Keynote address By Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile at the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation's Inaugural Memorial Lecture

Programme Directors; Mr Groovin Nchabeleng and Ms Phaphama Tshisikhawe;
Ausi Audrey, the Children, Family and Friends of the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation
The Chancellor of the University of Technology, Mme Gloria Serobe;
Vice of the University of Technology, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke;
The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Morero;
Former Youth Activists here present;
Moderator Professor Busani Ngcaweni and Panelist. Mr Phil Molefe; Ms Lwazi Khoza and Ms Mapi Mhlongo;
Senior Government officials from the Presidency and all government Departments;
Student leaders here present;
The leadership of the unions here present;
Fellow Compatriots, good morning;

I am privileged to deliver this inaugural memorial lecture, under the theme; “30 Years of Democracy Reflection and Citizen-centred Government Communication” in remembrance of my comrade, MorwaRre, Ronnie Mamoepa, with whom I have shared a significant portion of my youth, particularly within the Youth Movement and the United Democratic Front of the Southern Transvaal.

At the time when we were together in the youth and mass democratic movement it was a difficult period. It required that we be ambitious about the prospects of a better future, as all young people in each generation should be. In this regard we were focused on the task at hand. Hence, I am of the view that Ronnie, was an optimist, determined to realise the goal of a national democratic society that is non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, united, and prosperous. With Ronnie, we were driven by the conviction that; FREEDOM OR DEATH VICTORY IS CERTAIN! 

His optimism made us believe that Freedom is indeed achievable!

Compatriots, I have consistently regarded MorwaRre, as I would call him, a revolutionary intellectual due to his critical thinking and contributions to the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). Mamoepa was an intellectual who, like other revolutionary thinkers, recognised the necessity of investing in research, reading, and critical theory and discipline.

I am particularly pleased that we reached an agreement with the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation and my sister, Audrey, to hold the lecture in September. A month of great significance in our nation's history as we celebrate our national heritage, also in a month set aside to focus on   Tourism, Transport, and the Public Service more broadly. 

This is because Ronnie, a gallant freedom fighter, dedicated his life to the public service, serving with integrity, compassion, and a resolute commitment to making a difference in the lives of others through his work as a public servant and as a seasoned government communicator par excellence.

It is unsurprising, that this lecture takes place in a month where we remember Steve Bantubonke Biko, a leader of the Black Consciousness Movement, who taught us that Africans need to rally together and work as a collective, that we ought to rid ourselves of the shackles that have perpetually bound us to servitude, particularly under racial oppression and capitalism. 

Ronnie lived his life according to the Steve Biko philosophy's ideals. This ideology advocated for the political solidarity and cultural pride of black people while vehemently condemning the inaction of white liberals.

Compatriots, I am bringing Steve Biko into the conversation because of his importance to our history and development. During the decline of the African National Congress, he inspired us and many others in our generation to fight against colonialism and apartheid.

Steve Biko convinced us that Apartheid would eventually end, but he warned that it would be dependent on Africans' conscience and commitment; therefore, he claimed that the ‘The most powerful weapon in the hand of the oppressor, is the mind of the oppressed.’ As a result, in today's setting, many young leaders and student leaders consistently allude to Steve Biko and Franz Fanon's work on the decolonisation of our education system.

According to the article on social identity by Pal Ahluwalia and Abebe Zegeye, Steve Biko and Frantz Fanon share a close connection. Both were activist student leaders, and both have become an integral part of the broader struggle for freedom. 

The ideals exhibited by Fanon and Biko mirror those exemplified by Ronnie Mamoepa, who, despite being incarcerated at the age of nineteen on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the state, remained steadfast in his conviction to advocate for liberation.

After his release from Robben Island, Ronnie returned to his residence in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, and resumed his political activities. During this period, he served as an executive member of the Atteridgeville-Saulsville Detainees Support Committee and the Pretoria Youth Congress.

His responsibilities included rallying youth support for the ANC-UDF, coordinating political education for the township's young people, and managing media and PR efforts. He also made sure to profile the activities of the Civic Organisation (ASRO) and the Detainees Support Committee.

He fervently dedicated himself to youth engagement in politics and championed the notion that young individuals should be the catalyst for change in all sectors of society, having participated in a Saulsville student movement.

Compatriots, 

I am confident that he would be pleased to see the presence of young activists who are undeterred by the prevailing political climate, are striving to improve the learning circumstances for their peers. Who are equally ambitious to realise their gaols and contribute to the development of our country and the continent.

In this regard, let me congratulate the South African Student Congress (SASCO) for winning the elections at Tshwane University of Technology. Equally, I would like to wish SASCO well on its 33rd anniversary since its formation in 1991, when it merged with the South African National Student Congress (SANSCO) and the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS).

We view SASCO as a critical part of the mass democratic movement that produces intellectuals in line with its motto, preparing for battles ahead. Over the years, SASCO has produced critical minds who today are contributing to the advancement of the National Democratic Revolution; these include Robison Ramaite, David Makhura, Thembi Simelane, Mahlengi Bhengu, Buti Manamela, and Bandile Masuku.

Additionally, some of the former student leaders of SASCO are currently members of my team in the Presidency, including Dr. Tshilidzi Ratshitanga, Itumeleng Mafatshe, and Mduduzi Mbada. I must acknowledge that Ronnie Mamoepa, whose work ethic, and dedication to service remains unparalleled, also influenced them.

Together with Ronnie, we fought against the oppressor, and we equally stood against any form of discrimination. Our resolve to resist colonialism and apartheid stemmed from our belief in the vision of a South Africa in which the people govern, the country's wealth is restored to the people, and the land is shared among those who work it.

Our vision was to establish a society free from human exploitation. As a result, we fought to secure the people's right to work and, more importantly, to ensure that the people's government is responsible for ensuring that the doors of learning and culture are open to all, especially the working class. 

We also believed that we must live in peace with our neighbours and the peoples of the world in conditions of equality, mutual respect, and equal advantage. Our fight against colonialism and apartheid was based on the knowledge that there are those who monopolise our country's political power, land, and wealth.

We understood that while we were fighting colonialism and apartheid, there were those who wanted to stop the dissemination of progressive literature and art, and that those who started aggressive wars would unavoidably try to prevent us from realising our objective of transforming our liberation into a true people's liberation that would result in a drastic social revolution in our nation.

These are some of the lessons learnt from O.R Tambo, the former President of the African National Congress, and from Radio Freedom's reading of the January Statement, issued on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress. MorwaRre would dissect and simplify the statement since he was one of the best communicators the ANC had produced. He would issue a media statement to communicate umhlahlandlela, or directive as provided by the ANC leaders at the time, this irrespective of the complexities of the situation at hand.

Fellow Compatriots, 

We have just emerged from highly contested elections on May 29. In contextualising the outcome of these elections, we have concluded that this is a strategic setback for the National Democratic Revolution.

Ronnie Mamoepa would have described it in the same way. He would have been critical of how we performed and, consequently, on both the strides and setbacks made towards a National Democratic Revolution, and an equal, just, and prosperous South Africa. 

In the same vein, he would have concurred with the notion that, under the current circumstances, we must set up either a Coalition Government or a Government of National Unity (GNU), given that we received forty percent of the votes.

If he were here, MorwaRre would invite us to ponder about whether, in the current political context, we could continue to consolidate and advance the National Democratic Revolution? Whom could we trust to advance the primary aim of establishing a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous society? Moreover, whether, relinquishing control of the state to opposition parties and not establishing a Government of National Unity, would we be surrendering the revolution to the unknown?

These are indeed some of the questions the intellectuals present in this room can critically engage with. I also know that as part of his thought-provoking conversation, Ronnie would have contributed to the discourse and even provided answers to the question himself.

Compatriots,

Allow me to take this occasion to explain the rationale behind our decision, which has elicited both critical and favourable responses. Using the analytical frameworks of Marx, Lenin, and Engels, particularly on the notion of dialectical materialism, we can agree that in the struggle toward the society many of us dream about, it is inevitable that there will be strategic tactical detours that can put us back on course. 

Therefore, individuals who identify as Marxist would recognise that Marxism is not a dogma but rather a scientific framework. Marxism emphasises the development of consciousness through experience; thus, in Marxist theory, individuals must produce to survive, and the fulfilment of needs generates new needs as people reproduce not only for themselves but also for their species.

The May elections and fulfilment of the electorate's wish required us to understand the three laws of dialectical materialism; the law of unity and conflict of opposites, which refers to internal contradictions between the desires of labour and capital, the law of negation of negation, which refers to a phenomenon transitioning into its opposite, and the law of quantity into quality.

As a result, it was critical for us political parties to set up the GNU as an anchor to our approach to addressing current challenges rather than hurling concepts and slogans at them. This, I argue, would have been Ronnie Mamoepa's pre-occupation.

Fellow Compatriots, informed by the objective conditions, we invited all parties represented in parliament to form a Government of National Unity guided by the statement of intent and minimum programme of action.

Through a Statement of Intent, the parties have made a firm commitment to respect the Constitution and the rule of law, as well as to promote accountability, transparency, integrity, and good governance. 

The GNU has resolved to dedicate the next five years to actions that will advance three strategic priorities: to drive inclusive growth and job creation, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living, and to build a capable, ethical, and developmental state. We will translate these priorities into a detailed plan and interventions, a Medium-Term Development Plan, that government will implement over the next five years. 

As the GNU, we are working together for a greater purpose: to build a better South Africa for everyone. This means that we must work together to address all the challenges we face. We are at a time where we need to theorise and understand the context of the world we live in.

We find ourselves in a modern, dynamic, and ever-changing world. The world we live in is characterised by megatrends, which are high levels of poverty and unemployment, climate change, epidemics, and technological changes characterised by ICT and digital technology. 

This world we live in today requires investment in knowledge and appreciating knowledge as a strategic resource. In this regard, we must invest in thought leadership to pursue truth in facts instead of succumbing to whims.

Institutions of higher education and training, including TUT, must pride themselves on the number of epistemologically driven individuals they produce, and such must be able to contribute towards the development and growth of society. 

Fellow Compatriots, 

Let me say as I end that Ronnie would have been pleased with the developments, we have made in one of the fields he was passionate about—Government Communication.

Our progress in technology and public engagement has been substantial. We have established platforms such as the District Development Model Outreach, which facilitates enhanced public participation and promote s innovation that increases information accessibility.

E-government platforms have also reduced bureaucratic obstacles in public service delivery. However, there is still a need to engage underprivileged communities and establish a robust feedback process. The government will continue to use resources like social media, community radio, and mobile technology to enhance outreach.

As the 7th administration, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the goal is to create a society where every voice is acknowledged, and every citizen is empowered.

In the spirit of Ronnie Mamoepa, let us recommit ourselves to the values of compassion, justice, and unity. Together, let us construct a future that affords everyone the chance to prosper, ensures no one falls behind, and upholds the principles of equality and dignity for all. 

As President Oliver Tambo instructed, our task even in the conditions we find ourselves in today, remains that of bringing about the kind of society we visualised in the Freedom Charter. We are confident that the movement of Ronnie Mamoepa will reemerge! 

Long Live the Spirit of Ronnie Mamoepa Long Live!

I thank you.