Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Zanoxolo Wayile
Kumkani Zanesizwe and Prince Ncamashe
Deputy Executive Mayor, Nancy Sihlwayi
Members of the Executive Council (MECs) present here
ANC leaders and allies
Executive mayors of district municipalities
Mayors of local municipalities
Arch-Bishop Njongonkulu Ndungane
Bishop Jika
Abefundisi
Ladies and gentlemen
I greet you all today as we gather here to fulfil an innate human instinct to help those in distress when engulfed by crises. Ladies and gentlemen, on 12 January this year the world woke up to horrifying news that over 230 000 souls had perished in a devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, one of the first post colonialism African democracies.
Not only did scores of people die, those who survived were left destitute without shelter, food or water compounding grief related to the loss of their families and absolute eradication of some communities. To be exact, 300 000 people were injured and more than one million left homeless, when more than 250 000 residential and about 30 000 commercial properties were ravaged by the upheaval.
A catastrophe of such proportions compelled us as the South African government to take immediate and decisive action that would lend a helping hand to the people of Haiti and we launched this fundraising campaign "Support Haiti", which will tomorrow see our President, Jacob Zuma, hand over our gift of support as a unified nation to the people Haiti to aid their path to recovery.
Our action is in line with that of many countries that responded to humanitarian calls requesting pledges in the form of funds, medical and rescue teams, engineers and other support systems.
In a short space of time, the world over, focus changed to Haiti owing to a natural catastrophe that brought that country to a complete standstill. Our national government responded by calling upon all South Africans to intervene and make contributions towards the Haiti's reconstruction and redevelopment.
In this regard, following the call by the President of the Republic of South Africa, national government started to coordinate a nationwide fund raising campaign to assist Haiti people to at least get; basic necessities, emergency healthcare, water, food, shelter among others.
In this regard, all nine provinces were requested to lead localised campaigns in support of this initiative and the Eastern Cape is vociferously among these forces. This gala dinner, in the Nelson Mandela Metro, has been organised to raise funds in support of the campaign.
Ladies and gentlemen, the relief aid that we are mobilising for and the support that has been landed to this initiative thus far from various sectors of our community is reminiscent of what the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has stood for almost a centenary of its existence, a unified nation.
As we join hands and together walk the path to aiding the people of Haiti, we need to understand that in the context of a globalised world, there are no enclaves and we must follow the ANC's vision of a unified nation to spread the gospel of "Ubuntu" to the peoples of the world showing that as a nation we are not only responsive to our own challenges but to global crises.
Today, sitting here you may be asking yourself why we should prioritise Haiti while we have so many domestic challenges that confront us. Our contention as the ruling party is that humanity's wealth lies in the hands of a few, and this imperialistic state of our world means that countries like Haiti, that suffer such unprecedented devastations and human suffering as we have witnessed, need collective interventions that would ensure immediate relief from a league of caring nations.
Progressive communities like South Africa that come from a history of suffering through colonialism and oppression under apartheid know that, any kind of support given in a time of need, goes a long way in bringing about much sought change.
Programme director, ladies and gentlemen, the community of Haiti is faced with a humanitarian crisis of great proportions and it needs the global village to join hands in ensuring that they are assisted with trauma and financial support that would ensure that they can rebuild their country and put their lives together again.
As the provincial government led by our South African government, we have already committed to this programme and we need you to join hands with us as we are certain that as the people of the Eastern Cape we care for the people of Haiti and "working together we can do more to alleviate their plight" through our expression of Ubuntu.
In this province, I reflect, this initiative has seen positive spin offs where different political parties have shown interest in contributing towards the establishment this initiative making Haiti a unifying voice.
Already, our Political Champion of the campaign, MEC Pemmy Majodina, is talking with members of her provincial Steering Committee to see how to adopt and adapt the model they are using to help the people of Haiti, to deal with our own devastations in the Eastern Cape.
This means this campaign has not only given us an opportunity to express our spirit of Ubuntu, but has revived the spirit of working together for now and in the future.
The national democratic revolution denotes the freeing of South Africans, the majority of whom are Africans and women, from socio-economic bondage and suffering. The struggle for the liberation in South Africa was fought and won with mainly four pillars and one of them was international solidarity work. To refresh your memory, the others were:
* Mass mobilisation
* Armed struggle
* Underground organisation
Ladies and gentlemen, the backbone of the apartheid beast was crushed through the international community's sanctions that closed all doors to economic relations, recreational relations and any other relations with the outside world.
This is the reason why even in the strategy and tactics adopted in our 52nd national conference in Polokwane, as the ruling party we still see international solidarity as being fundamental.
In this regard our position is that as South Africans we must "work with African and global progressive forces to advance human development in our country, our continent and across the globe" (ANC strategy and tactics as adopted in Polokwane, December 2007).
The disaster that hit Haiti is an enemy of human development. As Haiti people helped us to wage a successful war of resistance that led to the liberation of all South Africans, we dare not desert them at this point in time when they need us most.
Today, through those international efforts, we can stand tall as the youngest African democracy and contribute positively to the redevelopment of the oldest African democracy.
Ngalomzuzu, masikhumbule ukuba: "Isandla sihlamba esinye".
They supported us in our time of great need; we need to support them in their time of a greater need. In his 2009 State of the Nation Address, President Zuma identified international work and partnerships as one of the key priorities of the South African government.
It is my contention each and every one of us here and in this province in its entirety should make this a reality, ensuring the realisation of a unified South Africa making a difference in the world. We are glad that life has gradually began in Haiti even for school going children, but very concerned that they do not have classrooms from where to learn.
Your contribution will make the difference, contribute to a just cause and help rebuild Haiti! We appreciate the efforts of MEC Majoring and her team in ensuring that today is realised and that the province of the Eastern Cape is part of the "Support Haiti" campaign. When working together, we surely can do more to help the people of Haiti.
Thank you.
Issued by: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
26 April 2010
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za/)
