Date: 18/03/2004
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: P Molefe: Acceptance of Freedom of City of Rustenburg


SPEECH BY NORTH WEST PREMIER DR POPO SIMON MOLEFE ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF RUSTENBURG, 18 March 2004

Director of Ceremonies
Executive Mayor Mabe
Executive Mayor Tema
Councillors
Mr Pik Botha
Mrs Noeline Bodenstein
Honoured Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to accept this prestigious and important honour bestowed on me by the City of Rustenburg.

I accept this honour in all humility and in the full knowledge that it is not me as an individual who is being honoured, but rather the collective effort of many South Africans who have made it possible for us to be where we are today.

Throughout my two terms in Office, I have had the privilege of working with men and women of unmatched intellect, unsurpassed integrity and unequalled commitment to serving the people.

These men and women, who came from all sectors of our society, are the reason that today we are able to say, boldly, that our province is a better place than it was in 1994.

Against all odds, they remained focussed on the objectives we have set for ourselves. They refused to succumb to mediocrity and at all times pursued excellence in the services of their people.

Even when the road appeared to be long and winding, they never despaired. They taught us what it means to serve selflessly with honour, humility and distinction - they were true cadres for reconstruction and development.

They are the reason we have reached all the milestones we have since our liberation in 1994. It is through their dedication that we have reason to celebrate ten years of freedom in our country.

It is because of the firm foundation they laid that we approach the future with confidence, confidence that we will overcome the challenges that lie ahead and thus move our country further away from the legacy of its unhappy past.

This honour by the City of Rustenburg belongs to those men and women, without whose contribution our struggle to build a better society would be weaker. It is on their behalf that I accept this honour.

This honour is in recognition of the progress we have made together over the past ten years to improve the quality of life of the people of our province. It is a fitting tribute to the hard work we have done to expand access to basic services such as water and electricity to many of our people. It is in recognition of the reality that; we have come a long way since our liberation in 1994.

Furthermore, this honour is an acknowledgement that now more than ever before we are on course towards the objective of building a better life for all. How I wish that this honour can serve as an inspiration to all those who love their country and province to work even harder towards the objectives we have set ourselves, key among which is fighting poverty and creating work for our people.

Once more, thank you for honouring me in the way that you have. I am truly humbled.

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
18 March 2004