Message of support by Deputy President David Mabuza at the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in the Republic of South Sudan, Juba
Your Excellency, President Salva Kiir Mayardit,
Your Excellency, Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny,
Vice Presidents-Designate,
Your Excellency, President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairperson of IGAD
Your Excellency Prime Minister of Uganda,
Your Excellency, Kalonzo Stephen Musyoka on behalf of Special Envoys to South Sudan,
Your Excellency, Ambassador Joram Biswaro, African Union Head of Mission,
Mr David Shearer, UN Special Representative of the Secretary General,
Leaders of Parties and Civil Society Stakeholders,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
We are honoured to be part of this momentous occasion marking the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan.
We bring a message of support from the current African Union Chairperson, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa and the entirety of the people of South Africa, who join you in celebrating this human achievement.
We join you as fraternal friends whose relationship is founded on common heritage of a people who pursued different yet similar struggles for freedom.
As South Africa, we hold dear the view that Africa’s problems require African solutions in order to build a better Africa and a better world.
It is this fundamental principle that has guided our engagement with the world.
It is this principle that has informed our position in lending a hand wherever conflict breaks in our Continent.
Our own history, makes us appreciate the need to resolve any conflict, through peaceful means and to use dialogue to find lasting solutions.
When we joined you and called on you to talk and resolve your current challenges, we did this out of deep love for this country and its people.
We did it for we know the cost of conflict, and how conflict undermines development.
We thus join you on this day to mark the beginning of a journey of healing and of national unity; a journey of sustained peace and development; and a journey of building a truly united and democratic South Sudan.
Excellencies,
Few years ago, the world welcomed South Sudan to a family of nations as a new nation state.
It was a milestone of significant proportions, granting the people of this country the right to self-determination and with that right - a hope for an end to conflict.
Yet in less than a decade, we lost our way and halted the momentum of a rising South Sudan that was at peace with itself and her neighbours.
Many were displaced and lives were lost.
Without a doubt, there has been challenges along the way as a result of political differences.
We have no doubt that all of you are patriotic and have deep love for your country, and perhaps all that you differ on, is the direction you must pursue to achieve development.
As much as we may hold different perspectives on how this newer nation must evolve, there is no reason for our differences to result into conflict.
Any other path except peaceful pursuit of development and nation building, would be costly and may cause the damage that would be difficult to fully recover from.
It is in this regard that we congratulate you for the path of peace that you have taken. Through dialogue, you have once again proven to the world that you have interest of peace and development of South Sudan and its people at heart.
Through your decision Mr President, you have demonstrated statesmanship and saved South Sudan from possible regression to conflict.
With your decision as opposition parties to join in the formation of the Revitalised Government of National Unity, you have ensured that the path to democracy and development is fulfilled.
Millions of people of goodwill around the world are joining you in celebrating this milestone.
They are watching with keen interest how you will manage the next steps of constituting a government, the writing of the permanent constitution and holding of democratic elections.
It is the moment where you seized the country from the cliff of self-inflicted destruction and made peace and development a lived reality.
We commend President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar, as well as all other Parties and Stakeholders to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan for rightfully choosing peace and development instead of prolonged war that could have easily made this country a failed state.
By their selfless leadership, these leaders have placed at the centre, the needs and interests of ordinary South Sudanese people who have suffered from years of conflict instead of peaceful coexistence, and of displacement instead of integration.
By this selfless act of all the leaders in South Sudan, including Civil Society Stakeholders, they have ensured that they do not pass the burden of war to the present and future generations of the people of South Sudan.
Silencing the guns in South Sudan offers space to build sustainable institutions for promotion of democratic government, build infrastructure to drive inclusive economic growth and development, as well as empower women and young people whose potential is unlimited.
You are entering a crucial and fluid period of transition. A period that will have its own contestations as you draft the permanent constitution, as you unite the security forces as well as the implementation of the various components of the peace process.
Please rest assured that in your journey to peaceful development, you will not walk alone.
You have the country and the people of South Africa as well as the entire African continent standing ready to continue walking with you, and to work with you as you rebuild the country to benefit all of its people irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, geography and class.
We wish you all the success as you join hands in rebuilding this beautiful country and in forging a common nationhood.
Long Live South Sudan Long Live!
I thank you.
