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Community constituency objects to the current call for various civic organisations to be involved in marches to force the president to step down. There has been no consultative process to engage all quarters of the civil society constituency under one roof as to the way forward the civil structure should take. We call for an inclusive process of consultation to take on board the broadest possible range of views to determine a common approach on the matter which will go beyond simply what elements of the leadership hold as a position.

Community constituency is not undermining the initiative by religious sectors and other structures but the concern is that the process should be inclusive of all other civil structures so that the civic constituency will speak with one voice.
The Community Constituency is composed of the following umbrella organisations:

• South African Youth Council (SAYC) – Youth Sector
• South African National Apex Co-operative (SANACO) - Cooperatives
• Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) – Disability Sector
• South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) - Civics
• Women’s National Coalition (WNC) – Women’s Sector
• Financial Sector Campaign Coalition (FSCC) – Financial Sector

Community constituency objects to agenda setting of some sectors within the civil society section and force-feed other sectors to frog march on one voice call to march / demonstrate against the current decisions done in parliament. The Community Constituency have noticed that there individuals out there with no mandates but pronouncing as though they carry mandates from their constituencies. These individuals want to wreak havoc in our peaceful society. These individuals have been fired, retired and some have failed to lead their previous organisations or were involved in corruption. Some of these individuals have lost their positions through conferences and therefore currently carry no mandate.

They have become self-appointed disciples of our people. Church leaders are encouraged not to divide their congregations / followers by delving into the political matter that has to do with the political waves in the country. They should gather their congregations for them to be given mandate on the matter and the mandate should carry a position from their congregations / followers.  

Community Constituency urges fellow South Africans to desist from using confrontation approach to issues of national importance. By using confrontation to deal with matters of national importance is simply encouraging civil strife as what is going on in other countries in Africa and elsewhere. All will happen because our people will be split for pro and against, leading to internal clashes. Let us avoid being individual champions. No man is an island in politics. Social dialogue is best possible approach to fixing matters to our country and her future.

In 2014, Community Constituency at Nedlac held Civil Society summit, with the intention to have a platform where all civic organisations come together, exchange ideas and have a common view on issues that affect them. To this date, we should have another summit especially on matters like the one under discussion. It should be noted that Moody’s rating agency is coming back into South Africa in June 2016. The lack of stability and other matters related to the good business environment will be considered by the rating agency. Let us avoid putting our country into the junk status by our own doing, i.e. lack of stability.

Community constituency is arguing that all civic movements should come under one roof and discuss current issues pertaining the country to be beyond that of current impeachment processes done in parliament. This can best be done through a broad based consultative conference or process of consultation to take into account this and other related views to be held as soon as possible.

Issued by Nedlac Community Constituency