Date: 19/01/2004
Source: Department of Education
Title: Asmal: Official handover of Muzi Thusi Primary School, Pietermaritzburg
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING AND HANDOVER OF THE MUZI THUSI PRIMARY SCHOOL, MACHIBISA, PIETERMARITZBURG, 19 January 2004
His worship, Mayor of Umsunduzi Municipality, Councillor Hloni Zondi,
The Superintendent-General of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and Culture, Professor Charles Dlamini,
Members of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature,
Chairperson of the School Governing Body,
The acting principal and staff,
Parents and members of the community,
Boys and girls,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good morning. Sanibonani. Ngiyanibingelela nonke.
Ngiyajabula ukuba nani namhlanje. Ngiyazi ukuthi usuku olukhulu kini nonke lolu. Usuku lwenjabulo emphakathini wakwaMachibisa naseMgungundlovu. Ngize lapha ukuzojabula nani.
Abanye benu bayazi ukuthi angikwazi ukukhuluma IsiZulu. Noma kunjalo, ngisithanda kakhulu IsiZulu, njengoba ngithanda zonke izilimi zaseNingizimu Afrika. Yingakho ngizokhuluma ngesiNgisi manje.
I stand here before you today to celebrate with you the triumph of the human spirit over the claws of poverty and deprivation. For far too long, the community, especially the children, of Machibisa have been deprived of their birth right to basic and hygienic infrastructure in which to receive one of their most important rights: EDUCATION.
The denial of this right was not an accident of history, but a deliberate attack on the dignity of our people by successive apartheid governments. It is against this attack on our dignity that we have triumphed. And contrary to some sections of the media who thrive on bad news, we have every reason to celebrate this great achievement.
I was particularly pleased to learn that this school in the past produced such important individuals as Professor Sibusiso Nyembezi - a great writer and cultural activist, Dr S Gule - a well known community medical doctor, and Mr NW Soni - an educationist who served the community with great dedication for a long time. I am sure there are other former students of the former Machibisa Primary School who are unsung heroes and heroines, quietly serving their country and their people. To these heroes and heroines, I say 'salute' for your contribution to the transformation and development of our country.
At this point, let me acknowledge the contribution of the Machibisa Methodist Church, without whom education for many generations, who lived in this area, would have remained a distant dream. I want to particularly thank Reverend Nsimbi and Mr Vincent Moloi, who I am told, were instrumental in allowing the school to continue with its functions on the church premises after the then KwaZulu 'homeland' had taken over responsibility for the school. I also wish to thank many activists from various community organisations who played a crucial role in supporting the school during difficult times, and gave the children hope that one day they would learn under safe and pleasant conditions.
The building of this school serves as a demonstration of my Ministry's seriousness and commitment to answering President Mbeki's call to ensure that no learners learn under trees. The President, in his State of the Nation Address in 2003, said that we must ensure that enough classrooms are built in the shortest possible time to ensure that no student has to learn under trees or in the open air.
We are determined to provide enough classrooms and basic furniture, equipment and learning materials to all our schools. As some of you might know, KwaZulu-Natal is the province with the largest backlog in the building of classrooms.
The Government is addressing this matter vigorously. In this regard, since 1994 we have built thousands of classrooms and hundreds of schools for our children, especially those in poverty-stricken areas. We have supplied water, electricity and toilets for many schools across the length and breadth of our country.
The opening of this school will not only ensure that the children of Machibisa learn in a decent environment, but will also contribute to the alleviation of poverty in this area, which is one of our main priorities as Government.
The Government built this school as part of the Thuba Makote project, a poverty relief programme that seeks to develop an approach to schools as centres for community development. This approach is informed by one of our Tirisano programmes, namely to make schools centres of community life. We want to ensure that schools built under the Thuba Makote project would not only provide good education for children, but also cater for community needs and development.
In the past year, we have built nine similar schools, one in each province, as a pilot project. So the community of Machibisa is fortunate that it was selected to lead the way in KwaZulu-Natal.
The manner in which Thuba Makote schools have been built is different to the way in which other schools were built in the past. In building this school, local people were trained in various skills. Thirty (30) local people were trained and employed in the construction of the school. A further 34 people were trained in school maintenance and management and will be used for ongoing maintenance and management of the school. A further 18 people were trained in vocational skills. This is community empowerment in action.
The school also has one of the most important components - a school garden! This is a great development for this community. I would to urge you to give attention to the garden and ensure that it is sustainable and produces good vegetables for the children.
What I like about a school garden is that the teachers and other members of the community will be able to provide the children with a hot meal when they come to school. We should not only rely on bread and peanut butter. The garden will provide the children with the necessary vitamins and a balanced diet they need in order to be healthy and to concentrate on their schoolwork. The garden will also provide an opportunity to generate income for the school and the community.
I have seen how well school gardens work if they are managed well. I visited a school in Atteridgeville, Banareng Primary School, where the principal, Mrs Sethole, started school gardens out of her own initiative. Last year, at the National Teaching Awards, Mrs Sethole was awarded the Lifetime Award for her dedication to education and her spirit of Vuk'uzenzele.
I am very pleased that 16 local people have been trained in Agriculture and will be able to promote gardening initiatives in the surrounding communities and schools. Every school should have a school garden, and I hope the 16 people will make this dream a reality in the whole of Edendale, not only in Machibisa.
It is also pleasing to know that the school, as a centre for community development, will cater for children affected by HIV/AIDS. To this end, I am pleased to announce that 25 people are currently receiving training in general healthcare and the care of people affected by HIV/AIDS.
My Department acknowledges that this initiative is not enough to completely eradicate poverty among our people and to provide proper infrastructure to educate our children. We still have a lot of work to do. What we have done here in Machibisa is a demonstration of our commitment to tackle social problems. We shall continue in this course, without tiring, until we fulfil our mandate of creating a better life for all our people, not just for a privileged few.
As we are gathered here today, we are reaping the fruits of our hard-earned democracy, hard work, dedication and patience. In many ways than one, today's hand-over is a pledge redeemed, a promise fulfilled, a dream come true, and indeed a mission accomplished for the community of Machibisa.
I want to commend the people of Machibisa for their patience as we engaged in efforts aimed at finding a solution to their educational and social problems. You did not join those who whinge at everything and anything. Your patience and confidence in your Government has paid off.
In his State of the Nation address last year, President Mbeki said:
"The lives of South Africans are changing for the better; the tide has turned."
This is certainly true for the community of Machibisa.
The hand-over of this school could not have come at a more appropriate time than 2004 - a year in which we celebrate ten years of our freedom. As I said earlier, the people, and especially the children and teachers, of Machibisa have every reason to celebrate today. Our freedom came about as a result of the resilience, courage, bravery and commitment of our people. Many of our people were so committed to our liberation that they were prepared to risk everything they had, including their lives.
At this point I would like to quote from the famous speech delivered by former President, Nelson Mandela, from the witness stand in 1964:
"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
In many ways this quotation suitably describes the determination of Comrade Muzi Thusi, also affectionately known as "Son of Man", after whom this school has been renamed.
I also wish to pay tribute to all heroes and heroines who came from Pietermaritzburg and fought for the freedom, which we proudly celebrate today. Many such heroes and heroines come to mind. They include Moses Mabhida, Harry Gwala, Selby Msimang, Harriet Colenso, DCO Matiwane, Hoosen Haffejee, Archie Gumede, SB Mungal, Alan Paton, Bessie Head, AS Chetty, Gladys Manzi, Peter Kerchoff, Jabu Ndlovu, Reggie Hadebe, and Skhumbuzo Ngwenya.
We have heard from the Mayor, Councillor Zondi, who Muzi Thusi was, and what he stood for. I want to congratulate the community of Machibisa for deciding to rename Machibisa Primary School after Muzi Thusi. It is indeed a fitting tribute and recognition for the Son of Man, who lost his life for us to be free.
It is now my honour and privilege to officially declare that henceforth this school shall be called the Muzi Thusi Primary School.
I would like to thank Muzi Thusi's widow, Jabu, and her children for allowing us to name this school after their selfless husband and father. The community of Machibisa shall forever be indebted to your family for your sacrifice and generosity.
To the community of Machibisa, teachers and children of Muzi Thusi Primary School, I urge you to cherish this school as a community resource. Naming a school after a person like Muzi Thusi comes with the responsibility that his name continues to be associated with what is good.
I call upon the community to invest its time and efforts in ensuring that Muzi Thusi Primary School is free from crime and vandalism; that drugs are not allowed on its premises; that the grounds, furniture, textbooks and equipment are looked after; that the operation and ethos of the school reflects our constitutional values; that the achievement of its learners continue to improve; that the behaviour of its staff is exemplary; and that the country can share the pride of this community in its school and the education it instils.
I was saddened to learn that two weeks ago, a 17-year-old girl was murdered and possibly raped and her lifeless body dumped just outside the gate of the school. May I request that we stand up and observe a moment of silence in honour of this young girl, Nonyaniso Sigonyela, a student at Mthethomusha Primary School. May her soul rest in peace.
I want to add my voice to the other voices that have spoken about these despicable acts of violence, particularly against women and children. We shall not tolerate these barbaric acts, which not only dehumanise us as a people, but also fly in the face of our hard-earned democracy and Constitutional rights. They undermine the hard work and the sacrifice that people like Comrade Muzi Thusi made. We deplore such deeds, and the full might of the law should take its course against the perpetrators. I commend the people of this area who, as I have learned, were instrumental in the arrest of the alleged killers.
To the parents and community, I have to emphasise that your involvement in school activities is critical in bringing about improvements in the quality of education in your school. It is important particularly for parents to play a role in the running of the school. Too often we find situations where parents have little or no idea of what goes on in the schools their children attend.
Nations, communities and families decide what they want to be, through the education that they provide to their children. In our ten years of democracy, you need not be rich for your child to get a good education. What it really takes is commitment, determination and sacrifice from all concerned. The children we see here are the future scientists, engineers, economists, accountants, historians, technicians and leaders of this country. If we deny them opportunities to become the best they can, we are denying ourselves the chance to become one of the leading nations of the world.
I urge the community of Machibisa to assist us as a nation to prepare our young people for the kind of society we want to become. Young people must learn to be responsible members of society through what they are taught at school and through their experience of education. We must ensure that our education teaches positive values to our children, such as respect, ubuntu, accountability, respect for the rule of law and democracy.
In order to protect our hard fought democracy, I take this opportunity to urge those of you who are eighteen years and above who have not already done so, to go out in your numbers to register as voters this coming weekend, on 24 and 25 January. If you are not yet eighteen, but will be eighteen by April, you should also register to vote. Actually you can also register as a voter at age 16, even though you would not be able to vote in this year's election.
Finally, I am very pleased to hand the Muzi Thusi Primary School over to the community of Machibisa, under the management and leadership of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and Culture. I now declare the school officially opened.
I thank you
Ngiyabonga kakhulu
Issued by: Department of Education
19 January 2004
Source: Department of Education
Title: Asmal: Official handover of Muzi Thusi Primary School, Pietermaritzburg
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING AND HANDOVER OF THE MUZI THUSI PRIMARY SCHOOL, MACHIBISA, PIETERMARITZBURG, 19 January 2004
His worship, Mayor of Umsunduzi Municipality, Councillor Hloni Zondi,
The Superintendent-General of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and Culture, Professor Charles Dlamini,
Members of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature,
Chairperson of the School Governing Body,
The acting principal and staff,
Parents and members of the community,
Boys and girls,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good morning. Sanibonani. Ngiyanibingelela nonke.
Ngiyajabula ukuba nani namhlanje. Ngiyazi ukuthi usuku olukhulu kini nonke lolu. Usuku lwenjabulo emphakathini wakwaMachibisa naseMgungundlovu. Ngize lapha ukuzojabula nani.
Abanye benu bayazi ukuthi angikwazi ukukhuluma IsiZulu. Noma kunjalo, ngisithanda kakhulu IsiZulu, njengoba ngithanda zonke izilimi zaseNingizimu Afrika. Yingakho ngizokhuluma ngesiNgisi manje.
I stand here before you today to celebrate with you the triumph of the human spirit over the claws of poverty and deprivation. For far too long, the community, especially the children, of Machibisa have been deprived of their birth right to basic and hygienic infrastructure in which to receive one of their most important rights: EDUCATION.
The denial of this right was not an accident of history, but a deliberate attack on the dignity of our people by successive apartheid governments. It is against this attack on our dignity that we have triumphed. And contrary to some sections of the media who thrive on bad news, we have every reason to celebrate this great achievement.
I was particularly pleased to learn that this school in the past produced such important individuals as Professor Sibusiso Nyembezi - a great writer and cultural activist, Dr S Gule - a well known community medical doctor, and Mr NW Soni - an educationist who served the community with great dedication for a long time. I am sure there are other former students of the former Machibisa Primary School who are unsung heroes and heroines, quietly serving their country and their people. To these heroes and heroines, I say 'salute' for your contribution to the transformation and development of our country.
At this point, let me acknowledge the contribution of the Machibisa Methodist Church, without whom education for many generations, who lived in this area, would have remained a distant dream. I want to particularly thank Reverend Nsimbi and Mr Vincent Moloi, who I am told, were instrumental in allowing the school to continue with its functions on the church premises after the then KwaZulu 'homeland' had taken over responsibility for the school. I also wish to thank many activists from various community organisations who played a crucial role in supporting the school during difficult times, and gave the children hope that one day they would learn under safe and pleasant conditions.
The building of this school serves as a demonstration of my Ministry's seriousness and commitment to answering President Mbeki's call to ensure that no learners learn under trees. The President, in his State of the Nation Address in 2003, said that we must ensure that enough classrooms are built in the shortest possible time to ensure that no student has to learn under trees or in the open air.
We are determined to provide enough classrooms and basic furniture, equipment and learning materials to all our schools. As some of you might know, KwaZulu-Natal is the province with the largest backlog in the building of classrooms.
The Government is addressing this matter vigorously. In this regard, since 1994 we have built thousands of classrooms and hundreds of schools for our children, especially those in poverty-stricken areas. We have supplied water, electricity and toilets for many schools across the length and breadth of our country.
The opening of this school will not only ensure that the children of Machibisa learn in a decent environment, but will also contribute to the alleviation of poverty in this area, which is one of our main priorities as Government.
The Government built this school as part of the Thuba Makote project, a poverty relief programme that seeks to develop an approach to schools as centres for community development. This approach is informed by one of our Tirisano programmes, namely to make schools centres of community life. We want to ensure that schools built under the Thuba Makote project would not only provide good education for children, but also cater for community needs and development.
In the past year, we have built nine similar schools, one in each province, as a pilot project. So the community of Machibisa is fortunate that it was selected to lead the way in KwaZulu-Natal.
The manner in which Thuba Makote schools have been built is different to the way in which other schools were built in the past. In building this school, local people were trained in various skills. Thirty (30) local people were trained and employed in the construction of the school. A further 34 people were trained in school maintenance and management and will be used for ongoing maintenance and management of the school. A further 18 people were trained in vocational skills. This is community empowerment in action.
The school also has one of the most important components - a school garden! This is a great development for this community. I would to urge you to give attention to the garden and ensure that it is sustainable and produces good vegetables for the children.
What I like about a school garden is that the teachers and other members of the community will be able to provide the children with a hot meal when they come to school. We should not only rely on bread and peanut butter. The garden will provide the children with the necessary vitamins and a balanced diet they need in order to be healthy and to concentrate on their schoolwork. The garden will also provide an opportunity to generate income for the school and the community.
I have seen how well school gardens work if they are managed well. I visited a school in Atteridgeville, Banareng Primary School, where the principal, Mrs Sethole, started school gardens out of her own initiative. Last year, at the National Teaching Awards, Mrs Sethole was awarded the Lifetime Award for her dedication to education and her spirit of Vuk'uzenzele.
I am very pleased that 16 local people have been trained in Agriculture and will be able to promote gardening initiatives in the surrounding communities and schools. Every school should have a school garden, and I hope the 16 people will make this dream a reality in the whole of Edendale, not only in Machibisa.
It is also pleasing to know that the school, as a centre for community development, will cater for children affected by HIV/AIDS. To this end, I am pleased to announce that 25 people are currently receiving training in general healthcare and the care of people affected by HIV/AIDS.
My Department acknowledges that this initiative is not enough to completely eradicate poverty among our people and to provide proper infrastructure to educate our children. We still have a lot of work to do. What we have done here in Machibisa is a demonstration of our commitment to tackle social problems. We shall continue in this course, without tiring, until we fulfil our mandate of creating a better life for all our people, not just for a privileged few.
As we are gathered here today, we are reaping the fruits of our hard-earned democracy, hard work, dedication and patience. In many ways than one, today's hand-over is a pledge redeemed, a promise fulfilled, a dream come true, and indeed a mission accomplished for the community of Machibisa.
I want to commend the people of Machibisa for their patience as we engaged in efforts aimed at finding a solution to their educational and social problems. You did not join those who whinge at everything and anything. Your patience and confidence in your Government has paid off.
In his State of the Nation address last year, President Mbeki said:
"The lives of South Africans are changing for the better; the tide has turned."
This is certainly true for the community of Machibisa.
The hand-over of this school could not have come at a more appropriate time than 2004 - a year in which we celebrate ten years of our freedom. As I said earlier, the people, and especially the children and teachers, of Machibisa have every reason to celebrate today. Our freedom came about as a result of the resilience, courage, bravery and commitment of our people. Many of our people were so committed to our liberation that they were prepared to risk everything they had, including their lives.
At this point I would like to quote from the famous speech delivered by former President, Nelson Mandela, from the witness stand in 1964:
"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
In many ways this quotation suitably describes the determination of Comrade Muzi Thusi, also affectionately known as "Son of Man", after whom this school has been renamed.
I also wish to pay tribute to all heroes and heroines who came from Pietermaritzburg and fought for the freedom, which we proudly celebrate today. Many such heroes and heroines come to mind. They include Moses Mabhida, Harry Gwala, Selby Msimang, Harriet Colenso, DCO Matiwane, Hoosen Haffejee, Archie Gumede, SB Mungal, Alan Paton, Bessie Head, AS Chetty, Gladys Manzi, Peter Kerchoff, Jabu Ndlovu, Reggie Hadebe, and Skhumbuzo Ngwenya.
We have heard from the Mayor, Councillor Zondi, who Muzi Thusi was, and what he stood for. I want to congratulate the community of Machibisa for deciding to rename Machibisa Primary School after Muzi Thusi. It is indeed a fitting tribute and recognition for the Son of Man, who lost his life for us to be free.
It is now my honour and privilege to officially declare that henceforth this school shall be called the Muzi Thusi Primary School.
I would like to thank Muzi Thusi's widow, Jabu, and her children for allowing us to name this school after their selfless husband and father. The community of Machibisa shall forever be indebted to your family for your sacrifice and generosity.
To the community of Machibisa, teachers and children of Muzi Thusi Primary School, I urge you to cherish this school as a community resource. Naming a school after a person like Muzi Thusi comes with the responsibility that his name continues to be associated with what is good.
I call upon the community to invest its time and efforts in ensuring that Muzi Thusi Primary School is free from crime and vandalism; that drugs are not allowed on its premises; that the grounds, furniture, textbooks and equipment are looked after; that the operation and ethos of the school reflects our constitutional values; that the achievement of its learners continue to improve; that the behaviour of its staff is exemplary; and that the country can share the pride of this community in its school and the education it instils.
I was saddened to learn that two weeks ago, a 17-year-old girl was murdered and possibly raped and her lifeless body dumped just outside the gate of the school. May I request that we stand up and observe a moment of silence in honour of this young girl, Nonyaniso Sigonyela, a student at Mthethomusha Primary School. May her soul rest in peace.
I want to add my voice to the other voices that have spoken about these despicable acts of violence, particularly against women and children. We shall not tolerate these barbaric acts, which not only dehumanise us as a people, but also fly in the face of our hard-earned democracy and Constitutional rights. They undermine the hard work and the sacrifice that people like Comrade Muzi Thusi made. We deplore such deeds, and the full might of the law should take its course against the perpetrators. I commend the people of this area who, as I have learned, were instrumental in the arrest of the alleged killers.
To the parents and community, I have to emphasise that your involvement in school activities is critical in bringing about improvements in the quality of education in your school. It is important particularly for parents to play a role in the running of the school. Too often we find situations where parents have little or no idea of what goes on in the schools their children attend.
Nations, communities and families decide what they want to be, through the education that they provide to their children. In our ten years of democracy, you need not be rich for your child to get a good education. What it really takes is commitment, determination and sacrifice from all concerned. The children we see here are the future scientists, engineers, economists, accountants, historians, technicians and leaders of this country. If we deny them opportunities to become the best they can, we are denying ourselves the chance to become one of the leading nations of the world.
I urge the community of Machibisa to assist us as a nation to prepare our young people for the kind of society we want to become. Young people must learn to be responsible members of society through what they are taught at school and through their experience of education. We must ensure that our education teaches positive values to our children, such as respect, ubuntu, accountability, respect for the rule of law and democracy.
In order to protect our hard fought democracy, I take this opportunity to urge those of you who are eighteen years and above who have not already done so, to go out in your numbers to register as voters this coming weekend, on 24 and 25 January. If you are not yet eighteen, but will be eighteen by April, you should also register to vote. Actually you can also register as a voter at age 16, even though you would not be able to vote in this year's election.
Finally, I am very pleased to hand the Muzi Thusi Primary School over to the community of Machibisa, under the management and leadership of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and Culture. I now declare the school officially opened.
I thank you
Ngiyabonga kakhulu
Issued by: Department of Education
19 January 2004
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