Today marks a watershed moment in our history where 16 years ago South
Africa was declared a country that truly belongs to all who live in it led by a government that is based on the will of all the people.
Our inclusive approach to the notion of freedom as the African National Congress (ANC) was based on knowing that the evils pertinent to the engineering of the oppressive apartheid system not only affected the subjugated but also negatively impacted on the lives of "superior race" owing to dictatorship that politely limited movement and interaction among other things.
Today ladies and gentlemen, 16 years into our democracy we are still hard at work strengthening our democracy further endeavouring to ensure that the ideals of the Freedom Charter are realised. At this point I would like to remind you of the responsibility that each and every one of us has in ensuring that a prosperous society where brotherhood, promotion equal rights and access to opportunities is realised.
As our democracy reaches "sweet 16", which by coincidentally is an age of confirmation according to Catholic customs, it would be appropriated to highlight that 17 years ago in this month one of the key figures in our liberation movement, Thembisile Chris Hani, was brutally assassinated, it is also important to reflect the year 2010 marks 20 years since the release from prison of our struggle icon, Nelson Mandela.
Ladies and gentlemen through the events of 1994, which preceded by a protracted struggle for liberation, as the people of South Africa we can truly say that we are free.
In the words of Dr Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech, "never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world".
Today we have come a long way and, admittedly so, though we have achieved much more than any other nation has ever done sixteen years after its independence, a lot still needs to be done. More challenges lie ahead of us.
In this province, we have identified these priorities:
* building a developmental state and improve public services, strengthening democratic institutions
* building cohesive, caring and sustainable communities
* speeding up growth and transforming the economy to create decent work and livelihoods
* massive programme to build social and economic infrastructure rural development
* strengthening education, skills and human resource base
* improving the health profile of the province
* intensifying the fight against crime and corruption.
It is my contention, however, that the challenges that confront us and the solutions in line with the priorities outlined above would come from us taking responsibility and acceding to the call to be agents of change, like many liberation heroes who selflessly fought for our liberation.
As we reflect on our treacherous trajectory, it is important to note that twenty years ago South Africa was a nation with many nations entangled in problems that included international exclusion, rising debt, declining economy and widespread corruption we talk of a South African that is a giant among other nations.
Today, South Africa including in particular the Nelson Mandel Metro in this province will in 44 days time host the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, the first country in the African continent to do so.
The Eastern Cape province, a product of the new South Africa, is maturing and developing gradually. While we have managed to cover some ground in changing the face of the province, as a province we still need to be steadfast in our resolve and attempts to make the province a better place to live, invest, work and play beyond 2010.
In the last 16 years we have realised quite a lot as the Eastern Cape provincial government in our quest to deliver key services to our people and I would like to highlight arterial roads between Idutywa and Willowvale, Sterkspruit and Telle Bridge, Ngcobo and Idutywa, Cofimvaba and Lady Frere, Mount Frere and Matatiel among others. The bucket system is a thing of the past in our province.
My fellow citizens, as we are drawing close to our objective building a quality life for all, I would like to report to you that significant steps have been taken in this regard. Today we can report that have managed to bring back dignity to our traditional leaders and as such there is an annual celebrations of the wars of resistance against colonial invasion through the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders.
Today we have transformed tribal authorities into traditional councils that are more democratic and comprehensive in nature beyond just being places that considered cases into institutions that considers development of the tribes involved.
We have housed thousands and thousands of previously homeless people; we have provided water to more than 50 percent of our people as well as sanitation to more than 60 percent of our people who previously did not have access to these services.
All quintile three schools in the province have been registered as no fee schools. We have built new schools, clinics and hospitals while we have also renovated a number of these institutions. Without being over elaborative, today South Africa prides itself as a country that has managed to make its mark and occupy its esteemed place among other big nations in the world.
People of the Eastern Cape province, I now call upon you to look back at our painful history and contrast it with where we are now. I call upon you to evaluate the path that has led us to be where we are and use this age of confirmation as an invitation to you to make your own contribution towards ensuring that we get to where we want to go.
I have highlighted our provincial priority areas and it is with your contribution to any of them that as the government we can, in line with President Jacob Zuma's call, make 2010 a year of action.
I strongly believe in relentless human input and I am certain that working together we truly can do more to make the Eastern Cape an attractive flagship province in South Africa.
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za/)
