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Date : 22/05/2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: University of Zululand graduation ceremony


ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND, AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND, Empangeni, 22 May 2004

The Rector and Vice Chancellor, Professor Gumbi
The MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu
Chairperson of Council, Dr Mkhize and all members of the Council
Members of the Senate
Deans of the Faculties of Commerce,
Administration, Education and Law
Traditional Leaders
Members of the business community
President and Leaders of the SRC
Graduates and their families

It is once again a pleasure to be part of this august gathering, to celebrate the achievements of our graduates and the university community as a whole.

We meet during a period of celebration in our country, as we mark 10 years of freedom this year. While celebrating the last 10 years, we also have a clear vision of how to accelerate transformation and change in the second decade, as outline in the programme of action announced by President Mbeki in the State of the Nation Address in Parliament yesterday.

The President reminded us of how far we have come and the necessity of speeding up change.

Looking back, we are pleased that we have consolidated and deepened democracy, with three successful rounds of general elections having been held, and we have made steady progress across all sectors.

On improving the quality of life, millions of people have gained access to services, which they were deprived under apartheid, such as water, electricity, sanitation and others.

On the economic front, macro-economic stability has been achieved and we have maintained steady growth in a volatile global setting, through pursuing prudent economic policies. Our economic policy seeks to strike a balance between accelerating economic growth on the one hand, and social service delivery and job creation on the other.

Our programme of action outlines the key interventions we are to embark upon to achieve growth, create work and bridge the gap between the first and second economies in our country.

In the international arena, the country continues to be recognised as one of the key voices of development, particularly in engagements between the developed North and developing South. Our activities in the next decade will deepen our participation in this regard.

We have also become actively involved in the efforts of rebuilding our continent socially, economically and politically, through structures of the African Union such as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), as well as in peacemaking and peacekeeping. We will continue to meet our obligations in this regard.

Our programme of action takes into account the fact that while we have made progress in the last 10 years, we are nevertheless aware that the disparities remain in the control of wealth, and we still have a high rate of unemployment.

In this second decade of freedom, we are therefore determined to continue uniting South Africans in the struggle to eradicate this legacy of racial division and inequality.

Part of this legacy manifests itself in the existence of two economies, the prosperous first economy, which is highly developed and is integrated into the global economy, and the second economy, in which the marginalized and poor people of our country attempt to make a living.

The President yesterday outlined the importance of intervening in both economies, to stimulate investments and growth in the first economy, while also paying serious attention to the second economy.

I am pleased that we have commerce graduates today, and urge them to produce innovative ideas through which we can intervene in this economy, to ensure that poor households have income-generating activities, for us to reduce the levels of poverty and deprivation. The Expanded Public Works Programme, launched this week, is among the key responses to this challenge.

To achieve our goals, we need a highly skilled workforce and a dedicated professional sector. We believe that our educational institutions should therefore be in tune with the demands of our socio-economic development and that of the global economy we are part of.

It means we need to focus not only on the very important academic and scholarly training, but to also encourage our youth to consider vocational and technical training. The State of the Nation Address clearly outlines the objective of ensuring adequate funding for technical colleges and proper alignment of the courses offered, with the requirements of the economy.

Other interventions include engaging all the Sector Education and Training Authorities to increase the uptake of learners and improve skills, and to improve our Adult Basic Education and Training programme.

We have also made a commitment to consolidate the merger process at higher education institutions.

Distinguished guests, let me emphasise that this graduation ceremony is therefore very important because of the contribution this output of graduates is making in the quest to improve our skills base, and the national goals of boosting socio-economic development. We congratulate you all for having completed your degrees in your different disciplines.

While we look up to the commerce graduates to contribute in the interventions in the first and second economies, we trust that those who have graduated in administration and law will provide the much needed expertise to improve our public management systems, as well as to make justice accessible to the poor and marginalized.

Our education graduates can help us create an information and knowledge society, by preparing our youth for the highly demanding 21st century global economy.

Therefore, we welcome you all in the world of work, and know you will join us in addressing the challenges that the country faces.

Distinguished guests let me once again congratulate our graduates, their families, the university and indeed all who contributed to making this day a success.

In this second decade of freedom, we urge our graduates to become good ambassadors for this University, by joining the national effort of working for a better life for all in our country.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
22 May 2004

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