When the charter was drawn,

A vision of a true society was born.

A dark cloud giving way to the blue sky.

The freedom wagon moved with direction.

Yes, the people's agenda was adopted.

On this 30th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, cultural workers should also take stock of their presence in the struggle. On the same wavelength one must submit that the type of opposition cultural workers are facing, like other democrats, is formidable although not indestructible. Facing the same oppressions (passes, poverty, the risk of jail) cultural workers also have a special duty to struggle in the field of ideas.

On television, on the radio, in the press, in the church and in the classroom the people are bombarded with a massive proliferation of ideas that seek to harmonise them with subjugation. It is for this reason that the progressive movement inside the country must mobilise the fraternity of cultural workers to counter this threat. In doing this we can build upon the heritage of struggle and resistance culture.

Racial, colonial and imperialist domination all involve cultural oppression and attempt, either directly or indirectly, to do away with the most militant and vital elements of culture of the subjected people. But our people have been able to keep their culture alive despite continual and organised repression of their cultural life, and because they continued to resist cultural oppression even when their early politico-military resistance was destroyed.

Culture is a fundamental element of history in any given society. It is a product of history just like the flower is the product of a plant.

For us culture must be a weapon that we use effectively to raise the awareness of the people about their living conditions and the reasons for their sufferings. Through it we can engage a wide spectrum in the political process, and develop active workers for the liberation movement.

Culture permeates all aspects of our national struggle, be it workers demanding better conditions and fair wages, students demanding that the doors of learning be flung wide open, or community organisations fighting high rents.