Date: 19/09/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Launch of the Eastern Cape Moral Regeneration Movement
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA TO THE LAUNCH OF THE MORAL REGENERATION MOVEMENT, Bisho, 19 September 2003
Honourable Premier,
MEC Gugile Nkwinti and the leadership of the MRM in the province,
MECs, Mayors and representatives of government at all levels,
Distinguished guests,
Thank you for hosting me in this beautiful province.
The result of a long and arduous process of building a provincial structure has been completed, and we are pleased to be here today to launch the Eastern Cape Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM). The launch is a significant development.
When the MRM was launched in Pretoria on 18 April 2002, it was emphasized that the campaign should be rooted in the provinces and metros, municipalities, districts, villages, townships and every local area, to ensure effective implementation.
The Eastern Cape is demonstrating its seriousness about this programme today. This is not surprising given the well-known commitment of the provincial leadership, particularly the Premier of this Province, the Reverend Stofile, to the moral regeneration campaign.
It is remarkable how the momentum has not been lost following the national launch of the MRM in April last year.
The activities that have taken place throughout the country are an indication of the seriousness with which our people regard the need to entrench positive values among our communities.
We have said so before and reiterate that South Africans have high moral values.
The manner in which the majority of the people of this country fought against apartheid, an immoral system of governance, over many decades, is a powerful indicator of their commitment to high moral values as well as the high regard to the right to human dignity and all other human rights.
In addition, the focus on reconciliation during the process of transition, including multiparty negotiations as well as in building the Government of National Unity, was another indicator of the moral character of the South African nation.
It is therefore not surprising that the Moral Regeneration Movement has been embraced wholeheartedly by people in all provinces and many structures within our country. It is a powerful tool that will help us to build a nation that respects the values that are enshrined our Constitution.
Brothers and sisters, I would like to make an earnest appeal to all that we must spread the message that moral renewal is the responsibility of every South African, not just the leadership of the Moral Regeneration Movement, or the leadership in government or civil society.
Every South African must be a moral regeneration agent. Proceeding from the ground that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides a framework for the realisation of the country's moral values, all South Africans need to play their part in the promotion of national morals and values.
In our communities, social clubs, sporting bodies, churches, at work and everywhere else, let us work conscientiously to spread the message of working for renewal. It is the right period to rededicate ourselves to this cause, this being Heritage Month.
Within government, we have seen the need to mainstream moral renewal and make it part of government programmes. As a result, many government departments are already doing a lot of good work in this regard.
Some of the programmes implemented by government include the promotion of a caring society, building stronger family structures, and encouraging respect and assistance for the vulnerable members of our society.
They also entail the rehabilitation programmes for prisoners, encouraging debate about the role that the broadcast media and advertising industry can play in building a new value system, as well as promoting and strengthening partnerships with communities in building safer neighbourhoods and the creation of firearm free zones.
Civil society structures including faith-based organisations also have many programmes in place, which should be supported and encouraged.
We must also acknowledge the initiatives being undertaken, such as the cleansing and healing ceremonies, which seek to symbolically repair the soul of the nation.
These will assist communities to come to terms with the legacy of the colonial and apartheid systems, Genocide, Slavery, Wars of Resistance and the struggles for liberation.
Three such ceremonies have been held already, here in the Eastern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces. We look forward to the culmination of this process with national events on the Day of Reconciliation, 16 December.
We also urge the Province to mobilise the people to participate in the campaign to draft a Moral Charter. The Charter will help us develop a common approach or a guide as to what type of moral communities we want to see in place and activities we need to engage in this regard.
Let us use Heritage Day as well as other upcoming events to promote events to promote this campaign in the province. Distinguished guests, you would have heard and read various media reports relating to an investigation that has been conducted by the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions against me.
It is appropriate for us to talk about this at this MRM launch, where we are gathered to rededicate ourselves to promoting all the positive values that we want to see holding our society together.
Our democracy has gone through many tests, this investigation being the latest. I believe that the investigation provided an opportunity for us appreciate the extent to which this government is prepared to go to promote good governance.
Within the Moral Regeneration Movement, of which government is a sector, we should welcome the fact that the investigation took place, and that nobody within government tried to stop it, including the Deputy President who was being investigated.
In some established democracies around the world, people holding high office are immune from investigations and prosecution. In our country, we are all equal before the law, which is something we should applaud.
The investigation should assure us that the principles underlying our democracy are firm, and that the moral character of our nation is still in tact.
Let us work together therefore to promote the values and moral fibre that has always held our communities together.
Brothers and sisters let me once again congratulate the Premier and the leadership of the MRM for the hard work undertaken thus far.
May this MRM structure generate many moral communities and entrench the values that we hold dear, as enshrined in our Constitution.
I wish you all the best.
I thank you.
Contact: Zanele Mngadi, 082 781 9332, 012 300 5200/5311, zanelem@po.gov.za
Issued by: The Presidency
19 September 2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Launch of the Eastern Cape Moral Regeneration Movement
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA TO THE LAUNCH OF THE MORAL REGENERATION MOVEMENT, Bisho, 19 September 2003
Honourable Premier,
MEC Gugile Nkwinti and the leadership of the MRM in the province,
MECs, Mayors and representatives of government at all levels,
Distinguished guests,
Thank you for hosting me in this beautiful province.
The result of a long and arduous process of building a provincial structure has been completed, and we are pleased to be here today to launch the Eastern Cape Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM). The launch is a significant development.
When the MRM was launched in Pretoria on 18 April 2002, it was emphasized that the campaign should be rooted in the provinces and metros, municipalities, districts, villages, townships and every local area, to ensure effective implementation.
The Eastern Cape is demonstrating its seriousness about this programme today. This is not surprising given the well-known commitment of the provincial leadership, particularly the Premier of this Province, the Reverend Stofile, to the moral regeneration campaign.
It is remarkable how the momentum has not been lost following the national launch of the MRM in April last year.
The activities that have taken place throughout the country are an indication of the seriousness with which our people regard the need to entrench positive values among our communities.
We have said so before and reiterate that South Africans have high moral values.
The manner in which the majority of the people of this country fought against apartheid, an immoral system of governance, over many decades, is a powerful indicator of their commitment to high moral values as well as the high regard to the right to human dignity and all other human rights.
In addition, the focus on reconciliation during the process of transition, including multiparty negotiations as well as in building the Government of National Unity, was another indicator of the moral character of the South African nation.
It is therefore not surprising that the Moral Regeneration Movement has been embraced wholeheartedly by people in all provinces and many structures within our country. It is a powerful tool that will help us to build a nation that respects the values that are enshrined our Constitution.
Brothers and sisters, I would like to make an earnest appeal to all that we must spread the message that moral renewal is the responsibility of every South African, not just the leadership of the Moral Regeneration Movement, or the leadership in government or civil society.
Every South African must be a moral regeneration agent. Proceeding from the ground that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides a framework for the realisation of the country's moral values, all South Africans need to play their part in the promotion of national morals and values.
In our communities, social clubs, sporting bodies, churches, at work and everywhere else, let us work conscientiously to spread the message of working for renewal. It is the right period to rededicate ourselves to this cause, this being Heritage Month.
Within government, we have seen the need to mainstream moral renewal and make it part of government programmes. As a result, many government departments are already doing a lot of good work in this regard.
Some of the programmes implemented by government include the promotion of a caring society, building stronger family structures, and encouraging respect and assistance for the vulnerable members of our society.
They also entail the rehabilitation programmes for prisoners, encouraging debate about the role that the broadcast media and advertising industry can play in building a new value system, as well as promoting and strengthening partnerships with communities in building safer neighbourhoods and the creation of firearm free zones.
Civil society structures including faith-based organisations also have many programmes in place, which should be supported and encouraged.
We must also acknowledge the initiatives being undertaken, such as the cleansing and healing ceremonies, which seek to symbolically repair the soul of the nation.
These will assist communities to come to terms with the legacy of the colonial and apartheid systems, Genocide, Slavery, Wars of Resistance and the struggles for liberation.
Three such ceremonies have been held already, here in the Eastern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces. We look forward to the culmination of this process with national events on the Day of Reconciliation, 16 December.
We also urge the Province to mobilise the people to participate in the campaign to draft a Moral Charter. The Charter will help us develop a common approach or a guide as to what type of moral communities we want to see in place and activities we need to engage in this regard.
Let us use Heritage Day as well as other upcoming events to promote events to promote this campaign in the province. Distinguished guests, you would have heard and read various media reports relating to an investigation that has been conducted by the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions against me.
It is appropriate for us to talk about this at this MRM launch, where we are gathered to rededicate ourselves to promoting all the positive values that we want to see holding our society together.
Our democracy has gone through many tests, this investigation being the latest. I believe that the investigation provided an opportunity for us appreciate the extent to which this government is prepared to go to promote good governance.
Within the Moral Regeneration Movement, of which government is a sector, we should welcome the fact that the investigation took place, and that nobody within government tried to stop it, including the Deputy President who was being investigated.
In some established democracies around the world, people holding high office are immune from investigations and prosecution. In our country, we are all equal before the law, which is something we should applaud.
The investigation should assure us that the principles underlying our democracy are firm, and that the moral character of our nation is still in tact.
Let us work together therefore to promote the values and moral fibre that has always held our communities together.
Brothers and sisters let me once again congratulate the Premier and the leadership of the MRM for the hard work undertaken thus far.
May this MRM structure generate many moral communities and entrench the values that we hold dear, as enshrined in our Constitution.
I wish you all the best.
I thank you.
Contact: Zanele Mngadi, 082 781 9332, 012 300 5200/5311, zanelem@po.gov.za
Issued by: The Presidency
19 September 2003
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