PREAMBLE
WHEREAS the African National Congress was founded in 1912 to defend and advance the rights of the African people after the violent destruction of their independence and the creation of a white supremacist Union of South Africa;
AND WHEREAS in the course of fulfilling this historic aim, the African National Congress has emerged to lead the struggle of all democratic and patriotic forces
to destroy the apartheid state and replace it with a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa in which the people as a whole shall govern and all shall enjoy equal rights;
AND WHEREAS through the struggles and sacrifices of its members over the generations, the African National Congress has come to be recognised as the central organiser and inspirer of a vast popular upsurge against apartheid, involving a great array of social, cultural, religious, trade union, professional and political organisations;
AND WHEREAS the fundamental goal of the African National Congress remains to construct a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society in South Africa;
AND WHEREAS the historic April 1994 election has placed the African National Congress in a position of responsibility for leading the process of reconstruction and development aimed at eradicating the problems of poverty and inequality created by apartheid and creating a just and equitable economic and social order;
