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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
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