His Excellency President Jacob Zuma
His Excellency Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe
Chairperson of the NCOP Honourable MJ Mahlangu
Deputy Speaker, Honourable Nomaindia Mfeketo
Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Honourable Thandi Memela
The Mandela Family
Former President FW De Klerk and Mrs De Klerk
Former Deputy President Baleka Mbete
Ministers and Deputy Ministers present
Honourable Leaders of Political Parties
Honourable Members
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished guests
Fellow South Africans
Good morning to you all.
Allow me, on behalf of Parliament, to extend our deep-felt gratitude to the Mandela family, for joining us today to lend weight and dignity to Parliament’s celebrations, in particular the unveiling of the bust of our first democratically elected President and father of the nation, Nelson Mandela.
Programme Director
Twenty years ago, speaking at the first sitting of Parliament as the first democratically elected President, of a free South Africa, Nelson Mandela stated and I quote:
“We place our vision of a new constitutional order for South Africa on the table not as conquerors, prescribing to the conquered. We speak as fellow citizens to heal the wounds of the past with the intent of constructing a new order based on justice for all.”
Those words marked the final death knell of an unjust political system based on race, and the birth of a new constitutional order in South Africa that has inspired millions across the world.
Today, we assemble to celebrate a free and a beautifully diverse South Africa. We come together to celebrate a successful new order, one that lays claim to the promise as stated in the Freedom Charter that “ the People shall Govern”.
Today, we also assemble to honour our beloved Nelson Mandela and the many heroes and heroines, who paid the ultimate price so that we can enjoy a South African society based on democracy, justice, equality, and peace.
Programme Director
Nelson Mandela understood the importance and significance of Parliament and therefore had a profound respect for this Parliament, as it has had for him.
Twenty years ago, Nelson Mandela, speaking in the National Assembly stated and I quote:
“The people of South Africa have chosen a profoundly legal path to their revolution, those who frame and enact the Constitution and law are in the vanguard of the fight for change. It is in the legislatures that the instruments have been fashioned to create a better life for all. It is here that oversight of government has been exercised. It is here that our society in all its formations has had an opportunity to influence policy and its implementation.”
Parliament not only is the vanguard of democracy but is also primarily responsible for improving the lives of millions of our people. Looking back, we can confidently assert that in so many ways we have expanded the frontiers of freedom and fulfilled the founding provisions of our Constitution by ensuring human dignity, achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights.
In doing so, we have been guided by the Constitution to ensure a government of the people, by the people for the people; by providing a national forum for public consideration and discourse of issues; by passing legislation and by scrutinising and overseeing executive action.
Over the course of the last twenty years, we have successfully changed the entire legal edifice to root out apartheid legislation and its legacy. This has involved the passing of hundreds of ground breaking and progressive laws at a rapid pace.
We are not an island unto ourselves but part of the global community. Therefore as a new democracy, we have learnt from the example of others who went before us and we inserted into our Constitution the most progressive provisions relating to openness, public participation, outreach, oversight and the justifiability of socio-economic rights.
Today, the world over our Parliament is a testimony of what is possible when a nation decides to unite and choose a future of hope and progress.
These are achievements in which we must take pride.
Programme Director
One of the important legacy projects, which the 4th Parliament hands over to the 5th Parliament is the commemoration of 20 years of Democracy. This programme will reflect and draw lessons on the gains we have made in the last 20 years of our young democracy.
The 20 year celebration programme will amongst others:
- review the impact of legislation Parliament has passed on all our people.
- this review will be interactive and we will engage the views of a wide range of South Africans through various discussion fora. We also undertake to release our findings in a publication at the end of the 12 month programme.
- the 20 years celebrations, is an opportune time for us to also reflect on our oversight and public participation processes, which are core to our mandate. We will use our findings to further strengthen our work in these important areas.
As Parliament has also been declared a National Heritage Site, our 20 year celebrations is the perfect backdrop against which to debate, shape and define a Heritage Strategy which we can all be proud of. We hope to draw the public’s interest by having an Art against Apartheid exhibition and producing a catalogue of artworks donated to Parliament over the years, amongst others.
In collaboration with the City of Cape Town, we will also erect a statute of Madiba, in recognition of his enduring legacy, at a suitable location in Cape Town.
It is my hope that the valuable lessons drawn from this process of reflection, will further strengthen and deepen our democracy, as we stand in service to all our people.
Programme Director
I can think of nowhere more appropriate than in the precinct of Parliament to unveil this bust of Madiba, one of the greatest leaders amongst that generation of great freedom fighters and leaders. Parliament, as the symbol and living expression of democracy, is the sweet fruit of Madiba and others’ struggles and sacrifices.
Madiba’s values are eternal in time, universal in space, and enduring in every circumstance. Long after we are forgotten and buried, his legacy will live on and will continue to resonate with the generations to come.
Let this bust be our conscience, and our guiding star as we continue to uphold the noble ideals for which Madiba and others stood for, fought for and died for.
Let us in our words and actions, be it in the Chambers of Parliament, the Executive or wherever we find ourselves, act with integrity and honour as Madiba and others did in service to our people at all times.
The work of this nation is ongoing. Each one of us who has been inspired by Madiba, who has been touched by Madiba and who has been moved by Madiba, must continue the long walk; the next phase of ensuring a better life for all our people in their lifetime.
Madiba understood that progress could only come from all of us united and working together for a better life for all our people. Therefore, in tribute to Nelson Mandela, let us turn out in our millions at the polls on 7 May to continue to express our will and support for our growing and flourishing democracy.
Let us work together to continue the work of Nelson Mandela and others and fulfil his promise that “the sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement”.
I thank you.
