Introduction and scene setting statements
Sixty three years ago, peaceful and freedom loving people of South Africa met in Kliptown to create a vision for a post-apartheid free and democratic South Africa. They called it the FREEDOM CHARTER.
It declared as follows:
“We, the People of South Africa, declare for all our country and the world to know:
- that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people;
- that our people have been robbed of their birth right to land, liberty and peace by a form of government founded on injustice and inequality;
- that our country will never be prosperous or free until all our people live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities;
- that only a democratic state, based on the will of all the people, can secure to all their birth right without distinction of colour, race, sex or belief.”
March is filled with never ending poignant stories of sacrifice, courage and triumph over adversity. It is the month associated with bravery and the fight for human rights. As we present the State of the Province Address, we pause and salute the sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives in order to liberate the people of this country from the jaws of apartheid. The democratic government renamed Sharpeville Massacre Day, Human Rights Day, in memory of thousands of people who died fighting against injustices.
Today, we want to remember the pathfinders of our freedom and democracy whose selflessness made it possible to defeat apartheid which was described as a crime against humanity. Accordingly, as a democratic government based on the will of the people, we renew, on this historic month, our pledge to build a prosperous province, working with leaders of society and the community at large. We renew our pledge knowing that for millions of our people, today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will bring more joy than today.
We are conscious of the fact that as neighboring villages get clean water, electricity, clinics and proper roads, other people wait patiently for these services. As many people move from informal to formal houses, we want to assure those who are waiting that their turn will surely come as day follows the night. We are determined to move with speed to achieve higher rates of economic growth that would result in job creation and reduction of unemployment. Weighing heavily on our shoulders is the fact that there are thousands of people who still live in abject poverty. As public representatives, elected through a popular vote, our conscience tells us that our freedom and democracy will remain without the real substance unless there is real improvement in the lives of ordinary members of society.
Honourable Members, when we started this term of office in 2014, we knew that our freedom would not be complete while millions continued to live in poverty. On this day we rededicate ourselves to the defense of the human rights which are guaranteed in our constitution, the basic law of our land. When we talk about being loyal to the Constitution of the Republic and its people it is when we are able to use government as an instrument to transform the lives of the people. Madam Speaker, we understand that ours is a government founded on the will of the people. It is the people who must taste the fruits of democracy which former President of the governing party Oliver Reginald Tambo fought for.
The President of the Republic of South Africa His Excellency J.G Zuma reminded us during the State of the Nation Address that O.R Tambo would have turned 100 years this year. We thank President OR Tambo for being the beacon of light to guide South Africans. He will continue to play this role for many years after he departed because of the special place he occupies in our hearts. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government through the Department of Arts and Culture, the Office of the Premier and municipalities will accordingly rollout out a series of events aimed at celebrating the contribution of OR towards the dismantling of apartheid. Whilst our main focus will be on drawing inspiration from the teachings of OR, these events will be packaged to unite our people to celebrate the dawn of the new democratic dispensation. We will partner with leaders of society across all sectors of our communities in order to ensure maximum impact… Read more
