Minister of Communications
Deputy Minister of Communications
Chairperson of the Board of the South African Post Office
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
I am deeply honoured today to receive the fourth Presidential Stamp. Let me express my gratitude to the South African Post Office and particular to the designer of the stamp, for producing this work.
Fifteen years have passed since the Post Office issued the first Presidential Stamp on 10 May 1994. Stamps are said to be a country's smallest ambassadors. They travel into households across the world, carrying a nation's identity and hopes to an international audience. To many people they are more than just a means to get their goods from one place to the next. From job applications to reconnecting loved ones, stamps bring people together.
I am thus glad that we use this occasion to signify the importance of this small but vital component of our communication network. We have made great strides over the last 15 years to bring postal services to all South Africans. More people will be able to receive letters mailed with this stamp than were able to receive letters mailed with the first Presidential stamp in 1994. This is because we have been steadily extending the reach of our services.
The day we are able to give a residential address to the majority of households in our country, we will know that we have gone very far in extending services that confirm the dignity of our people. A residential address in every village and every township will signal great progress and encourage economic activity. As government we will continue striving and working for universal access to communication services such as postal services, telecommunications, broadcasting and telephony.
Ladies and gentlemen, Presidential Stamps have been used to celebrate our vibrant democracy since 1994.
As we chart our way forward let us use this opportunity to rejoice in our 15 years of democracy and look at ways to deepen this democracy.
Thank you very much for this honour!
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
10 November 2009
