Date: 10/12/2002
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mbeki: Presentation of National Orders
CEREMONIAL ORATION OF THE GRAND PATRON OF THE NATIONAL ORDERS, PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI, 10 December 2002
In the name of the people, we welcome you to this solemn ceremony, convened to admit to the ranks of Mapungubwe, the Companionship of O.R. Tambo, and the Baobab men and women who have done the things that make it possible for our united and diverse nation to proclaim itself an adherent of the ancient values of ubuntu.
This is the first time that the people of South Africa have occasion to salute and express their humble gratitude to the distinguished men and women who are the stars on our firmament, by admitting them to the ranks of those who belong to the sacred National Orders of the Cradle of Humanity, the high pedestals on which will stand the human beings who have made it possible for us to live and develop in a world of freedom, without the fetters of oppression.
It had seemed right as we progress out of a long night, during which none could have peace, to a new dawn that would enable each and everyone of us to enjoy the light and warmth of the African sun, that we should populate our land with the representative symbols of our new dawn.
These will mark out our little perimeter of the earth. They will tell a story of what and who we have been, what and who we are, and what and who we shall be. These are our new National Orders that will, today, receive their very first distinguished members.
We have convened today at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, to admit some among us to the Order of the Baobab. These are compatriots who, without discrimination and at exceptional cost to themselves, have rendered exceptional service to the people of South Africa, far beyond the call of duty. They have acted as the Baobab colossus given to us by the natural world, which has served the people of South Africa through the millennia in many ways.
We have convened today at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, to admit our friends from the rest of the world to the Order of the Companions of O.R.Tambo. These are citizens of other countries and the world, who, without discrimination and at exceptional cost to themselves, their countries and people, have made an exceptional contribution to the efforts of the people of South Africa to define themselves as human beings, towards which objective, Oliver Reginald Tambo sacrificed his life.
We have convened today at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, to admit some exceptional persons to the Order of Mapungubwe. These are people whose activities cannot but be described as excellent. They are the men and women who dared to act outside the boundaries of the ordinary, taking upon themselves the skill and daring of the majestic bird which stands on permanent guard to protect the nation. Her wings commune with the beams of the rising sun on our Coat of Arms, as the people of Mapungubwe conversed with nature, the peoples of the universe, and the world of creative thought.
These National Orders represent the nobility of human endeavour. For all time, men and women will be admitted as esteemed members of these Orders, subject to the precedence and authority of our National Anthem, our National Flag, and our National Coat of Arms, which represent the highest symbolic repositories of our common nationhood.
In time, there will be three additional National Orders whose distinguished members will be those among our people who are the handmaidens of our liberty, who represent our creative talent, who manifest the national gift of courage that rises with danger.
The people of South Africa continue to work together to overcome their common problems, and to discharge their responsibilities to themselves and the rest of the world, conscious of their responsibility as the Cradle of Humanity.
They continue to work together to give birth to a society of peace, progress, democracy and human rights, individual fulfilment, a shared nationhood and a new patriotism, human solidarity and international friendship.
Our society changes everyday. Everyday, the circumstances that inform the life and thoughts of millions of South Africans change.
Times and circumstances change, at all times giving birth to new realities. A changeable world tells us of the absence of the constant, except the constant reality of change.
That constant factor of change also communicates the message that the people of South Africa are constant in their determination to define themselves as a nation united in diversity, despite and because of our varied races, colours, cultures, beliefs, gender and geographic origins.
Regardless of the long road we have to travel to translate this vision into reality, the people of South Africa are convinced that they must walk along the only highway in their universe on whose paved stones the words are engraved - we are one people, despite our diversity!
We are working together as South Africans to understand where we are today, to define where we need to be tomorrow, to identify the things that have to be done to translate the vision of non-racism and a shared humanity into the actual empowerment of the people freely to determine their destiny.
The life contributions of the heroes and heroines who are the principals of today's National Awards ceremony, light our way as we advance to the better world that is being born.
Their footprints are the signposts that indicate our route of march, even unto generations that have still to emerge out of the mists of future time.
We are especially blessed that this ceremony permits us to share a brief encounter with the honoured Members of the National Orders, who live.
We are especially privileged that this ceremony brings us into communion with the noble souls of the honoured Members of the National Orders, who have departed from the world of the living.
To them all, the living and the dead, on this day, the nation says - bayethe!
On this day, let all citizens and patriots proclaim:
Glory to the Honoured Members of the National Orders!
God bless Africa!
Save her children!
Grant her peace!
Issued by The Presidency, 10 December 2002
Source: The Presidency
Title: Mbeki: Presentation of National Orders
CEREMONIAL ORATION OF THE GRAND PATRON OF THE NATIONAL ORDERS, PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI, 10 December 2002
In the name of the people, we welcome you to this solemn ceremony, convened to admit to the ranks of Mapungubwe, the Companionship of O.R. Tambo, and the Baobab men and women who have done the things that make it possible for our united and diverse nation to proclaim itself an adherent of the ancient values of ubuntu.
This is the first time that the people of South Africa have occasion to salute and express their humble gratitude to the distinguished men and women who are the stars on our firmament, by admitting them to the ranks of those who belong to the sacred National Orders of the Cradle of Humanity, the high pedestals on which will stand the human beings who have made it possible for us to live and develop in a world of freedom, without the fetters of oppression.
It had seemed right as we progress out of a long night, during which none could have peace, to a new dawn that would enable each and everyone of us to enjoy the light and warmth of the African sun, that we should populate our land with the representative symbols of our new dawn.
These will mark out our little perimeter of the earth. They will tell a story of what and who we have been, what and who we are, and what and who we shall be. These are our new National Orders that will, today, receive their very first distinguished members.
We have convened today at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, to admit some among us to the Order of the Baobab. These are compatriots who, without discrimination and at exceptional cost to themselves, have rendered exceptional service to the people of South Africa, far beyond the call of duty. They have acted as the Baobab colossus given to us by the natural world, which has served the people of South Africa through the millennia in many ways.
We have convened today at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, to admit our friends from the rest of the world to the Order of the Companions of O.R.Tambo. These are citizens of other countries and the world, who, without discrimination and at exceptional cost to themselves, their countries and people, have made an exceptional contribution to the efforts of the people of South Africa to define themselves as human beings, towards which objective, Oliver Reginald Tambo sacrificed his life.
We have convened today at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, to admit some exceptional persons to the Order of Mapungubwe. These are people whose activities cannot but be described as excellent. They are the men and women who dared to act outside the boundaries of the ordinary, taking upon themselves the skill and daring of the majestic bird which stands on permanent guard to protect the nation. Her wings commune with the beams of the rising sun on our Coat of Arms, as the people of Mapungubwe conversed with nature, the peoples of the universe, and the world of creative thought.
These National Orders represent the nobility of human endeavour. For all time, men and women will be admitted as esteemed members of these Orders, subject to the precedence and authority of our National Anthem, our National Flag, and our National Coat of Arms, which represent the highest symbolic repositories of our common nationhood.
In time, there will be three additional National Orders whose distinguished members will be those among our people who are the handmaidens of our liberty, who represent our creative talent, who manifest the national gift of courage that rises with danger.
The people of South Africa continue to work together to overcome their common problems, and to discharge their responsibilities to themselves and the rest of the world, conscious of their responsibility as the Cradle of Humanity.
They continue to work together to give birth to a society of peace, progress, democracy and human rights, individual fulfilment, a shared nationhood and a new patriotism, human solidarity and international friendship.
Our society changes everyday. Everyday, the circumstances that inform the life and thoughts of millions of South Africans change.
Times and circumstances change, at all times giving birth to new realities. A changeable world tells us of the absence of the constant, except the constant reality of change.
That constant factor of change also communicates the message that the people of South Africa are constant in their determination to define themselves as a nation united in diversity, despite and because of our varied races, colours, cultures, beliefs, gender and geographic origins.
Regardless of the long road we have to travel to translate this vision into reality, the people of South Africa are convinced that they must walk along the only highway in their universe on whose paved stones the words are engraved - we are one people, despite our diversity!
We are working together as South Africans to understand where we are today, to define where we need to be tomorrow, to identify the things that have to be done to translate the vision of non-racism and a shared humanity into the actual empowerment of the people freely to determine their destiny.
The life contributions of the heroes and heroines who are the principals of today's National Awards ceremony, light our way as we advance to the better world that is being born.
Their footprints are the signposts that indicate our route of march, even unto generations that have still to emerge out of the mists of future time.
We are especially blessed that this ceremony permits us to share a brief encounter with the honoured Members of the National Orders, who live.
We are especially privileged that this ceremony brings us into communion with the noble souls of the honoured Members of the National Orders, who have departed from the world of the living.
To them all, the living and the dead, on this day, the nation says - bayethe!
On this day, let all citizens and patriots proclaim:
Glory to the Honoured Members of the National Orders!
God bless Africa!
Save her children!
Grant her peace!
Issued by The Presidency, 10 December 2002
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