Policy Speech by the MEC for Roads and Public Works, Hon Ms Thandiswa Marawu, delivered in Bhisho, Eastern Cape Legislature
Honourable Madam Speaker;
Honourable Premier of the Eastern Cape;
Esteemed Colleagues in the Executive Council;
Honourable Members of the House;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
The masses of our People in all corners of the Province;
Our Stakeholders and the Media.
Let me join colleagues and comrades in appreciating the opportunity afforded to me by this august house to communicate to the people of our Province and indeed the entire country. In the same breath, let me commend our Premier on a well-presented State of the Province Address.
Honourable Speaker, indeed as the Premier noted in his State of the Province, this year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter in June 1955. Twenty-one years after we attained our freedom, we once again have an opportunity to assess the progress we have made in advancing towards the ideals of the Freedom Charter.
This year also provides us with an opportunity to demonstrate to all and sundry the continued relevance of the Freedom Charter in our country today.
Honourable Speaker; honourable members, we would like to remind people that the Freedom Charter is not merely a historical and historic document, but it is a Visionary document crafted by the people of this country and it drives the agenda of our democratic dispensation. Our country’s President Jacob Zuma confirmed as much when he recently said of the Freedom Charter: “It remains still, an important guide about the direction in which we should all take our country in the course of its reconstruction and development.” Indeed the President further implored all of us to take additional measures to familiarise greater numbers of our people with the Freedom Charter”.
As the entire South African populace reflects on our journey, they, like us, can look back with pride because a lot has indeed been achieved and the good story we have been telling continues.
