Date: 03/12/2003
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Title: Mahlangu: Opening of KwaMhlanga testing station
PREMIER NJ MAHLANGU'S REMARKS AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE KWAMHLANGA TESTING STATION, KwaMhlanga, Thursday, 3 December 2003
Programme Director
Transport Minister Dullah Omar
MEC Mohamed Bhabha and members of the Provincial Executive Council
His Worship Executive Mayor of Nkangala District Council, Councillor SPD Skhosana
His Worship the Mayor of Thembisile, Councillor Mngomezulu
Members of the religious and business community
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
Mine is an easy task. To introduce to you a person who is well known to all of you. You have seen him at African National Congress and government rallies - Seen him on television. Most of you know him as a no-nonsense leader. As we welcome this great man, we must be reminded of why we are here today. You will remember that a few years ago we closed down this place because of massive corruption.
I am glad to hear that all those negative things are now relegated to the past. This place, I am told, will now be a pace for vehicle registrations, issuing and renewal of vehicle licences, testing for drivers' licences, issuing of roadworthy certificates, payment of traffic fines and issuing of police clearance certificates. They will do that in an honest and transparent manner, I am told.
That is good and let me encourage all who worked hard to ensure that things turn around. But we must ensure that we continue to display zero-tolerance to fraud and corruption not only at the KwaMhlanga Testing Station but also at all others in the province. This centre must be a place where learner drivers are tested and issued with licenses when successful. All this must take place with due regard to the regulations and stipulations laid down in the law of this country and province.
No short cuts. No testing of one's eyesight while one is on holiday somewhere in Durban. No licences through the post. We know that in the past people would get a license without ever having been anywhere near a testing station. There are many who have licenses but have never been behind a steering wheel. We will not tolerate that.
Let me also warn users in this province. We will continue clamping down on bad driving and unroadworthy vehicles. The high fatalities on the road can no longer be tolerated. Traffic officials will continue checking faulty brakes, self-made steering wheels, "tshiskop" tyres and broken lights. In fact unless your vehicle is really worthy of being called roadworthy, you will regret why you ever travelled on our roads.
We can no longer allow the unnecessary loss of life on our roads. On our part we will ensure that we improve our road markings. Let me get back to the business at hand, introducing the guest speaker at this occasion. As we celebrate this occasion let us remember our guest's immense contribution towards building a new South African nation. He has shown us that dedication; steadfastness and selflessness are attributes that make a great leader and that these attributes make a great nation.
The person who is going to address you today continue to display this dedication on a daily basis. Something else you need to know is that he is passionate about pushing back the frontiers of poverty and under-development. And in so doing help construct a people-centred and caring society. From an early age the man I am about to present to you searched for and found the causes of the dehumanisation of our people.
He is constantly striving to construct that people-centred society of freedom in such a manner that it guarantees the political and the human rights of all our citizens. Born on 26 May 1934 he matriculated at Trafalgar High School in Cape Town before proceeding to the University of Cape Town where he graduated with a BA and an LLB degree. He was admitted as an attorney in 1960 and as an advocate in 1982.
During practice both as an attorney and advocate, he served disadvantaged communities, involving civil and criminal defence work and handling housing, pass laws, labour and work related cases. He was a defence lawyer for numerous prisoners serving sentences on Robben Island and elsewhere. He also served as legal representative to a number of trade unions as well as civic and religious organisations.
In the 70s and the 80s he defended a number of comrades in political trials. Most of these comrades were charged with "crimes" ranging from sabotage, treason and furthering the aims of a banned organisation. From 1994 to 1999 he served as Justice Minister in the first democratic government. He has the honour of having being the first minister to be appointed Acting President in the absence of both the president and the Deputy President.
He is a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC). He has served his people in various capacities including as a National Vice-President and Regional President of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL). He was also Chairperson and Vice-President of the United Democratic Front.
He was trustee of the South African Legal Defence Fund, Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of South Africa and was Director of the Community Law Centre at the University of the Western Cape until his appointment as Minister of Justice. The comrade was also a member of the constitutional committee of the legal department of the ANC and was a member of the ANC negotiating team in all negotiations, which led to the constitutional and political settlement of South Africa.
He has won various awards and decorations. He holds two honorary Doctorates of Law from the University of Fort Hare and the University of Durban Westville. Has also been honoured with awards in the United States, Chile and Germany for his contribution to the struggle for human rights in South Africa.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you the Transport Minister of the Republic of South Africa, Comrade Dullah Omar.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
3 December 2003
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Title: Mahlangu: Opening of KwaMhlanga testing station
PREMIER NJ MAHLANGU'S REMARKS AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE KWAMHLANGA TESTING STATION, KwaMhlanga, Thursday, 3 December 2003
Programme Director
Transport Minister Dullah Omar
MEC Mohamed Bhabha and members of the Provincial Executive Council
His Worship Executive Mayor of Nkangala District Council, Councillor SPD Skhosana
His Worship the Mayor of Thembisile, Councillor Mngomezulu
Members of the religious and business community
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
Mine is an easy task. To introduce to you a person who is well known to all of you. You have seen him at African National Congress and government rallies - Seen him on television. Most of you know him as a no-nonsense leader. As we welcome this great man, we must be reminded of why we are here today. You will remember that a few years ago we closed down this place because of massive corruption.
I am glad to hear that all those negative things are now relegated to the past. This place, I am told, will now be a pace for vehicle registrations, issuing and renewal of vehicle licences, testing for drivers' licences, issuing of roadworthy certificates, payment of traffic fines and issuing of police clearance certificates. They will do that in an honest and transparent manner, I am told.
That is good and let me encourage all who worked hard to ensure that things turn around. But we must ensure that we continue to display zero-tolerance to fraud and corruption not only at the KwaMhlanga Testing Station but also at all others in the province. This centre must be a place where learner drivers are tested and issued with licenses when successful. All this must take place with due regard to the regulations and stipulations laid down in the law of this country and province.
No short cuts. No testing of one's eyesight while one is on holiday somewhere in Durban. No licences through the post. We know that in the past people would get a license without ever having been anywhere near a testing station. There are many who have licenses but have never been behind a steering wheel. We will not tolerate that.
Let me also warn users in this province. We will continue clamping down on bad driving and unroadworthy vehicles. The high fatalities on the road can no longer be tolerated. Traffic officials will continue checking faulty brakes, self-made steering wheels, "tshiskop" tyres and broken lights. In fact unless your vehicle is really worthy of being called roadworthy, you will regret why you ever travelled on our roads.
We can no longer allow the unnecessary loss of life on our roads. On our part we will ensure that we improve our road markings. Let me get back to the business at hand, introducing the guest speaker at this occasion. As we celebrate this occasion let us remember our guest's immense contribution towards building a new South African nation. He has shown us that dedication; steadfastness and selflessness are attributes that make a great leader and that these attributes make a great nation.
The person who is going to address you today continue to display this dedication on a daily basis. Something else you need to know is that he is passionate about pushing back the frontiers of poverty and under-development. And in so doing help construct a people-centred and caring society. From an early age the man I am about to present to you searched for and found the causes of the dehumanisation of our people.
He is constantly striving to construct that people-centred society of freedom in such a manner that it guarantees the political and the human rights of all our citizens. Born on 26 May 1934 he matriculated at Trafalgar High School in Cape Town before proceeding to the University of Cape Town where he graduated with a BA and an LLB degree. He was admitted as an attorney in 1960 and as an advocate in 1982.
During practice both as an attorney and advocate, he served disadvantaged communities, involving civil and criminal defence work and handling housing, pass laws, labour and work related cases. He was a defence lawyer for numerous prisoners serving sentences on Robben Island and elsewhere. He also served as legal representative to a number of trade unions as well as civic and religious organisations.
In the 70s and the 80s he defended a number of comrades in political trials. Most of these comrades were charged with "crimes" ranging from sabotage, treason and furthering the aims of a banned organisation. From 1994 to 1999 he served as Justice Minister in the first democratic government. He has the honour of having being the first minister to be appointed Acting President in the absence of both the president and the Deputy President.
He is a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC). He has served his people in various capacities including as a National Vice-President and Regional President of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL). He was also Chairperson and Vice-President of the United Democratic Front.
He was trustee of the South African Legal Defence Fund, Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of South Africa and was Director of the Community Law Centre at the University of the Western Cape until his appointment as Minister of Justice. The comrade was also a member of the constitutional committee of the legal department of the ANC and was a member of the ANC negotiating team in all negotiations, which led to the constitutional and political settlement of South Africa.
He has won various awards and decorations. He holds two honorary Doctorates of Law from the University of Fort Hare and the University of Durban Westville. Has also been honoured with awards in the United States, Chile and Germany for his contribution to the struggle for human rights in South Africa.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you the Transport Minister of the Republic of South Africa, Comrade Dullah Omar.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
3 December 2003
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