Date: 20/09/2003
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molefe: Provincial Cleansing, Healing & Symbolic Reparation Ceremony
SPEECH BY NORTH WEST PREMIER, DR POPO SIMON MOLEFE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PROVINCIAL CLEANSING, HEALING AND SYMBOLIC REPARATION CEREMONY, Mafikeng, 20 September 2003
Programme Director,
The Honourable Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica,
Dr Wally Serote, Chairperson of the Freedom Park Monument Project,
Honoured Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
The advent of democracy in 1994 brought with it the serious challenge on us to start rebuilding our country. This was a challenge to build, for ourselves, the country we envisaged during our struggle for liberation - a country underpinned by unity, non-racialism, non-sexism and prosperity for all.
Central to us meeting this challenge was the need to close the chapter on our unhappy history: a history of repression, intolerance, conflict, isolation and injustice.
Nearly ten years into our democracy, we are justified in saying that we have made good progress in responding to the challenge we face. Gradually, step-by-step, we are making qualitative gains in our endeavour to transform our country from repression to an open and democratic society, from conflict to peaceful co-existence and a common nationhood.
Today's Healing and Cleansing Ceremony forms a critical part of our ongoing effort to transform our country. Through this solemn occasion, we the people of the North West Province, are making a contribution towards the process of healing the wounds of the past, promoting reconciliation and a common nationhood.
This gathering also forms part of the Freedom Park Monument project to be launched in Pretoria later this year. This important project seeks to commemorate and honour all those who contributed towards bringing about democracy and freedom in our country.
The Freedom Park Monument gives us a unique opportunity to reconstruct our history, to tell it in a manner devoid of the distortions of the past. It will serve as an eloquent reminder of the many struggles that have shaped our history.
More importantly, it will be a symbol of reconciliation, it will inspire us to defend the values that underpin our democratic state.
Out of this Ceremony a clarion call must emerge that all of us have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a disciplined, constructive and responsible manner - a manner befitting a nation united in its effort to rebuild itself from decades of destructive policies.
We must ensure that the many views and ideas that exist in our country are harnessed towards our common objective of building a united and prosperous South Africa.
Wherever we are, in our religious organisations, in our sports formations and in community organisations, we must confront the challenge of building common values and common nationhood.
Equally, we must take seriously the campaign for moral regeneration as an integral part of building a new society, a caring society and a society that encourages peaceful coexistence among its people.
We must work tirelessly to protect the weak and vulnerable among our communities. As a nation we must continue to take decisive steps to uproot corruption in all its forms. We have a responsibility to entrench a culture of honesty, integrity and ethical behaviour among our people. All these things, form a critical part of our effort to make a complete and decisive break with our dreaded past and to promote reconciliation and nation building.
Our people suffered enough as a result of past practices. Their souls have been wounded and their bodies scared. The time to end conflict, divisions and sufferings is upon us. History demands of us to be united as we pursue the objective of delivering our people from hunger, disease and ignorance.
We must not allow any moment to pass without spreading the message of unity, reconciliation and a common nationhood.
On this important day, we must make the call that all the peoples of this country and province must reach out to one another. We must follow the example of one of the icons of our liberation struggle, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who, after spending many years of untold hardship in an apartheid jail, was able to extend a hand of friendship and reconciliation to those who wronged him.
The lesson that our beloved Madiba continues to teach us is that we must not seek revenge. We must seek to build and not to destroy and we must opt for inclusion over exclusion. This is what today's Healing and Cleansing Ceremony will assist us to achieve.
In its report, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) enjoins government to address, among others, the issue of reparations. Our approach to reparations is an integrated and comprehensive one.
It involves finding appropriate responses to the challenges of reconstruction and development, intensifying economic growth, improving our social security system and contributing to the building of a humane and just world order.
We also pay special emphasis on the rehabilitation of communities, such as Itsoseng and Mafikeng, which were subjected to intense acts of violence and destruction during the liberation struggle.
While mindful of the fact that those who took part in the liberation struggle did so not for monetary gain and that no one can attach monetary value to life and hardship, we also agreed to a once-off payment to all those individuals or survivors designated by the TRC.
These interventions have demonstrated the seriousness with which we view the issue of reparations as part of the process to heal the wounds of the past.
I am also delighted that included in the programme for this event is a Symbolic Reparation Ceremony. Through this Ceremony, we of the North West Province are joining the rest of the country on the irreversible path to lasting reconciliation and healing.
As I conclude, I wish to urge all of you to apply for your Identity Documents so that not only can you qualify to access government social grants, but also to be able to vote in next year's elections.
Taking part in next year's election will contribute towards ensuring that our march to reconstruction and development and to build a prosperous country for all continues to gather momentum.
I thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
20 September 2003
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molefe: Provincial Cleansing, Healing & Symbolic Reparation Ceremony
SPEECH BY NORTH WEST PREMIER, DR POPO SIMON MOLEFE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PROVINCIAL CLEANSING, HEALING AND SYMBOLIC REPARATION CEREMONY, Mafikeng, 20 September 2003
Programme Director,
The Honourable Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica,
Dr Wally Serote, Chairperson of the Freedom Park Monument Project,
Honoured Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
The advent of democracy in 1994 brought with it the serious challenge on us to start rebuilding our country. This was a challenge to build, for ourselves, the country we envisaged during our struggle for liberation - a country underpinned by unity, non-racialism, non-sexism and prosperity for all.
Central to us meeting this challenge was the need to close the chapter on our unhappy history: a history of repression, intolerance, conflict, isolation and injustice.
Nearly ten years into our democracy, we are justified in saying that we have made good progress in responding to the challenge we face. Gradually, step-by-step, we are making qualitative gains in our endeavour to transform our country from repression to an open and democratic society, from conflict to peaceful co-existence and a common nationhood.
Today's Healing and Cleansing Ceremony forms a critical part of our ongoing effort to transform our country. Through this solemn occasion, we the people of the North West Province, are making a contribution towards the process of healing the wounds of the past, promoting reconciliation and a common nationhood.
This gathering also forms part of the Freedom Park Monument project to be launched in Pretoria later this year. This important project seeks to commemorate and honour all those who contributed towards bringing about democracy and freedom in our country.
The Freedom Park Monument gives us a unique opportunity to reconstruct our history, to tell it in a manner devoid of the distortions of the past. It will serve as an eloquent reminder of the many struggles that have shaped our history.
More importantly, it will be a symbol of reconciliation, it will inspire us to defend the values that underpin our democratic state.
Out of this Ceremony a clarion call must emerge that all of us have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a disciplined, constructive and responsible manner - a manner befitting a nation united in its effort to rebuild itself from decades of destructive policies.
We must ensure that the many views and ideas that exist in our country are harnessed towards our common objective of building a united and prosperous South Africa.
Wherever we are, in our religious organisations, in our sports formations and in community organisations, we must confront the challenge of building common values and common nationhood.
Equally, we must take seriously the campaign for moral regeneration as an integral part of building a new society, a caring society and a society that encourages peaceful coexistence among its people.
We must work tirelessly to protect the weak and vulnerable among our communities. As a nation we must continue to take decisive steps to uproot corruption in all its forms. We have a responsibility to entrench a culture of honesty, integrity and ethical behaviour among our people. All these things, form a critical part of our effort to make a complete and decisive break with our dreaded past and to promote reconciliation and nation building.
Our people suffered enough as a result of past practices. Their souls have been wounded and their bodies scared. The time to end conflict, divisions and sufferings is upon us. History demands of us to be united as we pursue the objective of delivering our people from hunger, disease and ignorance.
We must not allow any moment to pass without spreading the message of unity, reconciliation and a common nationhood.
On this important day, we must make the call that all the peoples of this country and province must reach out to one another. We must follow the example of one of the icons of our liberation struggle, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who, after spending many years of untold hardship in an apartheid jail, was able to extend a hand of friendship and reconciliation to those who wronged him.
The lesson that our beloved Madiba continues to teach us is that we must not seek revenge. We must seek to build and not to destroy and we must opt for inclusion over exclusion. This is what today's Healing and Cleansing Ceremony will assist us to achieve.
In its report, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) enjoins government to address, among others, the issue of reparations. Our approach to reparations is an integrated and comprehensive one.
It involves finding appropriate responses to the challenges of reconstruction and development, intensifying economic growth, improving our social security system and contributing to the building of a humane and just world order.
We also pay special emphasis on the rehabilitation of communities, such as Itsoseng and Mafikeng, which were subjected to intense acts of violence and destruction during the liberation struggle.
While mindful of the fact that those who took part in the liberation struggle did so not for monetary gain and that no one can attach monetary value to life and hardship, we also agreed to a once-off payment to all those individuals or survivors designated by the TRC.
These interventions have demonstrated the seriousness with which we view the issue of reparations as part of the process to heal the wounds of the past.
I am also delighted that included in the programme for this event is a Symbolic Reparation Ceremony. Through this Ceremony, we of the North West Province are joining the rest of the country on the irreversible path to lasting reconciliation and healing.
As I conclude, I wish to urge all of you to apply for your Identity Documents so that not only can you qualify to access government social grants, but also to be able to vote in next year's elections.
Taking part in next year's election will contribute towards ensuring that our march to reconstruction and development and to build a prosperous country for all continues to gather momentum.
I thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
20 September 2003
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