Programme Director
Mayor of Cape Town, Mr Dan Plato
Deputy Minister of Communications, Ms Dina Pule
Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs, Sports and Recreation, Mr Sakkie Jenner
Senior local councillors
Senior public servants
Distinguished guests
All protocols observed
16 years ago this day, South Africa held its first elections with all its citizens voting on a common voters’ roll. A new South Africa was born, a new South Africa with non-sexism, non-racialism, democracy and unity.
These principles characterise South Africa today, principles each South African needs to uphold and believe in. Unity is a cementing material that confirms to all South Africans that we shall not rest until we achieve these ideals, that never shall we experience racism; never shall we experience sexism in this country as we are united.
In the Freedom Charter of 1956 it is stipulated that South Africa belongs to all who live in it. This South Africa did not come easy, it was not just manna from heaven, it is a product of men and women who stood firm and said ‘life or death apartheid must go’. As we celebrate today we remember the heroes and heroines, we celebrate we are free.
In his first State of the Nation Address, former President Nelson Mandela said, “The time will come when our nation will honour the memory of all the sons, the daughters, the mothers, the fathers, the youth and the children who, by their thoughts and deeds, gave us the right to assert with pride that we are South Africans, that we are Africans and that we are citizens of the world.”
It is therefore a moment of celebration and thanksgiving to our heroes for this heritage, this beautiful land and for all of us. We are bold to say that their sacrifices shall never be in vain. Today I send special thanks to all who embraced change, let us walk the walk and talk the talk; let us not just talk about sexism and on the other hand practice it.
Today we celebrate 16 years of freedom and democracy in Cape Town some few months after the President of the Republic, Jacob Zuma in his State of the Nation Address declared 2010 as the year of action to work faster, smarter and better to improve the lives of our people.
The President said that to give meaning to our commitment, each minister will be signing a performance agreement with the President in order to measure the extent of delivery amongst all departments and in effect all who report to us will also sign Performance Agreements. In so doing, the President is saying the time for laxity and laziness is no more and now is the time to soil our hands to ensure that this new South Africa is a South Africa we are all proud of and willing to serve. I will be signing my on Friday, 30 April 2010.
We are signing these performance agreements with the understanding that we need to work. The unique highlights of this new administration is across the sphere of performance monitoring and evaluation, that will ensure that all 34 national departments, nine provincial departments, 56 district municipalities, six metropolitan councils and 283 municipalities that will do the same. We are saying through effective performance monitoring and evaluation, we will be able to embrace the principles that characterise the South Africa that was born 16 years ago. This is the time for accelerated service delivery. This is the new struggle characterised by the need to work, work, and work.
This 16th anniversary comes at a time when our President, assisted by the Minister of Health is embarking on a campaign to fight against the scourge of HIV and AIDS. We have seen the President in the Know your status campaign and we hope that this campaign will be an indication that the country is dedicated in HIV and AIDS fight. The success of this campaign is dependent upon our commitment to fight the scourge of HIV and AIDS.
This 16 year commemoration comes at a time when we acknowledge that we need to fight against corruption. Today I call on all of us gathered to embark on this fight against corruption in the knowledge that we have put in place measures to protect whistleblowers.
This day comes at a time where monitoring service delivery is the responsibility of each one of us, when any member of our society can walk into a service delivery outlet and hold public servants accountable.
As we celebrate today, we launch the Travelling Exhibition on National Symbols at the South African Sendinggestig Museum in Cape Town. National Symbols are indeed catalysts for us to better the lives of our people. .
In a month’s time, the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup will be hosted in South Africa, first time hosted on African soil. Billions of people will be tuned in to witness a truly African World Cup where we will introduce the world to our music, dance, culture and heritage.
In our build up to this soccer spectacular, we are witnessing South Africans, black and white alike in unity, proudly flying our national flag. The world cup will further ensure the celebration of our national flag which is also one of our National Symbols.
I urge all South Africans to support our national team Bafana Bafana who remain our pride. With every South African beh9ind them, they do not have a reason to disappoint us.
Let us stand together united.
I thank you!
