New visions for S. Africa outlined

By CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault in Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- Former presidents Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton have helped open a new chapter in South Africa’s burgeoning democracy.

The former leaders of South Africa and the United States were both present at a conference aimed at reinvigorating a civil society weakened since the end of apartheid by a lack of funds and direction.

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Reform in South Africa

The 800-plus delegates from many of South Africa’s non-governmental organisations gave the pair a standing ovation as they laid out their visions of what civil society should and should not be.

Mandela, who warned against viewing government as the enemy, said: "What I wish to say is that we cannot approach the subject of civil society from the point of view that government represents an inherent negative force in society; and that civil society is needed to curb government.

"Such an approach runs the risk of projecting civil society as an adjunct to the organised political opposition especially in a situation like ours where political opposition is mainly white and comparatively weak."

Clinton referred to a study carried out in one of South Africa’s most populated provinces which showed, "only four percent of men and two percent of women belonged to any kind of civic association."

He added that for all the progress of the past seven years: "the true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning."

The emphasis for a civil society lay with youth, said Clinton.

"If you think about the remarkable potential of technology and the revolution in the biological sciences and the potential of the global economy not only to make the rich richer but to give poor people a chance to live their dreams, it is obvious that having a unifying vision embodied in a vital civil society is critical to achieving what you want for the children of South Africa, what I want for the children of America and the world."

Clinton told the delegates he wanted South African partnerships along the lines of models developed in the U.S.

He said models like City Year and AmeriCorp, domestic peace corp style programs where young people sign on for community service, in exchange for college stipends, could help South Africa.

"I think it’s critical to get young people involved across the lines of division so that they’re actually working together doing concrete things everyday. I think that would make all the difference in the world," he said.

Afterwards, delegate Ngcina Mhlope said: "It’s very important to think about uplifting young people in the country.

"There are a lot of unemployed young people in South Africa who are losing hope, so this thing about talking about volunteers is extremely important."

The conference was organised by Roelf Meyer, a former political leader during apartheid.

He subsequently helped found an interracial political organisation -- the United Democratic Movement -- but has since quit politics.

Meyer says that civil society in South Africa has suffered from an exodus of its leaders who went into the post apartheid government. He also said that many people had become despondent.

"We see that many South Africans are taking a position of negativity or apathy and I guess its time we inspired them to become active again like they used to be, but now it’s not only for political purpose that we need to get civil society, [but ] to play the role of civil society in a democracy."

S. African Government

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