Programme Director,
His Royal Highness, Kgoshi Mamaila,
The Executive Mayor of Mopani District Municipality, Cllr Joshua Matlou,
The Mayor of Greater Letaba Local Municipality, Cllr City Modjadji,
The Minister of Blankets, Mr Amy Chhaya,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Comrades and Friends,
Good Morning.
“Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the dignity of being the skunk of the world.”
These profound words come from the Inaugural Address delivered by our global icon, Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, in Pretoria on 09 May1994. We all know that the day marked the turning point in the history of South Africa after years of colonial and apartheid rule. Mandela had just been confirmed as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
With these words Madiba was declaring a break with our apartheid past of oppression and exploitation, and at the same time launching us on an irreversible journey into a future that is non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous.
With Mandela on the driver’s seat South Africans became equals before the law. What remained to be realized was universal access to basic services and economic freedom. The universal access to services and economic freedom to all South Africans remain challenges as we approach two decades of our democracy and our freedom.
Towards the expiry of his first term as South Africa’s President, Mandela did something unthinkable – he revealed that he wouldn’t serve beyond his first term. Unlike other leaders in Africa and elsewhere, Mandela didn’t overstay his visit in the Presidency. He remained true to his word, and served only one term.
Leaders in the continent and elsewhere in the world can do well by taking a leaf from Madiba’s book by not clinging to power until being forcefully removed from power by the army.
Nelson Mandela had before his inauguration as President become the symbol and the face of the South African people’s struggle for freedom and democracy. In the process he sacrificed twenty seven years of his life.
Upon his withdrawal from active political life Madiba assumed heightened activity in mobilizing resources for the poor and the vulnerable, particularly children. Armed with his disarming charm Madiba extracted a lot of resources to ease the lives of the less fortunate. Even in old age when he had withdrawn from the public, his institutions make his legacy to leave on and on.
In recognition to his sterling contribution to humanity in general and South Africans in particular, the United Nations declared Mandela’s 18 July birth date a global holiday. On this day the world sets aside little time to touch the lives of the less fortunate members of society. Since then, year after year, the world gets out to dirty its hands in celebration of the great life and times of Madiba.
The rationale behind Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere.
It is in direct fulfillment of the ideals of Mandela Day that we are gathered here today to make this a warmer winter by giving out blankets and foodstuffs to the needy and vulnerable. This way we are doing our bit to change the world for the better.
We are here today because we have blankets and foodstuff to distribute. It wouldn’t have been possible if it were not because of the good heart and the generosity of Mr Amy Chhaya. Our 67 minutes for Mandela wouldn’t have been possible.
Mr Chhaya is a permanent feature of the social welfare movement in the province. His area of specialization is the donation blankets so that all of us are warm during the coldest of winters. He has given so many blankets for so long that he has earned a place in the cabinet as Minister of Blankets.
Mr Chhaya is so good in his work that he has survived all presidents and premiers since the dawn of our freedom and democracy. He was here yesterday, he is here today and he definitely will be here tomorrow – ensuring that the needy are warm during the cold winter days and nights. Like Nelson Mandela, Mr Amy Chhaya’s legacy will prevail, long after he shall have taken leave of this world.
We are fortunate to be here today because of the goodness of Mr Chhaya’s heart and his bottomless generosity which have seen him donating the blankets and the foodstuffs we are giving today. Through this gesture some of our people here in Roerfontein will tonight have a decent meal and be wrapped in the warmth of their blankets.
Mr Chhaya, we have lost count of the blankets and food stuffs you have religiously given out over many years. Your kindness and generosity has not gone un-noticed here and with the Almighty – surely God’s blessings will visit you until the fullness of time. There is no worthy candidate for God’s grace and mercy than you Mr Chhaya.
We wish you many more years so that we continue to benefit from your generosity. You are an inspiration. May your torch of kindness continue to keep many of our people warm and well-fed.
Let us draw inspiration from the lives and times of the saint in our midst, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, and lead lives of giving and caring like Mr Chhaya does every time the need arises. It is against this backround that we say, let us make every day a Mandela and make a daily difference in the lives of our people.
As I conclude I return to Madiba’s wisdom by quoting from his speech during the opening of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa in Cape Town on 25 May 1994: “Our single most important challenge is therefor to help establish a social order in which the freedom of the individual will truly mean the freedom of the individual. We must construct that people-centred society of freedom in such a manner that it guarantees the political liberties and the human rights of all citizens.”
Let us join the world and wish Tata many more years of health and happiness.
Thank you!
