. Our lives as Christian leaders must confirm our claims. This is why we are critical of some leaders in our country who claim to be concerned about moral regenerations while they are not living morally upright lives. We believe that actions speak louder than words.