In a maturing democracy it is important that political leaders understand and reconcile themselves to the presence of a political opposition, Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said on Tuesday.
Leon is attending the official Nation Building and Reconciliation Ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
In a statement issued on Tuesday to mark Reconciliation Day, Leon said: ”The political opposition is not opposed to the state. It is loyal to the Constitution. And yet it may oppose the policies of the governing party, criticise its behaviour, and recommend alternatives.”
Broadly speaking, the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance shared the same vision for South Africa’s future, he said.
”Both our parties wish to create a prosperous and free nation, where each and every person has an equal chance to fulfil his or her dreams. We both agree that there are obstacles in the way of achieving this vision.
”But we sometimes — and vigorously — disagree about what these obstacles are and how we, as South Africans, should go about removing them. That is good, and proper. We can make our debates positive and productive ones if we diligently uphold the democratic institutions within which we can discuss the issues at hand and attempt to win each other over to our own views.”
Ultimately, the true test of reconciliation was the transfer of power.
”When the ANC came to power peacefully and democratically, it marked a critical point in South Africa’s process of reconciliation. The climax will be when the ANC itself hands over power to an opposition that is victorious in the polls. That is a
test that every country must face, and it will come soon enough in South Africa,” Leon said. – Sapa