P Mlambo-Ngcuka: South African National Defence Force Moral Regeneration
Movement Conference

30 January 2007

Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Pallo Jordaan,
Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr Mluleki George,
Professor Charles Villa Vicencio,
Chaplain General of the SANDF, Brigadier General, Marius Cornelissen,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you Deputy Minister for the warm and kind welcome. I also want to add
my personal welcome to all speakers and participants at this important
conference.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Religious Bodies, the Government and the
private sector, and all other sectors represented here to join hands on a
common programme that will benefit our country, to discuss and get to some
important guidelines to take the Moral Regeneration Movement forward at
different levels within our society.

As this government we have long identified the need for the Reconstruction
and Development Programme (RDP) of the soul. Because development is not only
about providing material needs to society it is also about healing within.

Stable democracy, thriving economy

We have more than a decade of stable, peaceful democracy behind us. Many of
you in our forces have contributed to that and even our sister countries can
attest to that, the most recent being the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC).

Indeed, we ought to be proud of the strides we have collectively made since
the dawn of freedom 13 years ago. We have also created safety nets to deal with
extreme cases of poverty.

For instance, beneficiaries of social grants increased from 2,6 million in
1994 to 9,7 million in June 2005. By April 2005, over 5,6 million children were
receiving social grants, with about 4,2 million receiving the Child Support
Grant (CSG), 190 000 the Foster Care Grant, and 75 000 the Care Dependency
Grant. About R6,9 billion and an additional R19 billion was allocated for the
2005/06 period for the further extension of the CSG to children under the age
of 14 years.

However, this trend is not sustainable. We have to make unconditional
commitment to pensioners and categories of disabled people, but for others we
must facilitate an exit to economically sustainable activities. Without taking
away the safety nets from those who are either too old and or too disabled such
that they cannot be self reliant, those must not be compromised.

Proud as we should be at the achievements and strides made, there is much
more that needs to be done, and done fast. Unacceptable numbers of South
Africans still live in poverty and deprivation. Too many of our compatriots are
unemployed and do not have access to productive economic opportunities, the
rest of the nation that must fight inequalities and the destitute together. We
must have a shared moral responsibility to share wealth.

The work we do in poverty alleviation is morally correct! It shows that we
are a caring and a moral state, a moral state must make an effort to care for
those in need and that are vulnerable.

Our public servants are the enablers and at the coal-face of service
delivery and for them too this is a moral issue, it is not acceptable for them
to under perform in this regard, worse to cheat and steal from the state.

Under performance does not only violate Batho Pele principles, it is also
immoral, Period! Under performance in service of the poor is even worse. That
is something I hope you can interrogate further in this conference.

Our country's moral challenges

While we are trying to do all that must be done to improve the lives of our
people there are those amongst us who see an opportunity to fraudulently enrich
themselves with the money that is meant to be used to help poor people, there
are cases of fraud and corruption that are perpetuated by public servants.

That again is even a higher level of immorality, which cannot be tolerated
and must be rooted out. This is corruption of the highest degree.

Code of conduct for public servants

Our forces in uniform the army and the police force represent refuge and
trust, that uniform is more than a piece of cloth. It is an identity that says:
"I am here to serve, you can rely on me," so we cannot allow a few bad potatoes
to change that; people in uniform have at all times to exhibit behaviour that
is beyond reproach.

They have to be exemplary, helpful and must be seen to be going the extra
mile in whatever they do without seeking to enrich themselves unjustly. Because
this is a service and a vocation, it is not just another job.

Members must live according to the highest possible standards and exhibit
higher public service ethos, spirit and public morality. Anything less is
traumatising to society because our people need standards, they need heroes,
they need people to look up to, and they need role models and mentors. In your
line of duty as members of the forces you are expected to play that role and
take that place of honour in society. Protectors cannot abuse or present danger
to society. Just like health workers have to care and bankers cannot be
robbers, Chief Financial Officers cannot be caught with their hands in the
cookie jar. So are you in that special category that must be guardians of good
values.

Disgracing one's uniform and profession takes away not only from the dignity
of the affected member but it hurts the collective image of even the innocent
so we all cannot watch and allow it. It is everyone's duty to protect the image
of the force, to whistle blow and if you do not, you become part of the
problem. Members must be trustworthy.

If trust has been broken we must address it. You are also our ambassadors
and our forces have done many outstanding things for the good of the continent,
we have to build on that. Where there have been mishaps and it has been proven
we cannot be seen not to be taking required action following due processes.

Our vulnerable people have no one but us public elected and appointed
representatives to champion their cause to act on their needs, unlike others
for us it is a duty. So, officials who steal from feeding schemes or give
sub-standard service especially to the poor, cross the line of decency. There
is a moral crisis when officials forge documents in order to access money
earmarked for Child Support Grants when they do not qualify to do so.

We also need to have compassion as social workers, nurses and care-givers in
general but also as a people. We are facing the challenge of vulnerable
children, orphaned children, poor children - all have none but us as assigned
people to look after them.

In the lives of children at risk we must see the future of the nation.
Saving our collective future lies in "Ubuntu", which in its depth means I am
because you are - so there is no me without you - your well being is my well
being and our well being. The well being of the orphaned and street child is my
well being. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), business, communities, are
all an important network and we must cherish their services and work.

Building strong partnerships

I welcome this type of a conference as it seeks to explore what can be done
in order to reflect together on this situation, and take correctional steps
where needed. To come out with solutions and what each sector can do in order
to bring about a change in our value system. The greatest majority of our
society they are not abusers or criminals but they need to do more, they need
to show they care by acting - not being a problem is one thing but being a
spectator is unhelpful when the house is on fire!

I am happy that this conference today is much more representative with more
people from other sectors of society and government departments that have been
brought on board, such as Social Development, Correctional Services, Sports and
Recreation. The partnerships are a key if the MRM is to make any lasting
impact. These partnerships are also key for the South African National AIDS
Council (SANAC). Government has to give leadership there.

We have as you know the MRM as a movement with a programme and a board.
Different sectors of our society participate in different ways, including
government departments, municipalities, non-governmental organisations,
churches; government can do much more in the MRM.

Through the work of the MRM Board we work at a national, provincial and
local level. A draft Charter of Positive Values has been produced and is meant
to help us to generate a discussion and deepen the communication around
them.

The positive values in the Draft Charter are:

* Respect for human dignity and equality
* Promoting freedom, the rule of law and democracy
* Improving the material well being of the majority and economic justice
* Enhancing family and community values
* Upholding loyalty, honesty and integrity
* Ensuring harmony in culture belief and conscience
* Showing respect and concern for all people
* Striving for justice, fairness and peaceful co-existence.

Core values of our society:

I want to go back to loyalty, honesty and integrity as a value that is of a
particular significance to you as forces in service of others. People put their
lives in your hands and they must know you are loyal, honest and you have
integrity.

We depend on you to be loyal to the Constitution and to deal honestly with
the officers you serve and your principals. When and if you break that trust
through being disloyal the damage is very hard-hitting. How do you put your
hands in the hands of people who are disloyal and lack integrity? That is
indeed a scary place to be in.

MRM not only a faith based movement:

One of the most important things that this conference must deal with is the
perception that MRM is a movement that is solely centred on faith-based
organisations. Now the possibility to dispel this perception is greater. In MRM
we are concerned about fair play in sports, corporate governance, government
and business, education that is value based parenting and many more things.

Morality is at the heart of a well being of any society, and the family as
an institution is at the core of that. The values of ubuntu and caring are well
taught within a family unit. I cannot help to overemphasise the responsibility
we all have to start instilling and promoting positive values in our
families.

The Charter offers you with an opportunity to commit yourselves. Of course
there are other departments in government who also play a very crucial role;
everyone needs to commit themselves. We must respond to whistle blowers by
making necessary follow ups to issues they raise until they reach their logical
conclusions.

As we have not done as well as we can. We need you to participate in the
work of MRM, for an example fight against corruption in your departments,
upholding Batho Pele and Corporate Governance principles.

The importance of moral integrity in our society:

It is important to note that ethics and values are important in all sectors
of our society. For example a prominent banker was recently quoted saying that
unless there was a basis for morality in our society, then business was
impossible. White collar crime is a problem and a challenge in our society and
that statement is so true!

Religious communities have a large influence on the way our broader society
behaves. Even our young people are very religious. In a study done in the 80s
and another one done two years ago, it was shown that the highest number of
organised youth in South Africa is in the churches followed by sports. The
question is: "How can we build on that?" How much time do we invest in those
formations of society? I think partnerships between the forces and the
religious bodies in support of youth will be good especially in the context of
the National Youth Service (NYS) and the Big Brothers-Big Sister
initiative.

It is time that we should look away from our differences as different
religions and faiths and focus on what we all agree on regarding positive
values in order to build the moral fibre of this country. I encourage the
leaders of our faith communities to work harder in order that positive values
can become more visible in all our societies.

It is imperative for a Moral Regeneration programme to be implanted in our
government departments to build the character of our people through positive
values. May this be one of the fruitful outcomes of this conference!

That we go out of our way to work with young people especially those who are
at risk. Indeed, the army has a very important partner for our National Youth
Service that will also go a long way to shape these young citizens.

I am glad that the Department of Defence is one of the departments that have
come forward as NYS partners. We have at least two million young people with
whom we must touch base in the NYS who need us.

We also have to take it upon ourselves to address sexual and all other forms
of violence. You must in this conference help us understand why is it that more
than 80 percent of murders are committed between people who know one another,
80 percent of rapes and other gruesome violations, the same thing. Why is it
that our people are not safe in their homes, with friends, neighbourhoods and
social places? That is an issue with which you have to be seized.

Why are so many men killing their families and themselves? We are now seeing
a new trend of also women killing men, it is still rare but we do not need to
wait until it is a major trend. Why are criminals so vicious? We need to
support the positive trend of declining crime status, while we deal with the
type and nature of our crime. I must also say that we share and feel the pain
of those who have been victims. Your loss is our loss. We thank the hard
working law enforcers who risk life and limb to serve our nation and those who
fail in duty have to be brought in line.

I also know that the Department of Defence is spending enormous time in
preparing its members to live a value based life; especially through its
Chaplains Service value based ethical programmes and the programme to combat
HIV/AIDS. (Combating AIDS Through Spiritual and Ethical Conduct -CHATSEC).
Carry on the good work and please share the method, please take it to church
groups, youth groups and families. As there are parents who have not yet stood
up to be counted.

Let us work together for an HIV-Free South Africa.

1. It only needs you and me to stay negative.
2. If HIV positive, to not infect others and re-infect yourself.
3. To know our status so that we can take the necessary precautions.
4. To care, support and help those who are living with HIV.

I have noted that the Value-based HIV/AIDS programme is presented within
many countries on our continent and chaplains services around the world and I
want to thank the SANDF for the leading role they play through this programme.
May this programme, along with other programmes help to lift not only the moral
fibre of our communities but also make a difference in the lives of many.
Please share it with us in SANAC and with other government departments. We will
soon meet to take forward SANAC's work.

I hope we can be a strong voice there.

Conclusion

I would like to encourage the work and efforts that has been done so far
around driving that MRM becomes institutionalised in government, where all
tiers of government are now participating, and the mobilisation of more
national departments to be part of this drive to bring about the restoration of
moral values and renewal in our country.

MRM must ensure that this Charter is taken to all corners of our country and
widely debated before it is finally adopted by all our people.

The Charter of Positive Values is not the responsibility of government and
faith based communities only, it involves the whole of society, so MRM must
strive to be the broadest front championing such positive values. All of us
should work together towards an ethical and value-based lifestyle - Ubuntu.

I want to thank the SANDF for the initiative of this conference but also
want to encourage all other government departments, academic institutions,
faith based organisations, labour, youth, women's organisations and communities
in general to support this work. Wear your uniform with pride, uphold
integrity. Be the beacon of hope!

I want to end by again calling on you to honour your uniforms, to be the
refuge and shield for our people. To be loyal to this constitution and to serve
with pride and integrity; there is no prize for honour and integrity. You
cannot buy it, if you lose it.

You cannot buy integrity, so protect it for all our sakes.

I wish you a very fruitful two days of deliberations that will be of benefit
to all in our country.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
30 January 2007
Source: SAPA