Date: 13/08/2003
Source: Ministry of Communications
Title: Matsepe-Casaburri: Memorial service in honour of Sello Matsabu
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, DR IVY MATSEPE-CASABURRI, AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE IN HONOUR OF MR SELLO MATSABU, CSIR, 13 August 2003
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are here to pay tribute to a remarkable man, Sello Matsabu, who has been taken away from us in the prime of his life. Yet brief as his life was, for those of us who remember him, we must acknowledge that he has made his mark in shaping the direction that collectively we are taking as a country and as a nation and that he has left an indelible impression on all our lives.
Our thoughts are with Sello's family, especially with his mother and his wife, Mampiti, and his children, Lesedi and Tokolo, at this moment of grief. We are with you at this moment of loss and we hope that you find strength in the knowledge that Sello's life's work has made a difference for all of us, for the people of South Africa and of the rest of our continent.
I would like to share with you some lines from a poem by Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet, because I think that his words of tribute could also be said of the impact that Sello has had on our lives.
Neruda writes, in paying tribute to his country and people, that:
"You have given fraternity toward the unknown man
You have joined the strength of all the living
You have given me the country again as in a birth
You taught me to see the unity and the difference among mankind.
You made me build on reality as on a rock
You have made me see the world's clarity and the possibility of happiness
You have made me indestructible because with you I do not end in myself."
Sello Matsabu was a most humble and hardworking man, who has made us indestructible because he did not end in himself and "who built on reality as a rock". He "made us see the world's clarity and the possibility of happiness".
Indeed, he performed his duties with great dynamism and enthusiasm. He was passionate about his work and his life and this passion translated into him putting all his energies into creating a better quality of life for the people of South Africa and of the rest of the continent.
He was very accessible and always returned calls. As busy as he was and as engrossed in his work, he always had time to talk and to discuss matters and to do what had to be done, despite the heavy workload he already had.
He was a selfless person, who despite a thriving career in the United States, decided he would come back at the dawn of liberation to serve the country.
He returned highly qualified and intent on using his knowledge and skills to develop the country and especially the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
His life's work consisted of applying ICTs for developmental purposes and he committed himself to doing this for the African continent as a whole. Here at the CSIR, he saw his role as making ICOMTEK relevant to meet the needs of the country and the continent.
He worked closely with my Ministry and the Department of Communications. It was in this context that he agreed to host the NEPAD E-Africa Commission as the CSIR. In fact, not only did he make this offer, but he also became very involved in NEPAD ICT projects. He himself was a commissioner on the E-Africa Commission and through his ICOMTEK division supporting, amongst others, the NEPAD e-schools initiative, which has the ambitious vision of connecting all African schools within ten years. If it materializes as planned, this will be the largest network in the world.
He was also involved in discussions related to space communications and the CSIR began to play a role in developing the space communications industry in Africa.
He played a critical role in the E-strategy initiated by my Department.
I included him in government delegations abroad because of the strength of his intellect and the commitment he demonstrated to furthering Africa's renewal in the world.
The last task I gave him was as Chair of the Selection Panel for the Domain Name Authority, a task he performed with great care and concern and with an eagerness to ensure that we would arrive at a body of people who would be truly representative of the country, who understood the demands to be put on them and would have the technical expertise necessary to do their work.
Above all, the vision that Sello Matsabu had in respect of NEPAD stands out and it must be said that he has made an outstanding contribution to advancing African development. We have a responsibility to see that we carry forward this work, from where he has left off.
This is the vision I know that Dr Sibisi, the CSIR President, embraces for the CSIR. As a former CSIR board member, I have a special bond with the CSIR and I have no doubt that we will rise up to the challenges and the expectations not only of this country but also of the entire African continent.
As we pay tribute to Sello, let us pledge ourselves to working harder to bring about the sustained progress of the African people and to do so with the passion that Sello had and the energy he put into confronting the challenges that lay ahead and in bridging the divide between the developed and underdeveloped worlds.
Let us continue his good work and be true to the memory of Sello Matsabu.
Thank you.
For further details please contact: Lisa Combrinck @ 012 427 8292 or 082 821 4886, or Jerry Majatladi @ 012 427 8017 or 082 889 3381
Issued by Ministry of Communications
13 August 2003
Source: Ministry of Communications
Title: Matsepe-Casaburri: Memorial service in honour of Sello Matsabu
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, DR IVY MATSEPE-CASABURRI, AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE IN HONOUR OF MR SELLO MATSABU, CSIR, 13 August 2003
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are here to pay tribute to a remarkable man, Sello Matsabu, who has been taken away from us in the prime of his life. Yet brief as his life was, for those of us who remember him, we must acknowledge that he has made his mark in shaping the direction that collectively we are taking as a country and as a nation and that he has left an indelible impression on all our lives.
Our thoughts are with Sello's family, especially with his mother and his wife, Mampiti, and his children, Lesedi and Tokolo, at this moment of grief. We are with you at this moment of loss and we hope that you find strength in the knowledge that Sello's life's work has made a difference for all of us, for the people of South Africa and of the rest of our continent.
I would like to share with you some lines from a poem by Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet, because I think that his words of tribute could also be said of the impact that Sello has had on our lives.
Neruda writes, in paying tribute to his country and people, that:
"You have given fraternity toward the unknown man
You have joined the strength of all the living
You have given me the country again as in a birth
You taught me to see the unity and the difference among mankind.
You made me build on reality as on a rock
You have made me see the world's clarity and the possibility of happiness
You have made me indestructible because with you I do not end in myself."
Sello Matsabu was a most humble and hardworking man, who has made us indestructible because he did not end in himself and "who built on reality as a rock". He "made us see the world's clarity and the possibility of happiness".
Indeed, he performed his duties with great dynamism and enthusiasm. He was passionate about his work and his life and this passion translated into him putting all his energies into creating a better quality of life for the people of South Africa and of the rest of the continent.
He was very accessible and always returned calls. As busy as he was and as engrossed in his work, he always had time to talk and to discuss matters and to do what had to be done, despite the heavy workload he already had.
He was a selfless person, who despite a thriving career in the United States, decided he would come back at the dawn of liberation to serve the country.
He returned highly qualified and intent on using his knowledge and skills to develop the country and especially the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
His life's work consisted of applying ICTs for developmental purposes and he committed himself to doing this for the African continent as a whole. Here at the CSIR, he saw his role as making ICOMTEK relevant to meet the needs of the country and the continent.
He worked closely with my Ministry and the Department of Communications. It was in this context that he agreed to host the NEPAD E-Africa Commission as the CSIR. In fact, not only did he make this offer, but he also became very involved in NEPAD ICT projects. He himself was a commissioner on the E-Africa Commission and through his ICOMTEK division supporting, amongst others, the NEPAD e-schools initiative, which has the ambitious vision of connecting all African schools within ten years. If it materializes as planned, this will be the largest network in the world.
He was also involved in discussions related to space communications and the CSIR began to play a role in developing the space communications industry in Africa.
He played a critical role in the E-strategy initiated by my Department.
I included him in government delegations abroad because of the strength of his intellect and the commitment he demonstrated to furthering Africa's renewal in the world.
The last task I gave him was as Chair of the Selection Panel for the Domain Name Authority, a task he performed with great care and concern and with an eagerness to ensure that we would arrive at a body of people who would be truly representative of the country, who understood the demands to be put on them and would have the technical expertise necessary to do their work.
Above all, the vision that Sello Matsabu had in respect of NEPAD stands out and it must be said that he has made an outstanding contribution to advancing African development. We have a responsibility to see that we carry forward this work, from where he has left off.
This is the vision I know that Dr Sibisi, the CSIR President, embraces for the CSIR. As a former CSIR board member, I have a special bond with the CSIR and I have no doubt that we will rise up to the challenges and the expectations not only of this country but also of the entire African continent.
As we pay tribute to Sello, let us pledge ourselves to working harder to bring about the sustained progress of the African people and to do so with the passion that Sello had and the energy he put into confronting the challenges that lay ahead and in bridging the divide between the developed and underdeveloped worlds.
Let us continue his good work and be true to the memory of Sello Matsabu.
Thank you.
For further details please contact: Lisa Combrinck @ 012 427 8292 or 082 821 4886, or Jerry Majatladi @ 012 427 8017 or 082 889 3381
Issued by Ministry of Communications
13 August 2003
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