Date: 05/05/2007

Source: KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government

Title: Ndebele: Ebandla Reunion Dinner

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele's address at the KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa Ebandla Reunion Dinner, London

Wole Soyinka, A Dance of the Forest: "Find them. Bring them here. If they are half-way across the world, trace them. If they are in hell, ransom them. Let them symbolise all that is noble in our nation. Let them be our historical link for the season for rejoicing."

The United Kingdom, among other countries, played a major role in the international struggle against apartheid. That role was more driven at a people to people level. Post 1994, two worlds emerged. There was South Africa which was totally emancipated. But there was also KwaZulu-Natal which was a problem child.

As Wole Soyinka again puts it: Between the two worlds, one dead and the other powerless to be born.

In an effort therefore to bring KwaZulu-Natal on par with the rest of the country, the province is in search, first and foremost, of the sons and daughters of KwaZulu-Natal.

Jean Genet in his book, The Blacks, says: "Are you there Africa of the millions of royal slaves, deported Africa, drifting continent, are you there? Slowly you vanish; you withdraw into the past into the tales of castaways, colonial museums, the work of scholars."

There is a post 2004 era in KwaZulu-Natal where representatives were chosen to take the province forward into development.

Developments

* Two point one million of our people are illiterate. We have therefore set aside R50 million under the Masifundisane campaign to meet this challenge.
* Twenty six percent of households in the province are without access to water. But our government says by 2010, all households will have access to water within 100 metres.
* Fifty two percent are without access to electricity.
* Forty four percent are without access to sanitation. The targets set by the KwaZulu-Natal government for the provision of basic services are that access to sanitation and access to electricity will be achieved by 2012.

We have also identified higher level critical skills in the engineering, town planning, mathematics, science, information technology, tourism, biofuels and business process outsourcing among others.

We need to ensure that there are adequate skills to execute these programmes. We, as a nation and as a province, are accelerating our skills development drive through programmes such as the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA). Huge projects such as the R4 billion Sappi project on the south coast, the soccer stadium, the new airport and other big infrastructure projects, require skills as we speak.

We are therefore establishing a network for the development of KwaZulu-Natal and are looking for leaders in their own fields; arts, business, medicine, sciences, the humanities, etc.

Strides made - South Africa

We as South Africans have gone on to conquer the world in many areas of life including sport, business and academia among others.

Strides made - KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal has indeed also made major strides in significantly boosting our socio-economic standing. Our general grandeur makes KwaZulu-Natal locally and internationally one of the most interesting places to visit, making us a tourist paradise.

The beaches, mountains and game reserves are some of our prided attractions. We are taking to the top of world economics, culture, sport, science and technology.

Heritage

The rich cultural heritage of KwaZulu-Natal is being systematically developed as a tourist attraction. This includes Zulu cultural history showcased at places such as eMakhosini, the Valley of the Kings; Satyagraha and the role of Mahatma Gandhi as seen in the Heritage Route in Durban; and the commemoration of events from the past such as the Bhambatha Uprising of 1906.

We recently launched the 30 year commemorating Luthuli to run through the year, and will soon be recognising the role played by Zulu queens and princesses in promoting the province's heritage. This includes Izintombi zeNgcuce on gender equality.

Strategic projects

Located on the Indian Ocean rim, Durban and Richards Bay are vital economic arteries for the whole of Southern Africa and the hinterland beyond the construction of the R5 billion Dube Trade Port, 50 kilometres north of Durban. Once completed, this project alone will inject well over R12 billion into the provincial economy.

The King Shaka International Airport will be part of the Dube complex. The construction of the R2,2 billion 2010 Soccer Stadium is underway. Never before has there been such big injection of money in the province at one go.

Agricultural advances

We have sought to continue on the path to food self-sufficiency and job creation through the launch of our Agrarian Revolution.

International linkages

KwaZulu-Natal continues to seek experiences of the international community. We have undertaken official visits to countries such as Denmark, India, China, Germany, France and the Gulf states. We have learned some valuable ideas on these visits, many of which are best pursued by the private sector.

We have in our midst here present, prominent businesswomen and men from KwaZulu-Natal who came especially to grace this re-engagement exercise. I sincerely and honestly appreciate their presence. Here, I suggest, is an opportunity for the business community including KwaZulu-Natal alumni such as you to team up with us on on-going and future projects.

Council of the wise

Alumni dinner is part of a process we call Ebandla, which is the Zulu word denoting the calling together of a Council of the Wise. You are part of that Council of the Wise. Ebandla began in Gauteng with a similar dinner in May last year. In November last year, we were in Cape Town. We are now here in London as part of that seed planted in the valleys of KwaZulu-Natal, but which has now gathered international momentum.

Our list of KwaZulu-Natal alumni grows by the week. We are in the process of developing a website so that alumni will be able to keep track of developments in the province. We will soon communicate the website launch date. An electronic newsletter is to be established to ensure regular updates. You will later receive a detailed alumni brochure that clearly highlights areas of participation.

Programme directors, I am reliably informed that scores of Indian software engineers who helped build the Silicone Valley in America returned to their motherland and are building a powerhouse of home-grown technology. Indeed, the marvellous economic boom in Ireland is attributed to Irish Americans, I am told many of whom never set foot in Ireland. Ladies and gentlemen, many of you, I am certain, can afford to adopt a schoolchild, a rural clinic, a football club in some village or a sports club.

Ladies and gentlemen, we now need action and nothing less. We now need that force within us to make the push forward in our wonderful province. As KwaZulu-Natal alumni, we say we care about you and we need you. We need your expertise and presence in as much as we need your financial muscle in the implementation of our province's action plans. More than anything, ladies and gentlemen, we need action.

As Albert Einstein put it, "All such action would cease if those powerful elemental forces were to cease stirring within us." We hope if we have not already convinced you to make that contribution in our province in whatever form, the cultural items on offer will! Enjoy the evening's entertainment.

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
5 May 2007