Programme Director,
The Family, Friends and Relatives of Former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson,
His Excellency President Jacob Zuma,
Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Max Sisulu,
Members of the Constitutional Court of South Africa,
Fellow South Africans,
When death strikes, it derails all man-made rules and plans, but raises the power of its creator, and its custodian; the Almighty Himself.
It is that power that we often condemn as cruel or unfair when it claims those we know and love, yet it is confirmation of our final destination when GOD’s intent and purpose over our lives has been fulfilled.
This day, we commemorate and celebrate the life of Former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, a patriotic servant of the people of South Africa whose fulfilment of a mandate to live and see justice-in-action accounts for his illustrious and historic resume.
I am therefore certain that speaker after speaker will confirm the words of Samuel Buttler who stated; “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give;” when remembering the sacrifices that Chief Justice Chaskalson endured to give us hope of a peaceful and progressive coexistence.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I do not wish to defy the terms of my assignment by delivering a speech, but express the humility of the Gauteng Provincial Government and its residents in welcoming you all to this occasion this afternoon.
We particularly welcome His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, the grieving family, friends and relatives of the departed Former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson. We are also humbled by the presence of members of the SA Parliament, Constitutional Court, the legal fraternity, provincial Executive Council and all of you from different institutions.
May we all join hands in paying our respect and honour to the memory of a fallen icon and champion of our constitutional Democracy.
We acknowledge that we stand powerless in the Almighty’s expression of His will particularly when it touches our lives by claiming those we have grown to know and love.
We are thus thankful for the contribution of former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson and his family for sharing his life with South Africans and the world that he impacted.
May we receive peace and grace during these trying times.
I thank you.
