Programme director,
Members of the Provincial Executive,
Executive Mayors and mayors of our local municipalities,
King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana
Vho Thovhele and Mahosi ,
Leaders of various political parties
Representatives of faith based organisations,
Members of the Media,
The people of Limpopo,
Ndi matsheloni, good morning, Ndaa!
Thank you for responding in such large numbers to this important twentieth celebration of our freedom and democracy.
On this day, we unite as South Africans in the beauty of our diversity, to celebrate freedom and commemorate our collective victory over the evil system of racial segregation and oppression.
Indeed, the dark cloud of apartheid oppression has given a way to the blue skies of human rights, dignity and a better life for all.
It is for this reason that our Province is leading the celebrations of this twentieth birthday of our freedom and democracy in a spectacular blend of colour, song and dance.
We have come here not only to celebrate but to seize a moment to remember and pay homage a galaxy of distinguished men and women who have sacrificed their lives for us to be free.
We also pay homage and extend our deep-felt gratitude to all the people of the world who have lent their weight behind our struggle for freedom and democracy.
To all of them we are committing ourselves never take this freedom for granted. We will always remember that this freedom is pillared on their sweat, blood and relentless sacrifices.
Programme director and the people of Limpopo,
Today we celebrate because we know well the pain of oppression and dominance of one racial group over the other. We truly come from a hopeless and painful past. Apartheid had divided our country into two unequal parts.
On the one hand we had White people who were assisted by apartheid laws and policies to enjoy a high standard of living with access to the best education, best healthcare facilities and related socio-economic opportunities.
At the same time, Apartheid laws and policies were carefully designed to deny Black people a decent standard of living. It was through the apartheid design that our people did not have even the basics such as homes, jobs, land, medical care and education, let alone participation in the economy.
We come from a history were women were discriminated against and subordinated in every area of public and private life. Women had limited access to education and employment. Women were shut out from decision-making at all levels of society.
We come from a history were workers were denied their right to set up trade unions, their right to engage in collective bargaining and their right to peaceful demonstration and strike.
We come from a history were the only recognised property rights were the rights of White men.
Without doubt, apartheid legislations and policies stood opposite to the Biblical injunction that we were all equal because we are were all made in the image of God.
Apartheid institutionalised and celebrated White superiority while entrenching Black inferiority.
Programme Director,
When we took over government in 1994, our people mandated us never to repeat the evils of the past. Instead, we were mandated to; overcome the legacy of inequality and injustice created by apartheid in a manner that did not violate anyone’s right or freedom.
We were mandated to reconstruct and develop this country working within the ambit of social justice and the constitution.
To this extent we have committed ourselves to:
Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.
You will remember Programme director that when we took over, many said we would not succeed in our pursued intent to unite South Africans beyond their racial identities.
They said we would not succeed to build a common South African patriotism with loyalty to the common national flag.
Instead, they said we will only tear this country apart. They said that we will be consumed by the spirit of triumphalism and vengeance. They expected that the Black majority would unleash the so-called victor’s justice.
Here in Limpopo , they said it will never happen that BaVenda, BaTsonga and BaPedi speaking people ever unite under one Province and one flag. They thought we would consume each other under the guise of ethnicism and tribalism. We have silenced them, because we continue to destroy those demons which continue to rear their heads amongst us.
They said we would use the political power in our hands as a bayonet to drive a White man into the sea.
However, we looked into the distant horizon and saw the beauty of a rainbow. We knew that, that was the only path to follow. In the words of a poet we knew that ‘we need not to look the same in order to be equal’.
Our mandate is indeed to encourage the flourishing of the feeling that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, Black and White, Tsonga, Venda and of Pedi origins.
We have chosen not to over-emphasise our differences but instead work together to shape a common future for ourselves and for our children.
We have chosen a future free from racial hatred and dominance, a future free from oppressive laws and brutality, and indeed a future free from violence, poverty and joblessness.
This is the future that all of us should work to achieve.
The reality is that we are one people who share in the same destiny. The achievements of this country are the achievements of all of us, Black, White, Coloured and Indians.
We therefore carry an equal obligation to make this country a success.
Programme director,
Today we are celebrating because the tide has turned; we have taken our country back from an off-ramp of racial conflict and oppression onto the highway to reconstruction and development.
The once loud trumpets of disunity and conflict have given a way to the melodic tunes of ‘Nkosi sikelela iAfrika’, our National Anthem. This is without doubt a beautiful story of our rainbow nation.
Compatriots,
Our province is today a much better Province than the one we inherited in 1994.
When the ANC government took over this province was characterised by extreme levels of poverty and diseases, particularly in the rural areas. Our people were denied even the most basic means of survival such as access to decent housing, electricity, water, tarred roads, and recreational facilities.
Today this province has a different story to tell, indeed a good story to tell.
It is not by mistake that we celebrate this year’s Freedom Day under the theme that says “South Africa – a better place to live in”.
The evidence to support the accuracy of this theme is everywhere for everyone to see.
Speaking as we do, we have ensured that over 96% of learners in our province benefit from the No-Fee School Policy.
Today over 96% of learners in quintiles 1, 2 and 3, benefit from the National School Nutrition Program (NSNP).
The government is providing about 19 162 learners with Scholar Transport.
These and many other interventions have lead to an increase in our Matric Pass Rate from 38% in 1994 to 71.8 in 2013.
Compatriots,
We are proud to report on this special day of our freedom and democracy that; we have managed to electrify over 87% of households in this province.
We have connected over 86% of households with clean portable water. And as I speak, the President will officially open the Nandoni Bulk Water Supply system tomorrow at Nandoni. Pipes to supply such have already reached this area of Makhado and will supply up to Botlokwa.
We can also announce that we have provided housing to over one million people.
This has without doubt restored our people’s God-given dignity.
Programme director,
Freedom Day celebrations are also celebrations of the protection and advancement of human rights which are entrenched in our constitution.
On this day, we celebrate the right to freedom of movement and association, freedom of expression, religious freedom and freedom of sexual orientation and the right to own property.
Today workers of our province and the country as a whole also have a reason to celebrate.
They too celebrate the right to belong to a trade union, equal pay for equal work, health and safety at work and the right to strike.
Today is also a celebration of 20 years of women’s rights. Our Affirmative Action Policies have seen women taking their rightful place in society as equal citizens before the law; which was not the case before 1994.
There is no doubt that the past 20 years have restored the dignity of women.
Programme director, ladies and gentlemen,
We have indeed travelled a long and bumpy road since 1994. However, we look back with pride because together with the people of Limpopo we have achieved the unimaginable.
It is because of our partnership with you that we have built schools and hospitals. It is indeed because of your vote that we have constructed bridges, dams and world-class power stations.
As the people of Limpopo we should certainly be proud of the past 20 years. At the same time, we have a reason to be confident about the future.
Despite the fact that we come from a very dark past, we have begun to see the glimpse of light. Today is much better than yesterday. We are confident that tomorrow will be an oasis of jobs, quality education, peace, security and comfort.
It is for this reason that I want to conclude by inviting all of you to defend this freedom and democracy. It is because of this freedom and democracy that we have rescued this country from being the skunk of the world into a respectable member of the international community.
You should defend this freedom and democracy by participating in the forthcoming general elections.
You should go out in your numbers on voting day to silence the Captains of the so-called no-vote campaign.
There can never be a great insult to the memories of those who fought for our freedom than to mobilise people against voting.
I am confident that as we will be going to vote, we will all work to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
We must do this in memory and honour of the late President Nelson Mandela.
Long live the memory of President Nelson Mandela long live!
I thank you! Ndo livhuwa.
