KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa Ebandla Reunion Dinner, London
5 May 2007
Wole Soyinka, A Dance of the Forest: "Find them. Bring them here. If they
are half-way across the world, trace them. If they are in hell, ransom them.
Let them symbolise all that is noble in our nation. Let them be our historical
link for the season for rejoicing."
The United Kingdom, among other countries, played a major role in the
international struggle against apartheid. That role was more driven at a people
to people level. Post 1994, two worlds emerged. There was South Africa which
was totally emancipated. But there was also KwaZulu-Natal which was a problem
child.
As Wole Soyinka again puts it: Between the two worlds, one dead and the
other powerless to be born.
In an effort therefore to bring KwaZulu-Natal on par with the rest of the
country, the province is in search, first and foremost, of the sons and
daughters of KwaZulu-Natal.
Jean Genet in his book, The Blacks, says: "Are you there Africa of the
millions of royal slaves, deported Africa, drifting continent, are you there?
Slowly you vanish; you withdraw into the past into the tales of castaways,
colonial museums, the work of scholars."
There is a post 2004 era in KwaZulu-Natal where representatives were chosen
to take the province forward into development.
Developments
* Two point one million of our people are illiterate. We have therefore set
aside R50 million under the Masifundisane campaign to meet this
challenge.
* Twenty six percent of households in the province are without access to water.
But our government says by 2010, all households will have access to water
within 100 metres.
* Fifty two percent are without access to electricity.
* Forty four percent are without access to sanitation. The targets set by the
KwaZulu-Natal government for the provision of basic services are that access to
sanitation and access to electricity will be achieved by 2012.
We have also identified higher level critical skills in the engineering,
town planning, mathematics, science, information technology, tourism, biofuels
and business process outsourcing among others.
We need to ensure that there are adequate skills to execute these
programmes. We, as a nation and as a province, are accelerating our skills
development drive through programmes such as the Joint Initiative for Priority
Skills Acquisition (JIPSA). Huge projects such as the R4 billion Sappi project
on the south coast, the soccer stadium, the new airport and other big
infrastructure projects, require skills as we speak.
We are therefore establishing a network for the development of KwaZulu-Natal
and are looking for leaders in their own fields; arts, business, medicine,
sciences, the humanities, etc.
Strides made - South Africa
We as South Africans have gone on to conquer the world in many areas of life
including sport, business and academia among others.
Strides made â KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal has indeed also made major strides in significantly boosting
our socio-economic standing. Our general grandeur makes KwaZulu-Natal locally
and internationally one of the most interesting places to visit, making us a
tourist paradise.
The beaches, mountains and game reserves are some of our prided attractions.
We are taking to the top of world economics, culture, sport, science and
technology.
Heritage
The rich cultural heritage of KwaZulu-Natal is being systematically
developed as a tourist attraction. This includes Zulu cultural history
showcased at places such as eMakhosini, the Valley of the Kings; Satyagraha and
the role of Mahatma Gandhi as seen in the Heritage Route in Durban; and the
commemoration of events from the past such as the Bhambatha Uprising of
1906.
We recently launched the 30 year commemorating Luthuli to run through the
year, and will soon be recognising the role played by Zulu queens and
princesses in promoting the province's heritage. This includes Izintombi
zeNgcuce on gender equality.
Strategic projects
Located on the Indian Ocean rim, Durban and Richards Bay are vital economic
arteries for the whole of Southern Africa and the hinterland beyond the
construction of the R5 billion Dube Trade Port, 50 kilometres north of Durban.
Once completed, this project alone will inject well over R12 billion into the
provincial economy.
The King Shaka International Airport will be part of the Dube complex. The
construction of the R2,2 billion 2010 Soccer Stadium is underway. Never before
has there been such big injection of money in the province at one go.
Agricultural advances
We have sought to continue on the path to food self-sufficiency and job
creation through the launch of our Agrarian Revolution.
International linkages
KwaZulu-Natal continues to seek experiences of the international community.
We have undertaken official visits to countries such as Denmark, India, China,
Germany, France and the Gulf states. We have learned some valuable ideas on
these visits, many of which are best pursued by the private sector.
We have in our midst here present, prominent businesswomen and men from
KwaZulu-Natal who came especially to grace this re-engagement exercise. I
sincerely and honestly appreciate their presence. Here, I suggest, is an
opportunity for the business community including KwaZulu-Natal alumni such as
you to team up with us on on-going and future projects.
Council of the wise
Alumni dinner is part of a process we call Ebandla, which is the Zulu word
denoting the calling together of a Council of the Wise. You are part of that
Council of the Wise. Ebandla began in Gauteng with a similar dinner in May last
year. In November last year, we were in Cape Town. We are now here in London as
part of that seed planted in the valleys of KwaZulu-Natal, but which has now
gathered international momentum.
Our list of KwaZulu-Natal alumni grows by the week. We are in the process of
developing a website so that alumni will be able to keep track of developments
in the province. We will soon communicate the website launch date. An
electronic newsletter is to be established to ensure regular updates. You will
later receive a detailed alumni brochure that clearly highlights areas of
participation.
Programme directors, I am reliably informed that scores of Indian software
engineers who helped build the Silicone Valley in America returned to their
motherland and are building a powerhouse of home-grown technology. Indeed, the
marvellous economic boom in Ireland is attributed to Irish Americans, I am told
many of whom never set foot in Ireland. Ladies and gentlemen, many of you, I am
certain, can afford to adopt a schoolchild, a rural clinic, a football club in
some village or a sports club.
Ladies and gentlemen, we now need action and nothing less. We now need that
force within us to make the push forward in our wonderful province. As
KwaZulu-Natal alumni, we say we care about you and we need you. We need your
expertise and presence in as much as we need your financial muscle in the
implementation of our province's action plans. More than anything, ladies and
gentlemen, we need action.
As Albert Einstein put it, "All such action would cease if those powerful
elemental forces were to cease stirring within us." We hope if we have not
already convinced you to make that contribution in our province in whatever
form, the cultural items on offer will! Enjoy the evening's entertainment.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
5 May 2007
Source: SAPA
