|
Opening Address by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of South Africa, Minister NC Dlamini Zuma, at
the South Africa/France Conference on "The Tenth
Anniversary of Democracy in South Africa" at the
International Conference Centre, Paris, France, 18 June
2004
Your Excellency, Bridgette Mabandla, Minister of Justice
and Constitutional Development of South Africa;
Your Excellency, Xavier Darcos, Minister Delegate for
Cooperation, Development and Francophonie of the French
Republic;
Senator Robert Badinter, Chairperson of the Session;
Yves Laurin, Chairperson of the French/South Africa
Your Excellencies;
Distinguished Guests;
My fellow compatriots and dear friends of South Africa;
Ladies and Gentlemen
My delegation and I wish to thank you for the warm
welcome that we have received. I also wish to thank
the French Foreign Ministry and the South Africa/French
Committee for hosting this conference in celebration
of South Africa's 10 years of freedom, democracy, peace
and justice.
We are here today, to celebrate amongst friends and
comrades, a decade of freedom and democracy. We are
here to honour the spirit of human solidarity that nourished
hope in the collective dream that victory in humanity's
united struggle against apartheid, that crime against
humanity, was certain.
Throughout the world people have come together, as
we are doing today, to celebrate this 10th Anniversary
of Freedom. They have done so because the struggle against
apartheid was a united struggle of the peoples of the
world against racism and racial domination. We do so
because the victory against apartheid was as much your
victory as it was ours.
History recalls that today, 64 years ago, on the 18
June, when the global struggle against nazism was at
its lowest ebb and all seemed to be lost, that General
Charles De Gaulle, a much beloved son of France, stood
before a microphone in London, and rallied the French
people throughout the world behind the flame of French
resistance against the occupying forces of Nazism. On
this day, amongst other things, he posed the question
to the people of the world and France in the face of
overwhelming odds:
"Must we abandon hope?" He went on to say:
Quoi qu'il arrive, la flame de la resistance francaise
ne doit pas s'eteindre et ne s'eteindra pas.
Whatever happens, the flame of French resistance must
not and shall not die."
History also recalls 14 years later a similar call
was made to the people of the world and South Africa,
in the face of overwhelming odds, to rally behind the
South African flame of resistance as declared in the
Freedom Charter:
"Let all people who love their people and their
country now say, as we say here: these freedoms we will
fight for, side by side, throughout our lives, until
we have won our liberty."
On such a day as today, we must therefore rejoice.
We must rejoice in victory and celebrate that remarkable
spirit of humanity, courage and hope that rallied behind
these clarion calls of resistance, overcoming overwhelming
odds, to ensure the defeat of the 20th Century's twin
evils, Nazism and apartheid. History says that today,
60 years after D-Day and 10 years of South African freedom,
is a good day.
As we celebrate, we must also pay tribute to all the
French men, women and children who were part of the
formidable and powerful solidarity movement against
apartheid and for the liberation of South Africa.
On this day we also have to honour those who lived
and died for our freedom, but themselves never saw the
dawn of that freedom. Amongst them, is Dulcie September.
A woman, a comrade, a patriot and a heroin of our people.
Sixteen years ago, her life tragically ended in the
hands of a nameless murderer who was never brought to
justice here in Paris at the ANC office.
Yesterday we visited Arceuil where she lived and together
with the Mayor, some founder members of the Recontre
Nationale Contre L'Apartehid and the inhabitants of
Arceuil, paid tribute to Dulcie September. She died
in her post with honour and dignity, like any fighter
who falls on the battlefield. We honour her memory,
we are inspired by her courage.
It is sixteen years since the bullets of a cowardly
assassin ended her life, but the ideals and values for
which she lived and died are now entrenched in our country.
We shall forever be indebted to the community of Arceuil
for naming their college after her, thus keeping her
memory alive.
Today we are here together to celebrate an extraordinary
victory of a collective human effort that saw the birth
of a new democratic, peaceful, non-racial, non-sexist
South Africa that saw the adoption of one of the most
progressive Constitutions of the world.
- The dignity of all South Africans has been restored
and they now enjoy human rights.
- South Africa is now a modern, 21st century democracy.
- We have just had our 3rd democratic elections,
with a very vocal opposition, a vibrant, independent
media and a resounding victory for the ANC.
- Peace: South Africa, once an international pariah,
now is an active member of the United Nations (UN),
the African Union (AU), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM),
the Commonwealth and other international organizations.
It has hosted major international conferences.
- South Africa, once a reign of terror in the region,
now the National Defence Force is the 10th largest
contributor of peacekeepers, contributes to disaster
relief and humanitarian assistance.
- It is the first country to voluntarily abandon
nuclear and biological weapons.
- Water: Between 1994 and 2004, 10 million more people
will have access to clean water.
- Electricity: More than 70% of people have access
to electricity.
- Education: Now 85% of children have access to integrated
secondary school education.
- Housing: 1,6 million new homes have been built
through government subsidies.
- Economy: South Africa has diversified its economy,
with manufacturing and services being the largest
and mining and agriculture no longer dominating the
economy. Trade has been diversified with Asia and
Africa growing rapidly. The economy is no longer shrinking,
but is growing consistently. Black economic empowerment
for the deracialisation of the economy is progressing
slowly.
- 5 Million poor and old people receive state grants.
- Gender: In 1994 2,8% of South African parliamentarians
were women. Now a third of all parliamentarians are
women. Women form 40% of the Cabinet. Over 40% of
the Provincial Premiers are women. We are challenging
the business sector to follow suite.
-
Free Primary Health Care: Free health care for pregnant
women and children up to 6 years.
- Sport: South Africa was barred from international
sport. Now we have even hosted the World Rugby and
Cricket Cups, the Africa Cup of Nations, the All Africa
Games, amongst others. South Africa will host the
Soccer World Cup in 2010, awarded to Africa for the
first time in the history of FIFA.
Nation-building and reconciliation started during President
Mandela's time. South Africa, almost as diverse as the
world itself in terms of race, colour, religion, language,
etc. sees this diversity as a strength and adds beauty
to the common human tapestry. South Africa is a country
of breathtaking, diverse landscapes and a mega diversity
of fauna and flora. A land of diverse cultural heritage.
In these turbulent times, South Africa is a land of
hope and optimism.
As we celebrate, we are also mindful of the many difficult
challenges that lie ahead. Poverty, underdevelopment,
employment, HIV and Aids, TB and other diseases. These
will form our primary focus in the second decade.
Development of a skilled labour force for our modern
economy. Government has to intervene to assist the South
Africans who are not part of the 1st world, modern economy.
We cannot leave their fate to the markets. We have planned
an expanded public works programme which will be labor-intensive;
it will also impart skills to those who have none.
Chairperson, there is now consensus that the biggest
challenge of the 21st century is Africa's underdevelopment.
Over the past ten years, our involvement in world affairs
has been premised on the view that the strength of our
nation depends on the strength of the African Continent.
Hence our efforts in consolidating an African Agenda,
in co-operating with the African Diaspora and in working
together with other partners to create a better, more
humane and people centred Continent and contribute to
a better world. Conflict resolution, peace and stability,
democracy, good governance, respect for human rights,
sustainable development, economic prosperity have to
be part of Africa's renewal.
The African Union is best placed to undertake a programme
of such magnitude. We are all working hard to build
and strengthen the institutions of the AU.
In March of this year the Pan African Parliament was
inaugurated in Ethiopia. The establishment of this key
political organ of the African Union is a crucial step
towards Africa determining its destiny. We, like you,
have established this continental parliament because
we recognize that sustained development, an improvement
in the quality of ours people's economic well-being,
is inextricably linked to political stability, democratic
governance, conflict prevention and resolution.
Last month, the leaders of our Continent gathered again
in Ethiopia to officially launch the African Peace and
Security Council. The launch of the PSC was a historical
moment giving us a framework for conflict prevention,
management and resolution and for peacekeeping and peace
building. This new organ signifies the unwavering commitment
of all African peoples to rid the Continent of any form
of instability and to ensure that peace reigns on all
corners of our continent because the renewal of the
Continent, its prosperity and sustainable development
is dependent on it.
The Programme of Action of the AU is the New Partnership
for Africa's Development (NEPAD) which is an economic
developmental plan for Africa with priorities in:
- Agriculture and food security because Africa has
to feed itself;
- Health, especially in dealing with diseases such
as malaria, TB, HIV/Aids, polio, etc;
- Infrastructure - telecommunications, ICT, transport
(rail, air, sea) and energy;
- Market access for our products - movement away
from exporting raw materials to manufacturing and
value addition;
- Macro-economic stability
- Democracy, good governance and respect for human
rights.
- Human resource development
The partnerships are between and amongst African countries
first and foremost. It is a partnership between Africa
and the countries of the South, and then a partnership
between Africa and the North. In this context, we have
just concluded yet another round of discussions with
leaders of the G8 in the USA. South Africa will continue
to play its role to contribute towards Africa's prosperity
and stability.
We are grateful to French/South Africa Committee for
its work and sustained support.
There are common problems that the world is facing.
Global poverty, marginalisation of billions of people,
environmental issues, global governance, global trade
rules, rise of racism, terrorism.
There is a growing movement towards unilateralism and
the undermining of the United Nations (UN). The Security
Council is not able to act at all times as a credible
and reliable agent of our collective security when it
is not representative, not democratic and is sometimes
used by certain powerful nations for their own agendas.
The financial institutions are not always responsive
to the poor and underdeveloped. Unilateralism causes
instability rather than stability.
What can we do collectively to address these problems?
On the 21st May, our President had this to say in Parliament:
"Less than a month ago, the peoples of the world
joined us in Pretoria as we celebrated our First Decade
of Freedom. The level and the breadth of the international
participation in these celebrations demonstrated that
the peoples of the world continue to value our achievements
in creating the kind of society defined by our Constitution.
This was further confirmed by the many other celebrations
that took place in various countries throughout the
world, including the United Nations and other institutions.
These two celebrations, of our 10th anniversary and
the success of our bid, confirm the strength of the
sentiment shared by millions across the globe, for a
world of peace, democracy, non-racialism, non-sexism
and freedom from poverty. They speak of a shared dream
for international solidarity and friendship among the
peoples, and the victory of the African Renaissance.
These circumstances suggest that perhaps the time has
come for the emergence of a united movement of the peoples
of the world that would come together to work for the
creation of a new world order. This would respond to
the urgent need to address the concerns and interests
of the billions on our universe who are poor and marginalized,
as are the same masses in our country who must be the
principal focus of our efforts to build a caring and
people-centred society".
It is possible to build a formidable, united movement
to share ideas and collectively look for solutions to
the problems of poverty and marginalisation. We have
a collective responsibility to bequeath to future generations
a safe planet, a safe, peaceful, secure and equitable
world. A world without racism and sexism.
If we were able to collectively defeat apartheid, we
can also fight and eradicate poverty. We can protect
our planet and we a build a world order where there
are predictable international rules. Let us be a positive
force for change, a people's solidarity movement against
poverty.
I am sure that in rising to these challenges, as we
must for the future of this world, we shall answer as
General de Gaulle did, when he asked the question, 64
years ago, when all seemed lost and when the future
of the world then seemed so bleak:
L'esperance doit-elle disparaitre?
Shall we lose hope? Must we abandon all hope?
To this question of our time, we must answer as he
did:
Non!
In the words of a powerful African scholar, there are
no powerless people. We have the power in our collective
action. Let us reflect on the following words of Ben
Okri, in his work, "Way of Being Free" where
he writes:
"They tell me that nature is the survival of the
fittest. And yet look at how many wondrous gold and
yellow fishes prosper among silent stones of the ocean
beds, while sharks eternally prowl the waters in their
impossible dreams of oceanic domination and while whales
become extinct;… how many butterflies and iguanas
thrive, while elephants turn into endangered species,
and while even lions growl in their dwindling solitude.
"There is no such thing as a powerless people.
There are only those who have not used their power and
will. It would seem a miraculous feat, but it is possible
for the undervalued ones to help create a beautiful
new era in human history. New vision should come from
those who suffer most and who love life the most".
I thank you.
Je vous remercie.
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
18 June 2004
|
