The Honourable President Mr Jacob Zuma
Honourable Government Ministers here today
Members of the Executive of the Gauteng Provincial Government
Religious Leaders
Leaders of different sectors of our society
All dignitaries present
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Mr President, on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government, let me take this opportunity to welcome you and all the delegates attending this important gathering.
We hope that after this crucial Summit, South Africa will be presented with a comprehensive plan on how should we, as Citizens, take our country forward and complete the quest for a united, progressive and non-racial society in which all people would respect and love one another.
We believe that this event which brings together Government, civil society, religious groups, and business leaders will be able to provide us with the answers on how people in our society can live up to the theme of this Summit by “working together to create a caring and proud society."
Finding answers to the questions of building social cohesion in our country should not be a difficult thing given that we have already laid a solid base that makes it possible for us to take well considered decisions.
The fact that the Summit is taking place in Kliptown should inspire us all because it was also in this very place where our elders convened the Congress of the People, an important meeting in 1955 that brought South Africans of all backgrounds and race together in order for them to deliberate on the kind of South Africa that they would like to live in.
The Freedom Charter was adopted and became the guiding compass in the liberation struggle against racial segregation and it attendant apartheid doctrine. But what is most important about the Freedom Charter, is that it is the very document that forms the basis of the Constitution that we have today. In essence, the values that our predecessors aspired to and adopted at the end of their meeting here in Kliptown, were truly reflective of the path that South Africa needed to take for it to be the true democracy that it is today.
Today, South Africa is a democracy anchored on a solid Constitution which is regarded by many people in the world as the best Constitution for its comprehensive protection of the rights of all people.
When you think about the kind of society that we need to build in this country, delegates to this important Summit should be guided by the values expressed in the Freedom Charter and the Constitution which reminds us that South Africa belongs to all of us, united in our diversity.
Fellow South Africans,
You must use this as an opportunity to reflect on the progress that our country has made in relation to issues of nation building since democracy was ushered in 1994.
While we acknowledge our undisputable successes and progress, we should not be afraid to identify weaknesses, highlight our concerns and express our aspirations for the future.
And like the delegates who were there when the Freedom Charter was adopted, we should never be afraid to express our thoughts on what we think should be part of the values that would help us strengthen our democracy and build a progressive country that our children would be proud of.
Honourable Delegates,
As you may all know, on 18 July, people across the country would be marking the 94th birthday of South Africa’s first democratically elected State President, Nelson Mandela.
His life and conduct has become the light of hope for many in the world because of his dedication and commitment to end apartheid and bring democracy and freedom in our country. He is the embodiment of nonracialism and equality that we should all emulate in our daily lives.
The former President’s life and convictions should teach all of us that we should always be selfless, stand for the truth and seek to do for our country everything that will benefit all people and future generations.
All of us here have the power to transform our country and make imprints that would be not be erased. This begins with us taking those small steps to reach out to each other, respect each other and work together to build a united country free of prejudice and injustice.
In essence, the greatest birthday gift that this gathering can give Madiba is the crafting, delivery and commitment to a covenant that will see all South Africans from all walks of life living together as one nation, loyal and patriotic to the flag.
Mr President,
May I also take this opportunity to urge delegates to view the Mandela Month as an inspiration to use this Summit as the space to champion and advocate in one voice the construction of nationhood in a prosperous country in which racism, poverty, unemployment and inequalities will only live in the museum of the mind - the memory.
Turning the tide is in our hands and converting the dreams and aspirations of our people into reality is also within our reach. Let us march and work in unison.
Thank you.
