[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 21, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H6519-H6521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF MAJORITY RULE IN REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 436) celebrating 10 years of 
majority rule in the Republic of South Africa and recognizing the 
momentous social and economic achievements of South Africa since the 
institution of democracy in that country, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 436

       Whereas the Republic of South Africa peacefully and 
     successfully held democratic elections and transitioned to a 
     democratic, nonracial form of government in 1994;
       Whereas South Africa helped initiate and frame the New 
     Partnership for Africa's Development as a new partnership 
     between Africa and the rest of the world in order to place 
     the continent of Africa on the path to sustainable 
     development and to further the values of democracy and 
     economic reform throughout Africa;
       Whereas South Africa actively supports the South African 
     Development Community, which promotes regional economic 
     cooperation and higher standards of living in Southern 
     Africa;
       Whereas South Africa has made significant advances in 
     housing by constructing 1,600,000 houses for the poor of 
     South Africa;
       Whereas, since 1994, 9,000,000 people in South Africa have 
     gained access to clean water;
       Whereas, before 1994, 22,000,000 people in South Africa did 
     not have access to adequate sanitation, but 63 percent of 
     households in South Africa now have access to adequate 
     sanitation;
       Whereas, before 1994, 60 percent of people in South Africa 
     did not have electricity, but more than 70 percent of 
     households in South Africa now have electricity;
       Whereas, from 1994 to 2004, secondary school enrollment in 
     South Africa increased from 70 percent to 85 percent, and 
     students in South Africa now learn in a racially integrated 
     school system;
       Whereas the Government of South Africa has established 
     nutritional and educational programs to benefit the youngest 
     and poorest people in South Africa;
       Whereas South Africa is experiencing the longest period of 
     consistent positive growth, as measured by its gross domestic 
     product (GDP), since growth in GDP was properly recorded in 
     the 1940s;
       Whereas F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela share a Nobel 
     Peace Prize for their work in ending apartheid in South 
     Africa and establishing a representative government;
       Whereas Desmond Tutu led the Truth and Reconciliation 
     Commission to repair injustices among South Africans and 
     improve race relations in the country, and was awarded a 
     Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts;
       Whereas South Africa has contributed troops to peacekeeping 
     efforts in Burundi, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the 
     Congo, Ethiopia, and Eritrea;
       Whereas South Africa President Thabo Mbeki has forged a 
     relationship with President George W. Bush, making three 
     state visits to the United States and hosting President Bush 
     during his visit to Pretoria, South Africa;
       Whereas South Africa has served as an inspiration for other 
     African nations striving for democracy and the peaceful 
     cooperation of many ethnic groups;
       Whereas, after being isolated for many years because of the 
     odious system of apartheid, South Africa has since 1994 
     become a premier location for large international 
     conferences, a leading tourist destination, and the locale 
     for numerous films; and
       Whereas, in 1993, the Government of South Africa 
     voluntarily halted its biological, chemical, and nuclear 
     weapons programs and, in 1994, hosted the first conference in 
     Africa on the implementation of the Convention on the 
     Prohibition on the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and 
     Use of Chemical Weapons and On Their Destruction, with 
     annexes, done at Paris January 13, 1993, and entered into 
     force April 29, 1997: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) applauds the Republic of South Africa for the 
     remarkable transition to a democratic government and the 
     tremendous progress achieved during 10 years of majority 
     rule;
       (2) looks forward to a continued partnership with South 
     Africa focused on a sustained commitment to the health of 
     South Africans; and
       (3) anticipates continued social development and economic 
     growth in South Africa.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach).


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 436.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Iowa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Payne) for bringing before us this resolution, celebrating 10 years of 
majority rule in the Republic of South Africa and recognizing the 
momentous social and economic achievements of South Africa since the 
institution of democracy in that country.
  In April 1994, nearly 19 million South Africans went to the polls to 
elect South Africa's first democratic government. The African National 
Congress, or ANC, which had led the struggle against white majority 
rule in the apartheid system of state-enforced racial segregation, won 
control of the national assembly and elected Nelson Mandela, who had 
been in prison for 27 years for the crime of advocating democracy, 
president.
  President Mandela was succeeded by Deputy President Thabo Mbeki in 
June 1999, and Mr. Mbeki was re-elected in April 2004.
  Since the end of apartheid, South African leaders have faced the 
daunting task of meeting the great expectations of the black electorate 
while fulfilling the economic potential of the country. Half a century 
of apartheid and years of sanctions have decimated the economy and left 
most black South Africans poor and undereducated. High rates of 
unemployment and crime, as well as the specter of HIV/AIDS, continue to 
pose significant challenges. Still, South Africa's transition has been 
remarkable and serves as an example to all nations striving for 
democracy, reconciliation, and development.
  This is a bipartisan resolution which has been given full 
consideration during a hearing and a markup by the Committee on 
International Relations, and I urge the support of this body.
  But, again, before yielding to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos), let me thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his 
prominent leadership on this and so many other issues; and I would also 
like to recognize a former Member, Mr. Ron Dellums, for his leadership 
in Congress on antiapartheid efforts. And there are few Members in my 
career that I have been prouder to stand behind on an issue of such 
fundamental human rights significance.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I strongly support this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues 
to do so as well.
  When I first came to the Congress in 1981, the nation of South Africa 
suffered under the yoke of the brutal apartheid system. Few things in 
modern history were as palpably evil as

[[Page H6520]]

apartheid, an appalling system of racial discrimination. Under 
apartheid policies, 3.5 million African people, let me repeat this, Mr. 
Speaker, 3.5 million African people were removed forcibly from their 
land and from their homes between 1960 and 1983. Under one removal 
program called the Black Spot Removal Policy, 475,000 blacks living on 
their own farms in rural communities were robbed of their land, 
forcibly relocated, and reconstituted as a vast cheap labor pool for 
commercial farms.
  Mr. Speaker, what a difference 10 years make. Today, South Africa has 
made a truly historic transition from the hateful and racist apartheid 
regime to a multiracial and peaceful democracy. In South Africa today, 
citizens of all races, all cultures, and all religions live and work 
together in peace.
  In 1994, thanks to decades of internal resistance and comprehensive 
sanctions by the responsible segments of the international community, 
the apartheid regime ended; and it was replaced by a vibrant and 
peaceful democracy. We in Congress fought for 2 decades to turn our 
government's policies away from supporting segregation in South Africa 
towards democracy and freedom.
  Throughout the 1980s, many Members of this Congress introduced 
legislation denouncing apartheid and offering sanctuary to both its 
black victims and to white citizens of conscience who refused to serve 
in the military and security forces of an apartheid regime.
  In 1986, Congress passed the apartheid sanctions bill and overrode 
the administration's veto of that critically important legislation. 
With this historic congressional override, we put our Nation on the 
side of freedom and justice for all the people of South Africa.
  I am proud to have been a cosponsor of that legislation and many 
other bills that kept Congress focused on the travesty of racial 
discrimination.
  Mr. Speaker, with the passage of our resolution, we recognize the 
difficult path to freedom taken by South Africa's people. Unlike today 
where terrorists seek to change political regimes and social order with 
barbaric attacks on civilians, South Africa's liberation movements 
condemn violence directed at civilians.
  The African National Congress led by their imprisoned leader Nelson 
Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Helen Joseph, and others understood that a 
future of peace could not be built on a foundation of terror, hatred, 
and fear. Instead, they fought through the pain of apartheid, embraced 
the ideals and values of democracy, and in the end shook hands with the 
enemy whose founding ideology defined them as less than human beings.
  Mr. Speaker, South Africa stands today as a strong democratic ally of 
the United States and is strategically important to Africa's political 
and economic future.
  We must do all we can to solidify further relations between our two 
nations and to continue our joint quest to bring justice, prosperity, 
and freedom to all of Africa.
  On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, my wife, Annette, and I had the 
privilege of visiting South Africa during the crucial weeks when the 
apartheid regime collapsed, and it was a joy to meet and work with and 
see the leaders on both sides who were ready to build a new, peaceful 
multiracial society.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. I want to 
congratulate my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Payne), for his leadership on this matter and our former colleague 
Ron Dellums, my neighbor in California, for his leadership on this 
issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), the leader of this legislation and this 
whole concept, and my good friend.
  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)

                              {time}  1930

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) for the outstanding work he has done as the ranking member of 
the Committee on International Relations. I stand very proudly today to 
urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 436, commending a decade of 
democracy and majority rule in the Republic of South Africa.
  I did not believe when I visited South Africa in the 1970s that we 
would see a transformation of that apartheid-run racist government 
transformed by peaceful means. When the first elections were held 10 
years ago, I recall the lines of people who waited for hours and hours 
in order to vote.
  Let me say that South Africa has transformed from an apartheid state 
to a nonracial, peaceful and democratic form of government. The country 
successfully held democratic elections in 1994 to elect its first 
democratically elected president.
  After being imprisoned for 27 years, Nelson Mandela became South 
Africa's first democratically elected president. As the first 
democratically elected president, Mr. Mandela laid the foundation for 
more reliable government and an economically viable country and is seen 
not only as a leader in Africa, but as we all know, as a world leader.
  Before 1994, only 40 percent of the people in South Africa had 
electricity; now more than 70 percent of the households in South Africa 
have electricity. South Africa has made a significant advance in 
housing by constructing 1,600,000 houses for the poor in South Africa, 
a remarkable, remarkable feat.
  From 1994 to 2004, secondary school enrollment in South Africa 
increased from 70 percent to 85 percent and students in South Africa 
now learn in a racially integrated school system. Also, during this 
time, 9 million people in South Africa have gained access to clean 
water. In addition, the Government of South Africa has established 
nutritional and educational programs to benefit the youngest and the 
poorest.
  As the world's leading democracy, we should applaud the Government of 
South Africa for the reforms it has substituted to better serve its 
people. South Africa has served as an inspiration for other African 
nations striving for democracy and peaceful cooperation through their 
many ethnic groups in their individual countries and look to South 
Africa as the example.
  The 1990s saw the spread of democracy across the continent of Africa, 
once dominated by military dictators and authoritarian leaders. Nigeria 
held its second multiparty election this month, and despite reported 
irregularities, the elections were largely peaceful. The world also 
witnessed the end of white minority rule and subsequent democratic 
elections in South Africa, as we talked about. And Mr. Mandela has 
taken his leadership to try to find prospects for peace in Burundi.
  Now Mr. Thabo Mbeki is leading that cause. Mr. Mbeki has done an 
outstanding job as the president, following Mr. Mandela, and his 
leadership is second to none on the continent. So it is a pleasure for 
me to join with my colleagues to say that the example set by Mr. Nelson 
Mandela serving one term and stepping down, I think, is an example we 
are all proud of.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, like thousands of others across 
the world, I was involved actively in the efforts to free South Africa. 
I attended many rallies, participated in demonstrations, walked picket 
lines, raised money and was very pleased as a member of the Chicago 
City Council to introduce the anti-apartheid ordinance that we passed, 
which prohibited the city from doing business with the Government of 
South Africa until such time as their policies changed.
  So I am pleased to rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 436, 
celebrating 10 years of majority rule in the Republic of South Africa 
and recognizing the momentous social and economic achievements of South 
Africa since the institution of democracy in that country.
  Ten years ago the people of South Africa were given hope for the 
redresses of injustices in the past. When they held their first 
nonracial democratic elections to parliament in 1994, many South 
Africans were poor, hungry, sick and homeless. But today the people of 
South Africa and the world can say that progress has been made to 
improve the lives of South Africans and the conditions of the country.
  Before 1994, 22 million South Africans did not have access to 
adequate sanitation. Now approximately 63 percent of

[[Page H6521]]

the households do. Also, more than 70 percent of households in South 
Africa now have electricity compared to 60 percent before 1994. Since 
1994, 9 million people in South Africa have gained access to clean 
water, 1.6 million houses have been built for the poor people of South 
Africa, secondary school enrollment increased from 70 percent to 85 
percent, and students now learn in a racially integrated school system.
  Furthermore, to help the poor and to improve the educational system 
of the country, the Government of South Africa established nutritional 
and educational programs to benefit the youngest and poorest 
individuals in the country. And while we cannot say that all of the 
problems have been solved or all of the needs have been met, we can say 
with assurance that the quality of life for people in South Africa, for 
the masses of people, has indeed changed and that is a tribute to 
democracy. It is also a tribute to all of the struggles of the people 
who helped to make it happen.
  I commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his 
introduction of this resolution. I thank the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lantos) for yielding me time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the distinguished ranking member 
of the Committee on the Judiciary. I want to pay tribute to the 
gentleman and his leadership on all these important issues.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) and the members of the committee. I am delighted to join with 
all of them in celebration of 10 years of rule in a democratic way in 
the Republic of South Africa.
  I can remember the days in Congress when the question of sanctions 
consumed, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the others 
here remember, a couple of years' worth of rather fierce debate as to 
whether they were appropriate or not. I think fondly of our former 
colleagues, Ron Dellums of California, Bill Gray of Pennsylvania, and 
those of us that are here with us now, including the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos) and many others.
  The fact of the matter is that the turning point toward this 10 years 
of celebration of a democratic Republic of South Africa occurred 
because it was finally determined that the time had come that we would 
impose sanctions, that we would not approve of doing business or 
continuing relationships with a country whose government was so one-
sided, so unfair, so oppressive to the majority of its citizens. And so 
it is in that remembrance and out of those memories of the struggle 
that I am so happy to join this evening in this decade celebration of 
how far they have come.
  Obviously, all the problems are not solved. How could they be in 10 
years after the long reign of oppression that occurred there? But this 
was the finest hour of this Congress and our country to have played 
this leading role in making it clear to all of the nations of the world 
that we can no longer sit by and silently suffer that kind of rule.
  The same situation regrettably still may apply and leave us with the 
same responsibilities now as applied then. I think now of the Congo. I 
think of the Sudan. I think of Haiti, all countries who are desperately 
in need of the continued support of this country. And that makes our 
foreign policy and the decisions we make in the committee that control 
foreign policy legislation so incredibly important.
  I congratulate the authors of this very important resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and distinguished 
colleague for his thoughtful observations. Let me just say that 
occasionally, when we are downcast with respect to international 
developments, we must remember that there are lots of things we were 
justly proud of in recent decades, one clearly is the ending of racial 
discrimination, of apartheid in South Africa. And the second is the 
collapse of the Soviet system and its replacement in large part by 
democratic and free societies.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hensarling). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
436, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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