King Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo,
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mrs Oliphant,
Deputy Minister of Communications, Ms Stella Ndabeni,
Eastern Cape Premier, Mrs Noxolo Kiviet,
MEC for Education, Mr Mandla Makupula,
Mayor Lamla Jiyose,
Speaker, Councillor Nondumiso Rosikruge,
COO of National Heritage Council of SA, Adv Sonwabile Mangcotywa,
SGB Chairperson, Mlindeli Majama
Teacher formations, partners and sponsors,
Educators and learners,
Distinguished guests.
We are here as a nation to celebrate with you the 94th birthday of South Africa’s national hero and icon, former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. We thank your highness and the community for receiving us with African arms.
We are indeed humbled for you have allowed us to express our love for Tata Madiba. We’re honoured to celebrate his 94th birthday in the land of his birth.
Through his boundless love for the people, together we can walk these plains and valleys of our beautiful land as free women and men. As we speak, children and education are still his first love. From him we have learnt that “education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
The United Nations (UN) has declared former President Mandela’s birthday International Mandela Day to inspire us to change the world for the better, to make a difference in the lives of others.
We have joined forces with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and other partners, to find a befitting way to pay tribute to one who is larger than life. In April (2012) we launched the 94+ projects for Madiba proactively to celebrate his life, by renovating and improving schools, particularly in historically disadvantaged communities.
This work has already started practically to make memorable Madiba’s 94th birthday. It is in his age that we have derived the name – ‘94+ projects’. We wish him a longer life and good health.
The 94+ Projects builds on the national effort to create an environment that is conducive for quality learning and teaching. Since 2000, government has made inroads in reducing infrastructure backlogs.
There are still huge gaps. Partnerships are very key to nation building. This is why we have partnered with business and media partners to improve school infrastructure.
Over 61 000 learners will benefit from this initiative. We have received immense support from both private and public partners. Twenty one partners and six government departments have pledged their support.
Here in the Eastern Cape, 33 schools will receive multi-purpose sport fields from Supersport and 18 schools will receive kitchens from Walmart.
The choice of Clarkebury Senior Secondary School is conscious and deliberate. This school boasts a rich history and role in the education of our people and our leaders.
Since 1830, in the land of King Ngubengcuka of the Abathembu, among others, it has produced renowned national leaders of international stature including Dr A.B. Xuma and former President Nelson Mandela. Tata holds Clarkebury in high esteem. He says it has broadened his horizons.
We thank Sangari SA, Supersport, Walmart and Paarl Media for supporting Clarkebury. Thanks to your corporate social responsibility, Clarkebury will never be the same again.
Out of government’s partnership with these companies, Clarkebury receives a multisport court from Paarl Media; a kitchen from Walmart and a sportfield from Supersport. Sangari provides a new science and technology centre. The Department of Forestry and Fisheries provides 30 trees and seeds. School furniture will come from our department.
We warmly thank all our partners for making education a societal issue. “The business sector is an important stakeholder both in terms of its corporate social investment and its interest in achieving a more educated workforce” (Delivery Agreement for Basic Education 2010: 9). We expect others to follow suit.
I would like to thank the Clarkebury community, including members of the School Governing Body, the principal, teachers and learners, for your role in making this event a success.
If this can be done by every school in every district of our country, in no time we could have the types of schools we need for optimal functionality and improved learning outcomes.
Our challenges are many. But we will continue working hard to improve schooling. It cannot be ‘business as usual’.
With all your help we can build a better South Africa that is united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous.
For supporting and gracing this event in honour of Tata Madiba, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to His Royal Highness, King Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo, our people, Ministers, the Premier, MECs, the Mayor, the Speaker, dignitaries, guests, and all our partners.
To make everyday a Madiba Day, I invite more pledges in support of Clarkebury. It still needs: urgent hostel renovations; a computer lab and science laboratory; scholar transport routes and four teachers in critical subjects.
We have demonstrated that working together we can do more to improve education. You have much to celebrate. The 94th birthday of Tata Madiba is in the Centenary of Africa’s oldest liberation movement – the African National Congress.
From Tata Madiba we have learnt that: “After climbing a great hill one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”
“Happy Birthday Tata Madiba, Happy Birthday!”
