President Jacob Zuma praised those who risked their lives fighting for freedom from apartheid, during the 50th commemoration on Thursday of the raid on Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia.
"We salute all the heroes and heroines of our revolution who were willing to pay the ultimate price for our freedom," he said.
Those arrested in the raid included Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Dennis Goldberg, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Harold Wolpe, Elias Motsoaledi, Rusty Bernstein, Bob Hepple, Arthur Goldreich, and James Kantor.
"They lent their visionary leadership to ensure that a free, non-racial, democratic, just and non-sexist South Africa we have come to enjoy over the past 19 years does indeed become a reality," said Zuma.
"These were times when just to be associated with the ANC and was equivalent to either being brutally killed or to face long term imprisonment, banishment or exile."
He said the National Development Plan (NDP) was designed along the same lines as the Freedom Charter, which outlined the type of society South Africans should build.
"We have to ensure that all households have water, electricity, sanitation and that no child goes to bed hungry."
Zuma also talked about former president Nelson Mandela, who posed as a gardener while living at the farm.
"This is where Madiba hid for more than a year under the assumed name of David Motsamayi, when he planned underground activities.
"We are encouraged that he is responding to treatment in hospital. He remains as much of a fighter now as he was 50 years ago when incidents such as the raid on this farm took place." - Sapa
Zuma praises veterans
"We salute all the heroes and heroines of our revolution who were willing to pay the ultimate price for our freedom," he said.
Those arrested in the raid included Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Dennis Goldberg, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Harold Wolpe, Elias Motsoaledi, Rusty Bernstein, Bob Hepple, Arthur Goldreich, and James Kantor.
"They lent their visionary leadership to ensure that a free, non-racial, democratic, just and non-sexist South Africa we have come to enjoy over the past 19 years does indeed become a reality," said Zuma.
"These were times when just to be associated with the ANC and was equivalent to either being brutally killed or to face long term imprisonment, banishment or exile."
He said the National Development Plan (NDP) was designed along the same lines as the Freedom Charter, which outlined the type of society South Africans should build.
"We have to ensure that all households have water, electricity, sanitation and that no child goes to bed hungry."
Zuma also talked about former president Nelson Mandela, who posed as a gardener while living at the farm.
"This is where Madiba hid for more than a year under the assumed name of David Motsamayi, when he planned underground activities.
"We are encouraged that he is responding to treatment in hospital. He remains as much of a fighter now as he was 50 years ago when incidents such as the raid on this farm took place." - Sapa
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