Cape, Nosimo Balindlela at the conferment of the freedom of Lukhanji to the
President of South Africa
2 December 2007
Honourable President of South Africa, Comrade Thabo Mbeki
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the District Council
Executive Mayor of Lukhanji
Ladies and gentlemen
Comrades and friends
Today is a great day for us Mr President. The people of the Eastern Cape and
of Lukhanji District in Queenstown, Mlungisi, Ezibeleni, Whittlesea, Jewu,
Lesseyton and Gwatyu have long wanted to confer you with this honour. They are
extremely happy that in their lifetime, at long last, bakunike leliwonga le
Freedom of Lukhanji Municipality. They remember that you once lived here
komalume bakho.
Today they say, "we want to honour you, Mr President for your role in
bringing peaceful democracy and stability to the African continent. You have
reclaimed the respect South Africa deserves in the world bodies, from the
African Union to the Group 7 (G7). You have made it possible for Africans to
find each other after years of devastating wars of Sudan, Democratic Republic
of Congo, Eritrea and closer home in Zimbabwe".
The dignity of the African has been restored. For the first time we are
proud to be Africans. You have shown us that there is no need for wars as there
are no enemies, and that we have enemies of a different kind, which are
poverty, unemployment, disease and underdevelopment. Those are the enemies we
should be fighting against.
For all these Mr President, the people of Lukhanji say, thank you Zizi. I
have pleasure and a great honour to confer you with the Freedom of Lukhanji
Municipality.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
2 December 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)
