(KZNSA) Ebandla reunion dinner in London
5 May 2007
Close to 400 people attended the KwaZulu-Natal Successful Alumni (KZNSA)
Ebandla reunion dinner at Kensington's Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London on
Friday, 4 May 2007. Hosted in true South African style, with everything from
decor to entertainment being proudly South African, the event was certainly a
night to remember.
Dignitaries from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) included KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso
Ndebele and First Lady of KZN Mrs Zama Ndebele; MEC for Arts, Culture and
Tourism Ms Weziwe Thusi; MEC for Welfare and Population Development Mr Meshack
Hadebe; KZN Director General Professor Mandla Mchunu and co-Chair of the KZN
Growth Coalition Mr John Barton. South Africa's High Commissioner to London, Ms
Lindiwe Mabuza, was also present.
KZN alumni living in London who were present included Andrew Dixon-Smith,
Chairperson of Michael House Old Boy's Trust; Professor Michael Kosch, member
of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Alumni; Dr Kubendra Naidoo and Dr Sunjay
Jagath, both medical doctors as well as Members of the Hilton College Old Boys'
Club and Carolyn Harben, Chairperson of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Alumni
in London.
The evening's proceedings was jointly compered by Krijay Govender from the
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Bheki Sibiya from Ithala
Bank. The audience was enthralled with entertainment provided by
KwaZulu-Natal's Bongani Tembe and Linda Bukhosini as well as the Themba Mkhize
band.
Delivering the keynote address Premier Ndebele quoted Wole Soyinka's, "Dance
of the Forest": "Thou shall not be a perpetrator. Thou shall not be a victim.
Thou shall never, but never be a bystander. Our unity does not depend on
unanimity. We have differences but now as in the past we can derive from those
differences strength not weakness, wisdom not despair between two worlds, one
dead and the other powerless to be born. 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."
Ndebele cited examples of other countries where alumni were making a
remarkable contribution. "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
living here in the United Kingdom (UK), I'm certain, can afford to adopt a
schoolchild, a rural clinic or perhaps even a football club or sports club in
some village," said Ndebele.
"The United Kingdom, among other countries, played a major role in the
international struggle against apartheid. That role was driven at a more people
to people level. Oliver Tambo made London his home for many years. South
Africans, representing the various sectors of our society, have in recent years
also made the UK their home. We as South Africans have gone on to conquer the
world in many areas of life including sport, business and academia, among
others," Ndebele said.
The Premier highlighted the fact that KwaZulu-Natal was on the move.
"Therefore the province is in search, first and foremost, for the sons and
daughters of KwaZulu-Natal. There is a post 2004 era in KwaZulu-Natal where
representatives were chosen to take the province forward into development.
KwaZulu-Natal has indeed made major strides in significantly boosting our
socio-economic standing. Our general grandeur makes KZN locally and
internationally one of the most interesting places to visit, making us a
tourist's paradise. The beaches, mountains and game reserves are some of our
prided attractions. We are taking to the top of culture, sport, science and
technology," said Ndebele.
"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 commemoration of the death of Chief Albert
Luthuli and will soon be recognising the role played by Zulu queens and
princesses in promoting the province's heritage," Ndebele said.
"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
is significant. 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 in Durban is well underway and the world can be assured that South
Africa will host one of the best soccer world cups in 2010," said Ndebele.
"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 we need action. As Albert Einstein
put it: 'All such action would cease if those powerful elemental forces were to
cease stirring within us,'" Ndebele said.
A project of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government in association with the
African Renaissance, the KZNSA Ebandla Campaign is something close to the heart
of Premier Ndebele and has the unanimous support of the KZN Provincial
Government executive council. Sponsors of the campaign include Tourism
KwaZulu-Natal, Standard Bank, Ithala Bank and NestLife Assurance.
The intention of the campaign is to reach out to alumni throughout the
world. To this end, in collaboration with educational institutions, organised
business and other associations, the campaign is identifying relevant
individuals with whom they intend networking through the production and
maintenance of an interactive website, regular electronic newsletters,
organised reunion functions and invitations to strategic events in
KwaZulu-Natal in the months and years ahead.
The campaign has already seen the hosting of successful reunions in both
Johannesburg and Cape Town attended by about 1 000 business men and women,
formerly from KwaZulu-Natal, and similarly, the reunion in London will enable
the KZNSA Ebandla Campaign to establish a networking mechanism to provide other
business men and women with access to information on developments and
opportunities for them and their company, so that they may elect to do business
with KwaZulu-Natal to visit or retire in due course. From a provincial point of
view it is hoped that this campaign will enable the provincial government to
accelerate socio-economic growth in KwaZulu-Natal for mutual benefit.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Spokesperson to Premier Ndebele
Cell: 083 644 4050
E-mail: maistryl@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
5 May 2007
Source: SAPA
