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The African Democratic Change (ADeC) has noted media reports sighting the ANC’s complaint to the IEC with regard to the use of the black, green and gold colours in its logo.

ADeC will duly comply with IEC processes on the matter. Furthermore, ADeC wishes to point out that the use of black, green and gold colours in political party and country flags across Africa is rooted in the description these colours carry about our continent, which cannot be exclusively appropriated to a single party.

We are grateful for the integral role the liberation movement had in fighting the injustice of apartheid. However, the African Democratic Change is unapologetic about its position to take the baton from its liberators. Our liberators have fulfilled their mission in liberating South Africa, but have failed to transform from a liberation movement to a governing political party in a democratic dispensation. That is what our torch represents.

The hand that holds our torch is a female hand. ADeC believes that the struggle against gender oppression is yet to be realised. Indeed, as a country we’ve come a long way in ensuring that women are recognised as equal to their male counterparts.

As ADeC we support women leading in the forefront in all sectors of our society notwithstanding that we should lead by example as an organisation and that is why we envision a society where women continue to play a critical role in taking the baton from our liberators, one that is recognised and won’t be erased. We also contend that this hand is symbolic of the caring hand of a woman ensuring the inclusion and representation of young people in all sections of our society.

The green colour symbolises our rich biodiversity, it is also a testament to our commitment in preserving our environment and pursuit of sustainability. Gold is symbolic of our mineral wealth. There are no other colours to represent such thus contend that it is regrettable that the ANC believes it holds monopoly of colours.

Our logo is largely sky blue, this colour is symbolic of the oceans, the skies, peace and reconciliation that is consistent with the Madiba legacy. One of our fundamental principles are founded on unity and a non- racialized society that we believe is embedded in the Ubuntu philosophy. Sky blue is at the bottom of our logo and background because we believe that we can only reach our potential as country if we are united behind a common vision.

Many have been misguided, with reports that previously stated that our acronym is ADC, however we’d like to clarify South Africans that our logo is ADeC. This cannot be confusing to any political parties.

The African Democratic Change dedicated its Founding Conference to our struggle heroes, specifically Oliver Reginald Tambo, Charlotte Maxeke, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Helen Suzman, Fatima Meer and Steve Biko. ADeC believes that nobody should be defined outside of their history, it is for this reason we believe that the struggle heroes stated above belong to South Africa. These struggle heroes fought for all South African’s and not for ANC members only.

We wish the African National Congress well as it lays its complaints with the IEC.

Issued by African Democratic Change