Your Majesty King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana
Vhavenda Traditional Community
Your majesty King Mpendulo Calvin Sigcau of AmaXhosa
Your Majesty King Makhosonke the 2nd of AmaNdebele
Your Majesty King Thulare Victor Thulare of Bapedi ba Maroteng
Your Majesty King Zanozuko Sigcau of Amapondo
Bayede Mpisane Erick Nxumalo
Minister of Traditional Affairs Lechesa Tsenoli and all other Ministers present here
Premier of Limpopo Stan Mathabatha and all MEC's present
Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders Kgoshi Maubane
Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders Kgoshi Dikgale
Distinguished guests.
It is a great honour and a privilege to be invited to this special occasion where we converge as government, community and traditional leadership to be awarded the King Makhado Bravery Award.
Your Majesty,
I have come here not only to witness and celebrate my accolade. I have also come to pay my humble respect to the royal house of traditional leadership, whose rich roots go back to a genealogy of our ancestry.
I am personally humbled to be the recipient of the King Makhado Bravery Award, who himself was a courageous and skilled warrior King.
It was through that character that he earned a title of "The one who fight at night” or Tshilwavhusiku.
The royal house of Ramabulana remains one of the symbols of our anti-colonial struggle. It is befitting to pay tribute to the brave warrior soldiers who fought and shed blood in defending their ancestral land against colonial aggression.
The institution of traditional leadership has played a pivotal role and contributed to the fight against apartheid.
As you all know that one of the ANC presidents Chief Albert Luthuli also came from this institution. This tradition will remain paramount in the face of our government.
It is befitting to say that this institution went through tremendous difficulties during the dark colonial and apartheid years.
At times, those leaders who were seen not towing the line lost their kingship and chieftaincy.
However those who remained true to the cause of the people struggle continued fighting against the system oppression, despite the heavy penalty of exile, imprisonment or even death.
Today, our people have a democratic government which treat the institution of traditional leadership with respect that it merits.
Traditional leadership is further represented in both houses of parliament at National and provincial legislations. This surely shows how our government is committed to build a responsive relationship with traditional leaders.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The conferment of this award today takes place here in Thohoyandou, also named after the grandfather of King Makhado.
It is situated a stone-throw away from the ancient kingdom of Mapungubwe, which remains a living connection between our past and present South Africa.
Legends have told stories of how the people of this ancient Kingdom possessed a sophisticated state and economic system which included mining, advanced artisanship and agricultural activities.
Mapungubwe's ancient kingdom was inspired by the keenness for knowledge and its magnificent artisanship.
Lessons of this great kingdom offer us the opportunity to see that it is indeed possible to rebuild our society which has witnessed many years of colonial and apartheid rule.
Our forefathers did it, and we too can together do it.
Compatriots
Next year our democracy turns 20 years in existence. As we reflect on our trajectory, we also take the opportunity to ask what is to be done to make it work even better.
Surely our government cannot succeed alone without the active partnership with the institution of traditional leadership. Traditional leaders will continue to play a pivotal role to make our country prosperous.
A lot still remains to be done to eradicate apartheid legacy and its twin evil of poverty especially in the rural areas.
Limpopo remains a province which is highly dominated by underdeveloped and poor rural areas.
Government has, through its rural development plan identified challenges in rural areas such as access to clean, piped water for rural communities.
During 2009, the Government conceptualised the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme. The key thrust of the programme framework is an integrated programme of rural development, land reform and agrarian change, with a strategic focus on social cohesion and development.
The institution of traditional leadership remains centrepiece to work with government to achieve these goals. This goes together with other issues that affect our communities such as the fight against crime.
The past 19 years of freedom and democracy have been defined by rendering services to our people such as electricity, clean water and healthcare services.
However, we know that a lot still remains to be done.
By working together with you, surely we are guaranteed to achieve our goals of ensuring that services reach those in dire needs and build safer communities.
As you all know that this year marks 100 year anniversary of the infamous Natives Land Act of 1913. Its disastrous consequences continue to be felt till today. The struggle to undo the damages caused by this piece of legislation will take long.
It destroyed the potential economic growth from communities who lost their land. People were denied the opportunity to farm, own land and accumulate wealth that could have been passed from one generation to the other.
Women were among the most affected under this Act. Having said that let me also note that tomorrow marks the Women Day in honour of those heroines who marched against the carrying of passes in 1956.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I consider this conferment bestowed upon me today not only as a personal honour, but as a token of recognition and appreciation of the struggle our people waged against oppression.
More specifically I take it as recognition and appreciation of the successes achieved by the people of South Africa, led by, the African National Congress (ANC).
This is indeed a recognition and appreciation of the outstanding calibre of the leadership of the ANC since it was established 100 years ago.
I also take it as acknowledgment of the high standard of the policies of the ANC government that has made many achievements since 1994.
Through the National Development Plan our government aims to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030.
The NDP reassures us that our country can realise these goals by drawing on the energies of its people, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capacity of the state, and promoting leadership and partnerships throughout society.
Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen
We resist the temptation of indulging on self congratulatory euphoria when it comes to our successes but rather remain haunted by what still remains to be done.
The battle will not be won overnight, but am certain that we are in the right track.
Our government has already started a process to align the long term plans of departments with the NDP and to identify areas where policy change is required to ensure consistency and coherence.
Over the next 17 years, budget allocation will be shaped by this plan.
A lot is happening to reverse more than 400 years of exploitation.
And having said that, sometimes it is easy to pay much attention to the doomsayers and ignore the good stories that are blossoming in our land.
The struggle for liberation story fascinates people because it represents the convergence of successes, challenges and aspirations that relate to universal human advancement and solidarity.
In conclusion, may I thank Your Royal Highness, Toni Mphephu Ramabulana and the entire Vhavenda community for this outstanding Royal Award in admiration of that legendary King, Makhado, whose magnificent spirit continues to inspire all of us to build a better South Africa for all.
I thank you.
