Issued by: The Office of the President
18 June 1996.
Mr President;
Deputy-President;
Honourable Senators;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I stand before you fully conscious of the historic significance of this moment. South Africa has reached a watershed in the democratisation of our society.
In a matter of weeks, we expect the final constitution to be certified. And this may therefore be the last time that I personally have the honour of standing before this august body to account.
This naturally invokes sadness. But the dark sentiment is overwhelmed by the sense of joy that we are proceeding as a nation to higher forms of political relations and representation. The dissolution of the Senate is not the falling off of an appendage. It is the rebirth of a body better empowered and better constituted to take our democracy to new heights.
The adoption of the constitution and events ince then have thrown up many and varied challenges. Some of them compel us to come back again and again to the question: what is nation-building and what is the New Patriotism abroad in our land! I will return to these questions in my address today because of the special role of the Senate and the future Council of Provinces; because of the implications of references to individual and collective rights in the new constitution; and not least, because of aspects of the recent Western Cape local government elections.
As we address these questions we should remind ourselves that nation-building is not something new. It has been continually forged in the struggle for freedom. Enforced division has engendered in our people a powerful urge towards unity as a condition for freedom and peace. The struggle against apartheid was an act of building unity amongst the oppressed and democratic forces on the basis of a vision of a free South Africa in which, as the Freedom Charter says: "South Africa belongs to all who live in it - black and white".
Not sufficiently recognised, but important to acknowledge as a powerful force for nation-building, is culture.
Our country has given birth to many outstanding artists, musicians, writers and performers who are celebrated for their unique contributions to world culture. They come from every sphere of our society, and their achievements are drawn from the great diversity of our cultures.
Amongst our acclaimed musicians are people like Abdullah Ibrahim and Basil Coetsee, their talents inspired and nurtured by the vibrant musical tradition of the Western Cape which takes to the streets at New Year. Mimi Coertse, an Afrikaner, has given European opera a special South African flavour, and has in turn helped identify a new generation of South African opera stars. Few South Africans have not been moved by Miriam Makeba's haunting melodies that have given voice to the pain of exile and dislocation, at the same time as inspiring a powerful sense of hope. And many have been inspired by the strains of hope and despair woven into one, in the powerful renditions of Vusi Mahlasela and Johnny Clegg.
Not only have our writers made their mark in the world. They have also helped us all understand the pain and the joy in the lives of those from whom we were kept apart. Today they are helping us forge a common understanding of our past and a shared vision of the future. One may think of Solomon Plaatje, who brought to the attention of South Africa and the world the great upheavals of dispossession at the beginning of this century.
We think of Nadine Gordimer, who won international acclaim as our first winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, and whose writing was enriched by the cultural kaleidoscope of our country; of Adam Small who has placed on the literary map a form of Afrikaans that many speak but which has till now been largely denied artistic recognition.
Our artists and writers have combined a fierce attachment to the particular culture in which they are rooted with an equally strong love of the South African nation as a whole. In turn our nation takes pride in them and reveres them. Afrikaans poets like Dirk Opperman and Antjie Krog are part of the heritage of us all. In our national anthem the words of Langenhoven resonate with the verses of Sontonga.
The names of our distinguished writers, singers, dancers, actors and other cultural workers are legion. No less vital to our sense of ourselves as a nation is the brilliant artistry of everyday life in the countryside, and in the streets and factories of our country.
One could speak for days and scarcely begin to name the artists and cultural workers - the living and the dead - who are so powerfully contributing to the building of our nation. These are part of the legion of our New Patriots, the foundation stone of a nation coming of age, a nation united in its diversity.
Mr President;
Also part of nation-building is the achievement of broad consensus on the crucial issues that face our country.
The adoption of the National Crime Prevention Strategy and the announcement of the police Plan of Action represent much more than publication of documents. Collectively they constitute a harnessing of national resources, in a co-ordinated way and on a well-considered and practical basis. They are part of the practical programme of action, to deal a lasting blow against crime and bring to South Africans the safety and security which the constitution guarantees, and which is their right. The criminals must beware: the battle against crime is joined!.
In adopting the macro-economic framework last week, Government brought to its conclusion a process of investigation, deliberation and consultation through which South Africa sought how best to speed up transformation. We do know that ensuring economic balance cannot be an end in itself: rather it should be for purposes of rapid growth, job-creation and delivery of better services to the people. We know too well that our democracy will lack substance and our unity remain fragile if we do not act to reduce the wide socio-economic differences which we have inherited.
Now the broad framework has been decided upon. And the task is not to bury our heads in theoretical treatises, important as theory might be. The challenge of the moment is for all sectors to set shoulders to the wheel and make things happen.
It is heartening that the last of local government elections in the Western Cape were conducted successfully. Problems there are, yes. But we are confident that the leadership in this province will resolve them to the satisfaction of all.
We keenly look forward to the successful completion of the process in KwaZulu/Natal, and would take this opportunity to urge all political parties to do their utmost to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election. The recent initiatives embarked upon in the province give us hope that this will be accomplished.
Before I deal with certain matters pertaining to the recent Western Cape elections, I wish briefly to refer to one of the significant developments within government since the adoption of the constitution, and that is, the withdrawal of the National Party from the Government of National Unity.
We have made many pronouncements on this, particularly emphasising our fervent wish that the NP will be a vibrant opposition, within the bounds of our constitution, and loyal to the interests of the country as a whole. On the whole, the wheels of government continue to roll, now with better focus on the objective of achieving a better life for all.
What concerns me personally, though, is the departure from public life of outstanding personalities such as Roelof 'Pik' Botha, Leon Wessels and Chris Fismer - leaders who worked hard and played a critical role in building national unity and preventing the revival of racism both within parties and in communities where they work.
We regret their departure from cabinet and parliament, and hope that they will continue to be of service to the nation.
Mr President;
What then are the aspects of the recent local government elections which deserve the attention of all those concerned for democracy and national unity?
(Translation from Afrikaans]
I refer to the disturbing moments when robustness turned to intolerance, from both the ANC and the NP. One thinks too of the moments when patterns of thinking from the past were given voice. Political parties have a responsibility to combat these evils of intolerance and racism amongst their supporters.
Beyond the instant analyses of experts and the initial responses of political parties, lies a challenging question posed by the voter statistics from a city which still largely bears the imprint of the Group Areas Act on much of its residential areas. They indicate that participation by the Coloured majority of the Western Cape metro- politan area was lower than that of other sectors of the population - most did not find any of our political parties worthy of a vote. This is a challenge to all our political parties to examine themselves, for no part of our nation should find the margins of our political system preferable to support for any party.
These are questions and lessons which should be taken to heart in all our provinces, for a healthy democratic culture is essential to nation-building.
Honourable Senators;
Nation-building is not a process of subsuming all our different communities under the dominance of any other, but rather one of ensuring full individual rights and creating the conditions for all to feel secure in the exercise of their own cultural, linguistic and religious rights.
Our new constitution boldly proclaims that all shall enjoy these rights, in its recognition of collective rights; in its establish- ment of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. We also expect that the Pan-South African Language Board, established by this Senate in the course of the past year, will play an important role in this process.
I would like to take this opportunity to affirm that it is still government policy to establish a Council of Traditional Leaders, and that the matter is being pursued.
But above all, our new Constitution entrusts the Council of Provinces with far-reaching responsibilities as custodian of national unity in diversity.
The logic behind the transformation of the Senate to a Council of Provinces has been endorsed by all the political parties. Let me emphasise in the strongest terms possible, in case there were doubts among the public: the envisaged transformation is not a vote of no confidence in the Senate or the Senators themselves. On the contrary, the changes will signify a more central role for our Second House, and resolve the very serious questions of mandates and contact with provincial governments, problems which the Senators themselves had identified.
The Senate has played two roles: that of an upper house of general review, and secondly as a house with special responsibi- lities for protecting provincial interests.
In this Chamber and in the joint committees, the Senate has, through its review function, promoted important debate on legi- slative measures, prompted reconsideration and, in most instances, improvement of the final text of draft Bills. The late Senator Mchunu liked to point out that it was the Senate which allowed for sober reflection on matters that had been forged in the heated, in his view, less sober, environment of the National Assembly.
I must pay tribute to the contribution of the honourable members of the Senate to the passage of our most important new laws that have been the foundation of the first legislative programme of our democratic republic. The efficient and dignified way in which the body has functioned during its short history has made a genuine contribution to our parliamentary culture. For the manner in which the Senate has performed its role we are indebted to the President of the Senate, Kobie Coetzee and the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Govan Mbeki.
The shift in emphasis in our final Constitution from a Senate towards a Council of Provinces is a result of our desire to create a body which would better represent and integrate provincial interests in our national politics, which can harmonise the interests of pro- vinces as amongst themselves, and, locate provincial politics within the context of our national interest.
Composed in the main of provincial delegates, the new Council of Provinces will not mirror the National Assembly, replicating the same divisions, and animated by the same national considerations. Rather it will infuse these considerations with direct provincial mandates.
The Council will make the national political process sensitive to the different, social, economic, democratic and cultural circumstances pertaining in each province.
It will exist at the heart of our Constitution and be a factor in the creation of national consensus. It will symbolize our project of marrying national purpose with regional diversity. Inversely, it will discourage isolated provincialism or short-sighted competition among provinces, and between provincial and national governments.
In short the Council of Provinces will have distinct political powers and constituencies that will articulate their interests through it. It is to be a critical element of our uniquely South African political system.
As President, it will be my task to decide on the phasing of the implementation of the Council of Provinces. That will be done on the advice of Senators, Provinces through the Inter-Governmental Forum, and the Cabinet. Like any transition, this one must be implemented in a way that is sensitive to the needs of all role-players.
Many of you will sit as the first members of this body, once more pioneers in an exciting project of creation. I have every confidence that, in the way you have discharged the business of the Senate, the Council of Provinces will meet this more formidable challenge with distinction.
For the same reasons, our Provincial legislatures will be immeasurably enriched by the inclusion of those of you who will be taking their experience and dedication closer to the people.
From Roman times, Senates have been associated with the idea of a forum of elder statesmen, whose task it is to bring wise counsel to the body politic. Notwithstanding the evident youth of many members of this body - and perhaps because of the role of women - it has brought our nation such counsel.
Indeed, we can say with confidence that in this Senate we see side by side, leaders of our generation and the emerging leaders who will guide us into the future.
From you, we shall continue to expect, and indeed find practical answers to the question: what is nation-building and how do we consolidate the New Patriotism!.
I thank you.