Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and Deputy Ministers,

Director-General and senior officials,

Excellencies Heads of Missions,

Good afternoon to you all.

We meet again, to reflect on our important task of strengthening friendship ties between South Africa and the world.

We meet to reflect on our key foreign policy goal, to contribute to building a better Africa and a better world.

Our national hero and pioneer of our foreign relations perspective and strategy, former ANC President, Oliver Reginald Tambo, had this to say about our foreign relations perspective, in his address to the First Congress of the Angolan ruling party, the MPLA in Luanda in 1977.

He stated:

  “We seek to live in peace with our neighbours and the peoples of the world in conditions of equality, mutual respect and equal advantage”. This is the vision that drives our foreign policy, premised on the philosophy of ubuntu.

This is the vision that informed us when the Constitution of the Republic was drafted.

Excellencies,

Freedom Day 2013 Celebrations will be held on 27 April 2013 under the theme “Mobilising society towards consolidating our democracy and freedom”.

 

Freedom Day represents peace, unity, and the restoration of human dignity of all South Africans. It is a reminder of the countless sacrifices made by many of our countrymen and women and a chance to ensure that no one will ever take our hard won freedom for granted.

 

South Africa has taken many strides away from its past of exclusion and discrimination on the basis of sex, colour and creed.

 

The country has been steadily moving forward in a direction that reasserts our humanity. In this march towards humanity, a new culture of human rights and a respect for the dignity of the human spirit have become the characteristics of South Africa.

 

One of the symbolic moments of our exodus from the past was the raising of the new flag in 1994.

 

That moment aptly affirmed the pride and dignity of an unfolding country and a celebration of humanity. Another was the unveiling of a new Coat of Arms on 27 April 2000 that embraced the collective historical essence of the people of the country.

 

The 2013 celebrations for Freedom Day and Month take on special significance as the nation prepares for our 20 years of freedom commemoration and celebrations.

 

As our heads of missions abroad, you will be able to tell the world in celebrations all over, that South Africa is a much better place than it was before 1994. We are indeed a country that is better off since our democratic elections.

 

During this month, South Africans will recall the momentous events leading up to 27 April 1994 and reflect on the next 20 years.

 

We will also have an opportunity to reflect on the kind of South Africa we want to live in, in the next 20 years as outlined in our National Development Plan. 

 

We are therefore in a much better space than we have been in many years, now that we have a long-term plan around which to unite the country.

 

We are poised to move faster towards achieving the goal of building a truly united, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa.

We value the partnerships with many partners in all continents in our pursuit of these development goals.  We will also continue to prioritise our goals of promoting a just and equitable society worldwide,  in international organisations and other spheres.

Therefore our quest for the reform of international financial institutions or the United Nations Security Council is aimed at achieving this equitable order in international economic and political relations.

More importantly, all our heads of missions should also continue to prioritise the African continent and the promotion of African renewal, development and reconstruction, regardless of where they stationed.

Contributing to building a better Africa is the central foreign policy goal of the South African government.

It is for this reason that we continue to applaud the election of one of our own, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as Chairperson of the African Union Commission. We will provide all the support possible, to make her succeed.

We are also pleased that all African nations have pledged their support, as part of the collective determination to make the African Union succeed, as we mark 50 years of the OAU/African Union.

Excellencies,

As you are aware, our country plays an important role in global economic and political relations.

This means that we must prioritise communication and the marketing of the country abroad.   In this era of globalisation, since information flows like fire and can easily be misinterpreted, our diplomacy cannot afford to neglect public opinion.

We have witnessed this just recently in our country following the tragic event in the Central African Republic, how information gets quickly distorted and rumours and lies easily flourish.

Prioritising communication and marketing is therefore a key strategic goal.

We should build stronger networks with stakeholders such as NGOs, think-tanks, Universities and other civil society structures both at home and abroad.

This is important because economic decisions to invest in, trade with or visit a country are not always made solely on the facts. They are often emotional and based on perceptions.  

Compatriots, as we mark Freedom Month, let me take this opportunity to congratulate you on all the hard work and your contribution to the achievements that our country has scored since 1994.

In the roles you have played since then, you have contributed to making South Africa a much better place.

Hard work must still continue. We have to ensure that more people have water, electricity, sanitation, decent housing, functional schools, clinics and police stations and other services.

Most importantly, this month we will be celebrating the Constitution of the Republic.

Yesterday, on the 10th of April we marked 20 years since the brutal assassination of one of our fearless and outstanding freedom fighters, Chris Hani. In his presentation to the first meeting of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa in December 1991, Mr Hani emphasised the importance of drafting a progressive Constitution for the country.

“Without a new Constitution there can be no peace. Peace must be based on a secure foundation, on a lasting Constitution enjoying overwhelming support of the majority of our people. Such a new Constitution must also provide a framework within which this society can be transformed from a paradise for a small minority for most others to one where all enjoy peace and social justice’’.

Thus, our country has a firm foundation in its Constitution and a firm foundation for the next 20 years in the National Development Plan. That is the message we would like you to impart to the world.

We must communicate the beauty and the successes of our country.

We must communicate the beauty of the South African people, who were able to move beyond hatred, pain and divisions and began building a new country and a new society.

We wish you all a happy and successful Freedom Month!

I thank you.

Programme Director,

Minister of Tourism, Mr Marthinus Van Schalkwyk,
Chairperson of the Tourism Portfolio Committee, Mr Gumede,

Chairperson of the Select Committee, Mr Gamede

SA Tourism Board Chairperson, Mr Frank Kilbourn 

CEO of Waterfront, David Green

Esteemed Captains of the Tourism Industry,

Senior officials,

Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

 

I stand here before you today in the V & A Waterfront, the gateway to Robben Island, only two days before our Freedom Day celebrations and just a year before the marking of 20 years of our freedom and democracy. 

We are very proud that a country that was once a pariah state is now attracting more international visitors each year.

In 1993, South Africa received a mere 3.4 million foreign visitors. By 2012, the figure had grown by 300 percent to 13.5 million visitors, of which 9.2 million were tourists. 

The magnificent growth in tourism figures is a positive outcome of our transition to a democratic dispensation. The fruits of our freedom have indeed come in many forms. 

These results also demonstrate the effectiveness of our economic diplomacy underpinned by a sound foreign policy. 

This positive trend is continuing due to our systematic investment in policy and strategy development as well as effective implementation.

In 2009 we decided to create a stand-alone National Department of Tourism as we knew the potential of tourism as a job creator and also as a sector that would open our beautiful country to the world. 

Tourism was subsequently identified as one of the key sectors envisaged in our New Growth Path economic strategy as one of six job drivers. The others are mining, manufacturing, the green economy, infrastructure development and agriculture.

Tourism also has the potential to provide more youth business and employment opportunities.

Our National Tourism Sector Strategy, developed in partnership with all spheres of government, the private sector and other role players, envisions South Africa as among the top 20 world tourist destinations by 2020. 

Our objective is to grow our share of the over one billion annual tourist arrivals from the global tourism market and also to further grow our domestic market.

Most importantly, our strategy has two main outcomes, namely creating 225 000 additional jobs and contributing about half a trillion rand to the country’s Gross Domestic Product by 2020. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

It now gives me great pleasure to share with you our country’s annual tourism performance for 2012.

A total of 9 188 368 international tourists visited South Africa in 2012. This was 10.2% more than 8 339 354 tourists who travelled to the country in 2011. 

This was also more than double the global average in tourist growth, which has been estimated as being at around 4% by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. 

Europe remained the highest source of overseas tourists to South Africa, growing by 9.5% on 2011 figures. We attracted 1 396 978 European tourists to the country last year. 

The United Kingdom continues to be South Africa’s biggest overseas tourism market, with 438 023) UK tourists travelling to South Africa in 2012, which is 4.2% up on 2011 figures. 

The United States is South Africa’s second biggest overseas tourism market, with 326 643 tourists from the USA visiting in 2012, up 13.6% on 2011 figures.  

Germany is the third biggest overseas market with 266 333 tourists up 13% on 2011 figures. 

France is now South Africa’s fifth biggest overseas tourism market with 122 244 tourists in 2012, up 16% on 2011 figures. 

A few years ago we took the decision to begin actively marketing South Africa in emerging markets, which has yielded extremely positive results. 

Asia as a region is up 33.7% on the figures recorded in 2011, driven by growth from China and India, and Central and South America.  

Since 2009, arrivals from China have more than tripled, arrivals from Brazil have more than doubled and arrivals from India have almost doubled.

China has become South Africa’s fourth biggest overseas tourism market at 132 334 tourists last year, up 55.9% on 2011 figures. 

The impressive growth in arrivals from India continued in 2012, with 106 774 Indian visitors to South Africa, a growth of 18.2%, making India South Africa’s eighth largest overseas source market.

Brazil continued to show impressive growth rates becoming a top ten overseas source market for arrivals for the first time, at ninth position. A total of 78 376 Brazilians came to South Africa in 2012, a 44.7% increase on 2011 numbers.  

Africa remains the pillar of our tourism economy and we are happy to see that arrivals from the region have maintained the solid growth path we have become accustomed to. Growth from our own continent was up by 8,5%. 

Foreign tourists spent a total of R76.4 billion in South Africa last year, up 7.6% on the total foreign direct spend in the country in 2011. 

The expenditure by tourists from the Americas, Asia and Australasia as well as Europe has also increased. 

The only decrease in spend was from tourists from our African markets, which led to the average spend per tourist decreasing by 2,3%.

In addition, the average length of stay decreased from 8.5 nights per tourist in 2011 to 7.6 nights in 2012. The shorter stays are a global trend that affects all our competitors due to the global economic meltdown.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This phenomenal tourism growth is evidence that we are successfully setting ourselves apart in a competitive marketplace. 

It indicates that South Africa’s reputation as a friendly, welcoming, inspiring and unique tourism destination continues to grow.

I am also pleased to share with you the preliminary edition of the latest Tourism Satellite Account which has been released by Statistics SA, for the period ending December 2011. 

Direct tourism contribution to the GDP went up by 5% to 84.3 billion rand in 2011. Direct employment in the sector as a percentage of overall employment in the country went up from 4.3% to 4.5% between 2010 and 2011. 

This resulted from the increase of about thirty one thousand direct jobs in the sector from 2010 to a total direct employment of 598,432 in 2011. 

The total domestic tourism expenditure increased from 69 billion rand in 2010 to one hundred and one billion rand in 2011, which translates to an increase of over 30 billion rand.

The outstanding performance will be further enhanced by closer collaboration between South African Tourism and our over 100 diplomatic missions across the world. 

When I addressed our heads of foreign missions in Pretoria earlier this month, I impressed upon them the need to prioritise communication and the marketing of our country. We expect to see positive results.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are also happy to be releasing  these exciting tourism figures just a week before the World Economic Forum Africa conference to be held here in Cape Town from 8 to 10 May.

South Africa will once again host Heads of State and Government and global and domestic captains of commerce and industry. 

This conference, to be held under the theme “Delivering on Africa’s Promise”, will provide an opportunity to advance the African Agenda of economic growth and development. 

We invite the people of Cape Town and South Africa as a whole to ensure the warmest welcome to the World Economic Forum high level delegates. 

We once again have an opportunity to prove our expertise in hosting events of this magnitude.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to use this opportunity once again to congratulate and thank all South Africans for ensuring the success of our tourism strategy. 

In addition to the beauty of our country and its outstanding facilities, it is because South Africans treat visitors warmly and hospitably that we see such positive results.

Let me also congratulate the Minister of Tourism and the entire tourism sector for this performance. The fruits of your hard work are visible.

These figures give us confidence that we are making good progress in our efforts to grow the tourism industry in South Africa. But we cannot become complacent.

More and more countries around the world are realising the opportunity that tourism presents for growing their economies and creating jobs. Our geographic position makes our fight for the global tourism share more difficult than most. 

As a tourism industry we have to remain committed to working together to grow tourism to our country, with the support of all South Africans.

As we prepare to celebrate Freedom Day, let me invite every South African to be an ambassador of the Republic. Let us all market our beautiful country diligently and passionately to one another and to Africa and the world. 

We have done exceptionally well since the democratic transition in 1994. We have a story to tell, and a beautiful country to show off to the world. 

Working together, we can do so much more!

 

I thank you.

Your Excellency, My Dear Brother 

President Goodluck Jonathan and your distinguished delegation,

Ministers, Deputy Ministers,

Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

 

It is my honour and privilege to welcome His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan to our country for this historic State Visit.

I thank you Mr President, for accepting my invitation.

Your visit has generated a lot of interest, excitement and optimism in our country, given the historical relations between Nigeria and South Africa. 

As we head towards celebrating 20 years of freedom next year, we remain highly appreciative of the solidarity that the South African liberation struggle and our people enjoyed from successive governments and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We have a duty to take these historical relations further.

Our two countries already have growing and very warm bilateral relations, structured through the Bi-National Commission (BNC) that was officially inaugurated in 1999.

We have today witnessed the signing of new Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding. Our Ministers will ensure the effective implementation of these instruments, and the conclusion of outstanding ones.

Your Excellency, I am happy that we have prioritised economic cooperation during this visit.

I am certain that the South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum that is meeting today here in Cape Town will further boost economic relations between our two countries.

To date, over 100 South African companies are doing business in Nigeria, with the biggest investment being in the telecommunications sector. 

We welcome the participation of South African business in other sectors in Nigeria as well, such as engineering, construction, media, banking, retail, hospitality, oil and gas exploration and services. 

We have also seen a keen interest from Nigerian business in investing and doing business in South Africa across a number of sectors.  

Also important is the need to promote people to people linkages, especially through tourism.

Last year South Africa received a total of 73 282 Nigerian tourists, which is a 13.8% increase to the 64 402 Nigerian tourists who visited South Africa in 2011. We welcome this upward trend.

Our records indicate that Nigerian tourists contributed a total of R720 million to the South African economy last year. To boost tourism links further, South Africa is in the process of opening a tourism office in Lagos. 

We urge South Africans to also visit Nigeria and explore this sister country which has historically played a prominent role in the continent and in world affairs.

Your Excellencies,

In our discussions, we exchanged views on political developments in the continent, especially against the background of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Organisation of African Union, now the African Union.

Our two countries share a common vision on issues of political and economic integration in Africa. 

We also share a common vision on the need for a sustainable conflict resolution mechanism in Africa that is primarily driven by Africans. 

South Africa and Nigeria also share a common vision on the need for the reform of the multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank to reflect the realities of the changed and changing international environment.

We must take cooperation further on these issues.

Your Excellency

As we mark the golden jubilee on the 25th of May, it is crucial to build a stronger and well-resourced African Union to take forward the promotion of peace, security and the socio-economic advancement of the continent.

Part of the capacity needed by the AU is the establishment of the African Standby Force for rapid deployment in crisis areas without delays.  

The need for an intervention brigade has become more crucial in light of the situations of instability in the Central African Republic, the eastern DRC and Mali, where decisive intervention is needed. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tomorrow, the World Economic Forum meeting will begin here in Cape Town and we are happy that you will attend the gathering Your Excellency.

The meeting provides an opportunity to further showcase the success of the continent. 

Statistics indicate that over the past 10 years, the world’s ten fastest growing economies were in Africa. 

Indeed Africa has a positive story to tell. 

Where there are challenges, they are being attended to. That is our message to WEF this week as the African hosts of this prestigious Forum.

Let me reiterate our pleasure in hosting our esteemed guest, His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan and his delegation on this historic occasion. We are very pleased with the outcomes of our discussions. 

 

I thank you.

Your Excellency, my dear brother, President Goodluck Jonathan, 

Honourable Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe,

The Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces,

The Chief Justice of the Republic,

Honourable Ministers, Premiers and State Governors,

Deputy Ministers,

Honourable Members of Parliament;

Executive Mayors,

Members of the South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps and senior officials,

Distinguished guests; 

 

On behalf of Government and the people of South Africa, I am truly delighted to welcome you, Your Excellency and your distinguished delegation, to our beautiful city of Cape Town.

I am very happy and honoured that you accepted my invitation to undertake a State Visit to South Africa.

I thank you as well for the hospitality extended to my delegation and I during our visit to Nigeria last month, at which we took our bilateral relations a step further.

Your Excellency, our relations are based on deep historical ties.

Despite its geographical location, far from this southern tip of the continent, Nigeria stood with us, and fought on the side of the oppressed majority in South Africa.

You outlined the selfless contribution of the Nigerian people to the struggle against apartheid eloquently in your inspirational address to Parliament earlier today, My Dear Brother.

As you stated, our struggle was your struggle, our pain was your pain and indeed, our freedom is your freedom.

This history, forged in struggle, provides a solid foundation to take forward the relations between our two countries.

 

As the continent marks 50 years of the Organisation of African Unity this month, Africa looks up to these two biggest economies to lead by example, and promote African unity, peace, stability, development and prosperity.

 

Our two countries are also called upon to provide meaningful support to the African Union, so that it can play its role effectively for the next 50 years until it reaches its centenary.

 

Your Excellency, we are also called upon to lead the African struggle for a just world order. That is why we must work together to ensure that Africa is represented in the United Nations Security Council.

 

We must also work together to ensure the reform of international financial institutions so that Africa’s interests can be taken into account in institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

 

All these tasks make cooperation between these two nations to be absolutely critical. Let me then also emphasise, that we do not compete against each other as it is claimed in some forums.

 

We complement each other, for the benefit of the continent. We have no choice but to do so. We owe it to future generations.

 

Your Excellency, at a bilateral level, we had fruitful deliberations earlier today.

 

Our Ministers and Officials need to take all the necessary steps to implement the nine Agreements and memoranda of understanding that were signed earlier today.

 

We are also encouraged by the continued expansion of the economic relations between South Africa and Nigeria.

 

We are pleased that the South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum met and deliberated on how to take advantage of opportunities in the two economies, in light of the State Visit.

 

We also encourage the promotion of more people to people linkages. In this regard, South Africa will open a tourism office in Lagos.

 

Last year South Africa attracted more than 70 000 Nigerian tourists, and we want this figure to increase.

 

We encourage South Africans to also visit Nigeria and explore this beautiful country which plays such a critical role in Africa and the world.

 

Your Excellency,

Nigeria and South Africa played a key role in the conceptualisation of NEPAD, through our predecessors, former President Thabo Mbeki and Former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

 

To this day, NEPAD remains the blueprint for eradicating the indignity of poverty and economic marginalisation of the African continent.

 

Thus, we must ensure that all NEPAD programmes, including the flagship continental infrastructure development programme, become a success, to ensure African prosperity and progress.

 

This programme must help Africa to prosper and create jobs, to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment.

 

Your Excellency,

 

Allow us, Your Excellency, to congratulate the African champions, the Super Eagles for a world class performance in the Africa Cup of Nations January this year.

 

However let me hasten to add, Your Excellency, that our national team, Bafana Bafana, is determined to take that cup at the next tournament!

 

My Dear Brother,

 

Let me once more thank you for visiting our country, and for your pivotal address to our Parliament earlier today.

 

We would like to convey to you and through you, to our brothers and sisters in Nigeria, our respect and admiration of Nigeria’s role on the African continent, and the enormous strength we draw from the friendship and solidarity that Nigeria has continued to extend to South Africa.

 

Excellency,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

May you please rise and join me in a toast to the good health and prosperity of His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, and to the friendship and partnership between the people of the Republic of South Africa and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

To friendship and solidarity!!

 

I thank you.

 

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe

Chief Justice of the Republic

Chairperson of the NCOP

Premier of Gauteng, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane

Minister in the Presidency Mr Collins Chabane,

Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile and all Ministers and Premiers present,

Deputy Ministers, MECs, Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr Ramakgopa and Members of Municipal Councils (MMCs),

Deputy President of the ANC

Leadership the ruling party the ANC and all other political party leaders present,

Religious and traditional leaders,

Veterans of the liberation struggle,

The Mandela family,

Representatives of the Hertzog family,

Representatives of the Tambo family

Fellow South Africans,

 

Sanibonani,

Molweni,

Dumelang,

 

We gather at the seat of government, a day after laying to rest one of the greatest leaders ever produced by our country and the African continent, our former President Nelson Mandela.

It has been a difficult period for our country, for Africa and for our friends all over the world.

 

The official mourning period came to an end last night at midnight and the national flag has been raised at all posts.

 

Let me take this opportunity to thank all South Africans for observing the mourning period with dignity and respect. 

I thank the Mandela family as well for sharing their moment of grief with all of us. It was indeed the moment of our greatest sorrow as the rainbow nation.

 

There should now be no more tears. We must celebrate Madiba and take forward his legacy. He should live in our hearts and inspire us to do something good every single day, to honour his memory. 

 

In that way, the pain of his passing will be eased every single day.

 

Sithi bakwethu, isikhathi sokuzila komphakathi, uzilela ukuhamba kweqhawe lethu, ubaba uMongameli uMadiba siphele izolo ebusuku phakathi kwamabili. 

Kusukela namhlanje, aziphele izinyembezi.

 

UTata uMadiba makaphile ezinhliziyweni zethu, simkhumbule ngokwenza okuhle nsuku zonke, nokusebenza kanzima ukwakha izwe lethu elibumbeneyo.

 

Compatriots,

 

Today, as we mark a special day in the country’s calendar, National Reconciliation Day, we recommit ourselves to peace, forgiveness, tolerance and reconciliation. 

These values were the hallmarks of the Presidency of Madiba.

 

Under his leadership, the National Day of Reconciliation became a symbol of our collective victory over our divided past as a nation. We made a conscious decision to work for national unity and reconciliation.

 

It is therefore, of great historical significance that we are marking National Reconciliation Day 2013 by officially unveiling the 9 metre statue of Madiba, the man who encouraged us to look beyond our differences and become one nation, united in our diversity.

 

We laid Tata to rest in Qunu only yesterday. Today, he rises majestically at the seat of government, as a symbol of peace, reconciliation, unity and progress.

In his humility, Madiba left it to the South African people to celebrate his life and legacy and to decide how he should be remembered. 

 

He said when asked how he wished to be remembered:

“It would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered. I’d leave that entirely to South Africans. I would just like a simple stone on which is written, ‘Mandela’.”

 

In our view, this stone is a fitting tribute to the contribution he has made to our country, Africa and the world.

 

It is the least we can do for a man who dedicated his entire life to this country and its people.

 

Bakwethu, sikhethe ukukhumbula uTata uMadiba ngokuvula lomfanekiso omkhulukazi wakhe lapha ekomkhulu likahulumeni e-Union Buildings. 

Senzela ukuthi umphakathi waseMzansi Afrika nezivakashi zikwazi ukuvakasha zizovuselela ukubuyisana, ukubekezelelana nobumbano asifundisa kona uTata uMadiba.

 

This new Madiba monument will not merely enhance the attraction and gravitas of the Union Buildings as a national heritage site. 

 

It will also remind the nation daily about the values of unity, reconciliation, compassion and Ubuntu.

The statue will forever remind us of Madiba’s towering vision and stature.

 

It will remind us of his commitment, his leadership and his dedication to the struggle against apartheid.

It will forever remind us of his commitment to an improved quality of life for all.

 

It will also remind us of how far we have come as a nation in just a few years. The glaring reality is that before 1994, there would have been no statue of Madiba at the Union Buildings.  

Thus, when we look at this statue of Madiba, and recall his selfless sacrifice, let us remember that freedom in our country did not come free. 

 

We therefore have a collective responsibility to defend and deepen our country’s hard-won gains, all of as the rainbow nation, the people of South Africa.

 

Compatriots,

 

The site of the statue of our founding President had previously housed the statue of former Prime Minister James Barry Hertzog, who led the white government from 1924-1939.

Following an exhaustive consultation process, and in the spirit of reconciliation that our country has become renowned for, the representatives of former Prime Minister Hertzog agreed that his statue be relocated to another spot in the Union Buildings in order to make way for Madiba’s statue.

 

We thank the Hertzog family for their understanding and cooperation in this regard.

 

Compatriots

 

We have always understood that true reconciliation would not take place successfully in the midst of glaring socio-economic disparities. 

 

Reconciliation will be more successful if we succeed to correct past injustices.  

It is for this reason that reconciliation continues to run parallel with transformative programmes that improve the quality of life of the people.

 

Compatriots

 

This year, the seat of government, the Union Buildings turn 100 years old. This majestic building was constructed in 1910, and was completed in November 1913. 

 

The two identical West and East Wings of the Union Buildings, were intended to each represent the English and the Afrikaner groups. 

The union was thus the union of the two groups. The black majority was excluded from this union and from governance in general. 

The Union Buildings was therefore built on a shaky foundation of racial discrimination and oppression. It rapidly mutated into a source of anger in the country and in the world at large. 

 

At this institution, many laws were signed which entrenched deep racial divisions in the country, entrenching all forms of oppression against black people.

 

This culminated into the adoption of apartheid as policy by the white government in 1948, thus making racism and racial discrimination official policy of the government of that day. 

It is for this reason that as a seat of government, the Union Buildings became the target and outlet of many grievances by the oppressed people. 

 

Many freedom songs point to the Union Buildings as the destination that our people were heading towards, to dismantle institutionalised racism and oppression. 

 

When the oppressed sang Siyaya ePitoli, they primarily meant they were coming to the Union Buildings, the seat of executive power.

It is wonderful to note too that leaders of the ANC did enter the Union Buildings to engage oppressors directly about the situation of the oppressed. 

 

The speech by former ANC President Sefako Makgatho to the 1919 ANC conference in Cape Town is quite enlightening.

 

He said;

“I have been in constant attendance at Union Buildings and other offices, where I have had numerous conferences with Heads of Departments and at various times with General Botha, before he left, and with other Ministers such as Mr Malan, Mr De Wet and Mr Burton on various questions more or less serious’’.

 

ANC leaders also used to write letters and petitions to the Prime Ministers and Ministers in the Union Buildings. 

 

The Union Buildings is also more well-known for the historic 1956 march by more than 20 000 women, protesting against pass laws.

The first democratic national general elections on April 27, 1994, marked the end of a Union Buildings that existed to serve only one section of society.

 

It was at the very buildings, at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre specifically, that Tata was inaugurated as Head of State and head of the new Government of National Unity. 

The Union Buildings became Madiba’s office. The headquarters of government began to symbolise true unity and legitimate authority. 

 

It was also here at the Union Buildings that Madiba lay in state for three days last week. 

It was a historic and moving period in our history during which thousands of people filed past to pay homage to this greatest son of our country.

It was the first time that so many thousands of people passed through the Union Buildings. 

 

As we celebrate 100 years of the Union Buildings today, we do so satisfied and happy that this seat of government is now not only rich in terms of its aesthetic beauty only. It is also rich in moral value and symbolism as well. 

 

Compatriots,

 

Beyond political meaning, the Union Buildings precinct also has immense social value. 

 

During weekends many newly-wed couples come to the gardens to take beautiful pictures for posterity.  The Union Buildings also attracts busloads of tourists on a daily basis. It has thus become a people-centred precinct.

 

Giving its growing national importance, we have decided to declare the Union Buildings a national heritage site. 

It had all along been a provincial heritage site.

By declaring the Union Buildings as a national heritage site, we are acknowledging its historic significance and affirming its value as one of the sites that houses our nation’s heritage. 

 

This will also create the necessary framework that will allow us to preserve and promote the history and heritage that is at the Union Buildings. 

 

We are doing this as part of our ongoing work to write a new and inclusive narrative for our country. While we acknowledge the past, we are also emphasise that we are now one nation and that our national symbols need to reflect that unity in diversity.

 

Compatriots,

 

It is that unity that our late President Madiba preached and which he encouraged us to practise.

 

Allow me to use this opportunity  to thank the Inter-Ministerial Committee for State Funerals, chaired by the Minister in the Presidency Mr Collins Chabane, and the related technical support committees, for their sterling job in organising a dignified burial for our beloved Madiba.

 

The excellent logistical arrangements have once again demonstrated the capability of our country to host international events of this magnitude.

 

We hosted heads of state and government, royalty, eminent persons, entertainers, global business sector and all sorts of global personalities. 

I would like on behalf of government and the people of our country, the rainbow nation, to thank all our security services, who worked hard to protect citizens and foreign dignitaries and guests.

 

We acknowledge our police officials who went beyond the call of normal duty, and were seen comforting citizens who were overcome with grief after viewing the body of Madiba at the Union Buildings. They were ably assisted by the SA National Defence medical services personnel.

 

Ladies and gentlemen

 

Let me also single out the South African National Defence Force, which made the nation proud with the exceptional and dignified farewell they gave to the former Commander-in-Chief. 

 

The military health services had first touched the nation in the manner in which they looked after him while he was ill. And later, the SANDF put out all stops to give him a befitting farewell.

 

We also thank the media, both locally and internationally, for taking the Madiba story to the world with dignity and respect. 

We thank all the South African people. Working together, the rainbow nation ensured that Tata is laid to rest in a manner befitting a global icon.

 

Let us all get back to work tomorrow, to build the South Africa that Madiba sacrificed 27 years of his life in prison for.

Let us all work together, united in our diversity as the famous rainbow nation on the Southern tip of Africa, to build a better South Africa, united, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous.

 

Compatriots

 

It is my pleasure today to declare the statue of former President Nelson Mandela open for public viewing. 

We congratulate Mr Dali Tambo the curator and his entire team for this magnificent work of art.

It is also a pleasure to declare the Union Buildings as a national heritage site, and to wish you all a happy and successful National Reconciliation Day.

 

I thank you.

Tembisa - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Wednesday, 14 January 2015, supported by the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, launch the new paperless education system pilot project “The Big Switch on” at the Boitumelong Secondary School in Sedibeng Section, Tembisa.

 

The launch of the pilot project, “the Big Switch on”, takes place within the backdrop of the opening of inland schools for the 2015 academic year. In this context, Deputy President Ramaphosa, Minister Motshekga, Premier Makhura and MEC Lesufi will conduct an oversight visit to ensure full scale readiness for learning and teaching from the first day of the school calendar.

 

The launch of this Pilot Project, “The Big Switch On” will see classrooms in 7 schools in Gauteng being turned into “Classrooms of the Future”, enabling learners to have access to learning material, workbooks and other subject matter through the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT).

 

“The Big Switch On” Pilot Project is the first step in realising Gauteng’s vision which aspires to build a world-class education system by modernising public education and improve the standard of performance of the entire system.

 

Following the visit to Tembisa, the Deputy President accompanied by the Minister, the Premier and Education MEC, will visit Soshanguve South Secondary School where they are expected to instill a culture of learning on the first day of the reopening of schools as well as tackle identified challenges of substance abuse among its learners.

 

Media is invited as follows:

 

Tembisa

Date: Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Time: 6h00

Venue: Boitumelong Secondary School

216 Mimas Street

Sedibeng Section

Tembisa

 

Soshanguve South Secondary School 

Date: Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Time: 11h30

Venue: Soshanguve South School (17705 Extension 8 Soshanguve)

 

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 or Terrence Manase on 082 338 6707

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria

Arusha - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Wednesday 21 January 2015, concluded a working visit to the United Republic of Tanzania where, in his capacity as President Jacob Zuma's Special Envoy to the Republic of South Sudan, he witnessed the signing of an agreement on the reunification of the Republic of South Sudan's Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) held in Arusha.

 

Divisions among three factions of the SPLM have engulfed South Sudan in conflict since December 2013. On Wednesday, January 21 2015, Deputy President Ramaphosa participated, on behalf of President Jacob Zuma, in the Intra-SPLM Dialogue Summit and final stages of consultations near Arusha, Tanzania, among the SPLM leadership - including President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and former Deputy President Riek Machar - and Heads of State of neighbouring Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

 

The SPLM intra-party dialogue was facilitated by Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, South Africa's African National Congress and the National Resistance Movement of Uganda.

 

The signing ceremony was hosted by President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania. The Arusha Agreement commits the SPLM to rebuilding and democratising the movement internally in order to promote national harmony and end the conflict afflicting the people of South Sudan, the newest state in the international community.

 

The Arusha Agreement recognises the collective responsibility within the SPLM for the conflict in South Sudan and calls for a public apology to this effect by all SPLM groups. The agreement commits the movement to expediting efforts to end the war and to enhance the values and culture of democracy, unity and development.

 

Addressing delegates to the late-night signing ceremony, Deputy President Ramaphosa paid tribute to Tanzania as a nation that inspired others to secure peace. "This is a big night for peace in our continent," said Deputy President. "Tonight is Africa's peace night.

 

"We expect this agreement will silence the guns that have been raging in South Sudan; that it will silence the guns of death, destruction and the displacement of thousands and thousands of people in South Sudan."

 

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria