Date: 03/04/2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: T Mbeki: Freedom of Oudtshoorn and opening of Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees


ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, THABO MBEKI, ON THE OCCASION OF THE CONFERMENT OF THE FREEDOM OF THE TOWN OF OUDTSHOORN AND THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE 10TH KLEIN KAROO NASIONALE KUNSTEFEES (KKNK), Oudtshoorn Sports Grounds, Oudtshoorn, 3 April 2004

Chairperson of the KKNK Board of Directors, David Piedt
Patrons of the KKNK, Ton Vosloo, Patrice Motsepe and Franklin Sonn
Executive Mayor, Alderman Lampies Lamprecht
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am truly grateful to be afforded the highest honour of your town, the Freedom of Oudtshoorn and humbly thank you for this accolade.

The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees is a symbol of our new democracy and our First Decade of Liberation. I warmly congratulate you on the tenth anniversary of your festival, which has, once again, restored international renown to the Ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn.

I am proud to be a freeman of the town of Oudtshoorn. It is where Andre Boezak's lyrical nostalgia for peace and good neighbourliness is testament to the good people of this glorious and heavenly ancient place, Klein Karoo.

In his poem, Ek ken 'n plek, Boezak writes:

Ek ken 'n plek van ruimte
waarheen ons twee kan gaan
waar mense nog hulself kan wees
en vir niemand terug te staan

Ek ken 'n plek van vrede
weg van die stadsgehyg
waar mense glo in kerkgaan
en dank tot God laat styg
ek ken 'n plek van vriendskap
weg van 'n kille stad
waar anties oor die heining skinder
met skollies op 'n winkelstoep
en ooms nog hoedsaam groot

Ek ken 'n plek van ooptes
wat ruimte maak vir os
vir al ons vele foute, ons hartseer
en ons pret

'n dor-dro? vlakkeland
wat liefhet sonder wees.

(From Oosthuizen, H. (ed.), Die Fontewn (Kannaland Produksies, Oudtshoorn: 1996)

Hilda Boshoff at the CP Nel Museum translates this poem as follows:

I know a place

I know a place of space
where both of us can go
where man can be himself
and be afraid of no one

I know of a place of peace
away from the city rat-race
where people still believe in going to church
and to thank God

I know a place of friendship
away from the cold city
where aunties gossip over the hedges
with skollies on the shop verandah
and uncles doff their hats in greeting

I know of a place which is open
which gives us all space
for all our many mistakes
and all our sorrows
and our fun

a dry flatland
which loves without fear.

The Klein Karoo, was once the ancient home of the KhoiSan, which was called Kannaland.

Kannaland, was always blessed with riches - an ancient people who lived in harmony with nature and its abundance; geological marvels such as the Cango Caves and indigenous flora and fauna which make the Klein Karoo a top international tourist destination; and creativity and imagination of ancient peoples whose magnificent art has survived for over thousands of years on the ancient rocks at Boomplaas Cave.

Today, in this 21st African century, we are witnessing another turning point - with a difference. Those who cross the same winding river over two dozen drifts and meander over the majestic Swartberg mountains and Meijeringspoort, are arriving at a new place once again.

Ancient Kannaland is once more free. Klein Karoo is now free. The people of Klein Karoo rejoice in their diversity as a united and free community. Ek is daarom baie trots om 'n nuwe Kannalander te wees!

This time in the Klein Karoo, we see a place where each and every citizen is treated with respect and human dignity. We see a place of peace where people have the freedom to choose and respect the languages they speak and the cultural traditions they practice.

I congratulate the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees on celebrating its tenth anniversary. It is a vindication of a South African dream of a renaissance of our rainbow nation and our continent.

It is a tangible symbol of the kind of society we want to build in South Africa - a people-centred society free from all forms of discrimination.

Indeed, this festival is a shining success story of a public-private partnership, which is exactly what we hope for when we commit ourselves to building a people's contract for a better life for all. Our goal can surely be realized if all of us join hands to build our vibrant nation together.

Nic Barrow's vision to create a world-class arts festival in the first year of our democracy is concrete proof that each and every one of us can imagine how we would like to build our town, Oudtshoorn, our province, Western Cape and our country, South Africa.

In this regard, I am confident that all of us will participate in the coming elections as part of our democratic process on how and who should run our country and transform it to serve all the citizens of South Africa.

When Nic Barrow brought a hundred people together in Oudtshoorn in January 1994, he had a vision to use art as a medium of uniting our people. Accordingly, the Festival is more than a celebration of the arts.

In the past decade, as we have evolved as a vibrant, multicultural nation, united in our diversity, the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival has truly lived up to its commitment as expressed in the Charter of this organisation, to be a "dynamic, innovative and creative festival for the visual and performing arts."

I am very pleased that the festival has brought outstanding dramatic and visual arts to the town of Oudtshoorn.

As a result, Oudtshoorn has seen a spectacular transformation of its economy. I am told that today, the festival is Oudtshoorn's third largest source of income after Ostrich farming and tourism, contributing millions of rands into the coffers of this town.

This is indeed a remarkable achievement in a span of a decade. I salute and congratulate the efforts of the festival organisers, the sponsors, the staff, and the volunteers who have done a sterling job.

I thank you, once again, most humbly for giving me the honour of the freedom of Oudtshoorn. I am truly delighted to open the tenth Klein Karoo National Arts Festival and wish you much success and may everyone enjoy the rich heritage of all the performances and exhibitions.

May all our people enjoy the rich heritage of the diversity of cultures, whether it be jazz, indigenous dances or Argentine tango, as represented at the festival this year.

I am honoured to declare the tenth Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees officially open.

Thank you.

Baie dankie.

For More Information please call
Bheki Khumalo
Cell: 083 256 9133 or
Dumisani Nkwamba
Cell: 082 451 5583
Issued by: The Presidency
3 April 2004