It is an honour to share this very auspicious occasion with you today.
This day is the “sum- total “of your toil, sacrifice and investment into your individual futures. It gives us hope of a better South Africa, driven by read and ready politicians and drivers of destiny.

It could not have been an easy task, so we celebrate your commitment and disciplines.
Honourable members, we thank the speakers forum for initiating this programme from 2009. We must also thank our partners- the National School of Government, the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Johannesburg. But most importantly we thank the European Union for the continuing support to the legislative sector.

We join 57 members of the parliament and provincial legislatures who have successfully completed their post graduate diplomas in Governance and Public leadership at Wits University (The University of the Witwatersrand). We also celebrate the 19 legislators who completed the post- graduate short learning programme at the University of Johannesburg. We celebrate with those who have qualified to study further for the master’s degree.
Twenty- One year’s ago, we embarked on an ambitious course of building a new nation- a transformed , non-racial , non-sexist society united in its diversity. We started a slow but steady road towards a South Africa that upholds human dignity, social justice and human rights.
Democracy creates opportunities and access and protects rights. Education is a requirement for self- growth, self- recognition, unlocking individual and collective growth as well as development. Education is an equaliser and does serve as an indicator for a country’s capacity. Education is therefore much more than a certificate; it requires discipline diligence and on-going application.

Capacity building talks to strengthening peoples’ capacity to determine their own values and priorities. The ability to act on these is the basis of development. 
Honourable members,
South Africa is positioning herself along her blue print- The National Development Plan. We are gearing ourselves towards economic and social up-liftment. Access to water, electricity, roads, quality health and education become important in the struggle for a better life.

A capable state presupposes our effective leadership that can only be delivered by the empowered electorate. We need a highly literate society to enforce effective leadership if we are to achieve the objectives we set for ourselves. This means we need a knowledgeable and skilled society. I am happy because today is a step in the right direction.

Parliament is an important arm of the state that has a crucial role in promoting, and protecting democracy and good governance by establishing the necessary checks and balances as well as developing the norms and standards for institutions of democracy and governance.
To execute this heavy task of truly representing the people, we need leaders- true leaders who seek effective activity to benefit our people. Leaders who inspire others to follow in their wake; leaders who lead the way for society to realise its aspirations. We need leaders who stimulate interest, teach aid and correct.

Parliament must continuously engage to debate and have discussions about the type of future we want as South Africans. We need to do so by embracing the values of our constitution.
We need mature, visionary and bold leadership guided by the values of our constitution. Chapter 10 of the constitution especially enjoins us to observe principles which are imperative for a morally just society.
o High standards of professional ethics;
o Promotion of efficient , economic and effective use of resources;
o Public administration that is development orientated;
o Services should be provided impartially , fairly , equitably and without bias;
o Public administration must be accountable and…
o Transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accountable and accurate information.
We need to move toward a state that is more capable, more professional and more responsible to the needs of the citizens if we want to achieve the aspirations of the developmental state.
Aristotle says, “The roots of education are bitter but the fruit is sweet”.
Shirley Anne Jackson – an African in the Diaspora physicist eloquently expresses the essence of being a graduate when she says , “In the end, this is about the kind of a human society that we want to build. And every individual here has important , key m,essages about science, energy ,security and innovation, about human health, about education for a global world- to those whose lives you touch.”.

As legislators working with lives, we need to strive to nurture, touch and enlighten the lives of others.

Once again, congratulations.
Thank You.