Final speech by Mr. Vasu Gounden

H.E. Mr Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa,

H.E. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,

Madame Graca Machel, Chairperson of ACCORD’s Board of Trustees,

H.E. Hon. Baleka Mbete, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa,

H.E. Mr Maged Abdelaziz, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Special Advisor on Africa,

Honourable Mr Senzo Mchunu, Premier of the Province of KwaZulu Natal,

Her Worship Cllr Nomvuzo Shabalala, Deputy Mayor of eThekwini Municipality,

South African Government Ministers and Officials, Ambassadors and Representatives of Diplomatic Missions,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

All Protocols Observed.

In 1991 – almost 24 years ago – when we were experiencing a proliferation of conflicts in South Africa, we consulted the leaders of all our political parties about the establishment of an independent, conflict management institution.

Among the many leaders consulted in 1991, I am pleased to say that three of those leaders are present tonight, President Zuma, Dr Buthelezi and Mr Bantu Holomisa.

With the continued cooperation and support of leaders like these, and under the committed and dedicated leadership and guidance of the Chair of our Board, Mrs Graca Machel and our other Board members:

• Professor Wiseman Nkhulu,
• Professor Sibusiso Bengu,
• Professor Jairam Reddy,
• Ambassador Billy Modise,
• Mr Sias de Kock
• and the late Professor Jakes Gerwel

As well as the hundreds of staff who have passed through our doors, we have collectively built ACCORD into the largest conflict management institution in Africa and among the top five globally.

ACCORD is recognised as a lead partner for the United Nations, African Union and other institutions charged with resolving conflicts.

Last week, in partnership with the United Nations, we hosted a High-Level meeting of over 40 experts on peace-building.

In the same week, we co-hosted the annual Panel of the Wise Retreat with the African Union in Addis Ababa, involving over 80 former Presidents, Ministers and other eminent African personalities who serve as special envoys of the African Union.

And next week, right here in Durban, we will co-host with the United Nations a High-Level Experts Group Meeting on Migration, chaired by UN Under-Secretary General, Mr Maged Abdelaziz.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We also did not allow our commitment to peace to be interrupted by our extensive preparations to host you at this important event.

Yesterday, amidst our preparations, we hosted the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Secretary of the Burundi National Dialogue Forum, for a two day intensive discussion in order to find a way out of the current impasse in Burundi. They also join us here tonight and we salute them for their commitment to peace.

And while we are deeply involved in assisting to resolve our conflicts in Africa we are not waiting for others to write about our experiences. WE are shaping the discourse in the field.

In the 2014 annual think tank ratings done by the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, where they surveyed 6600 think tanks globally, ACCORD was placed at number 68 – well ahead of many of its global peers. We were also the highest ranked African think tank on the global rankings.

Excellences Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are committed to providing a neutral, impartial platform for dialogue. Tonight, we have assembled a cross section of South African society, including:

• leaders of all our political parties,
• all the student leaders from across our countries universities were invited and many are with us here tonight,
• leaders from the transport industry, both taxi and bus operator association heads have joined us;
• And very importantly, we have invited representatives from communities from other parts of Africa who have made South Africa their home or who are seeking refuge in our country…we thank you members of the Mozambique, Zimbabwean, DRC, Somalian, Ethiopian and other communities for responding to our invitation to celebrate our Continental organisation!

Lastly, Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen…

Your television screens have graphically exposed you to the nightmare of a world, gripped by terrorism and violent uprisings in several parts of the world.

With an exponentially growing global population, unprecedented urbanisation, devastating consequences from climate change, growing unemployment and wealth inequality we are in a race against time as humanity to use our technological advancements and the collective expertise of the global community to find solutions to these problems.

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are therefore making a call today for the United Nations to convene a Global Conference on Peace.

Mr. President in two years’ time, on our 25^th Anniversary, we intend to assemble a multi-disciplinary gathering of experts from around the world here in this venue named after Africa’s first Nobel Peace prize winner, Inkosi Albert Luthuli so that we invoke the spirit of this great leader and statesman to guide our deliberations and allow us to prepare for the proposed UN Global Conference on Peace.

Mr President – and our esteemed special guest the Chairperson of the African Union Commission – it is our hope then that South Africa, in collaboration with other African nations and under the auspices of the AU, can propose to host such a UN Global Conference on Peace here in the Durban on the 25^th Anniversary of South Africa’s democracy.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let Africa Lead!

I thank you.