19 October 2001
His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Mozambique,
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Mozambique;
Mrs Machel and the Machel family;
Comrades and Friends from Mozambique,
HE the Former President of the Republic of South Africa,
Premier of Mpumalanga Province,
Members of the Diplomatic Corp,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Comrades and Friends,
ON the 19th of October 1986, a tragedy befell, not only Mozambique but the entire Southern African region, when President Samora Machel and 34 of his compatriots and senior government officials, as well as FRELIMO cadres and leaders, met an untimely death.
For the people of Mozambique, it was the heaviest blow possible. Many of us who lived in Mozambique, and indeed millions of other Africans, directly shared the pain and sorrow that was visible for everyone to see.
We had lost a great son of Africa, a leader, a visionary, strategist and a soldier who gave his all to the struggle for independence, freedom, social justice, equality and development.
In the 34 who died with him, we lost leaders, who had worked very closely with President Machel in shaping the future of a prosperous and peaceful Mozambique, who also contributed to our own liberation from racial oppression and domination.
Today as we remember them, we dip the revolutionary and freedom flag in their honour because their blood was not shed in vain.
There is no doubt that their tragic death on South African soil binds us further. That is why even today, we are standing united to commemorate this tragedy. We are united because the foundation of that unity was laid by the late President himself.
On February 14, 1981, President Machel made a profound statement when he described the friendship of the people of the two countries as "indissoluble," and said the 35 million strong Mozambican and South African oppressed people fighting for their liberation, would surely defeat the apartheid regime.
That historic speech, led to the declaration of the 14th of February as the Day of Friendship and solidarity between the people of Mozambique and South Africa.
Responding to that commitment, the late ANC President Oliver Tambo said, in a FRELIMO mass rally in Maputo on 14 February 1982: - (I quote), "You Mozambican people, made that commitment because you knew that Mozambique could only be truly free when South Africa is free. So long as there is no just peace in South Africa, founded on the freedom of all her people, Mozambique herself will never know peace. " (Unquote).
That "indissoluble" friendship between our people withstood attempts by the apartheid regime to drive a wedge between our people, through many tricks.
As we meet today at this Monument, we once again recommit ourselves to the friendship, solidarity and unity that have brought us this far.
This monument is a reminder of the tragedy and a symbol. But what is more significant is that President Samora Machel did not die in vain. He died for a just cause. We in South Africa have paid his memory the greatest tribute - by ending apartheid, something he looked forward to achieving in his lifetime!
Comrades and friends, as we stand before this monument, we cannot avoid the lingering question in our minds as to what exactly happened on that fateful day?
In asking this question, it is important for us to remember the political context and conditions that prevailed at the time of the air crash.
President Samora Machel had demonstrated an unwavering commitment to this region. He held a view that as long as racist settlers and apartheid South Africa surrounded Mozambique, the country would certainly never be free.
It is significant that when he died, he was once again on a mission of trying to solve the problems of this region.
One of the key strategies he was involved in at the time of his death was that of winning away from the apartheid regime, the countries that were used by the regime for its own interests at that time, such as Malawi and Zaire.
He had also realised and seen through the apartheid dirty tricks and dishonesty with regards to the Nkomati Accord and was at that time successfully exposing the apartheid regime. He continued the struggle to isolate the apartheid regime and to bring about its downfall.
President Samora Machel became even more of a serious threat to the apartheid regime. He had brought socialism to their doorstep and had successfully supported ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe, and they knew that his continued active support of the African National Congress would hasten the end of minority rule in South Africa. The regime also knew that he was a man of action, and that when he committed himself to something, he saw it to completion.
They knew that for as long as he lived, they would never rest, and that strategies to defeat apartheid would be more effective and our objectives would be quickly achieved. We believe that the truth will come out one day to confirm our conclusions as to what really killed this great leader.
Comrades and friends, while still having to deal with the pain of losing this revolutionary, we must also must also remember what President Samora Machel used to say on many occasions - A LUTA CONTINUA! The struggle continues.
Our victory of political emancipation needs to be underpinned by sustainable economic development and growth. We cannot claim complete victory until all our people in South Africa and in Mozambique can enjoy the real fruits of freedom and can live free from poverty, misery, disease and ignorance.
Indeed, the struggle continues for social and economic development in both our countries. We have to work together in the Southern African region to achieve that victory. The development and growth of the economies of South Africa and Mozambique are important to us all.
In pursuit of these objectives, South Africa and Mozambique co-operate on various projects.
Business to business linkages are on the increase, while successful joint ventures have been embarked upon, such as the Maputo Development Corridor and the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative.
South Africa is Mozambique's largest foreign direct investor and leading trading partner, and there are currently 250 South African companies operating in Mozambique, representing a diverse spectrum of small, medium and large businesses.
These and many other economic co-operation initiatives should unleash a stream of real opportunities for future co-operation and partnerships between Mozambican and South African business.
I believe it is of utmost importance that we as South Africans never forget the courage, sweat, determination, commitment, integrity and solidarity that the Mozambican people contributed to our freedom.
Therefore, being a South African must mean being able to extend solidarity and a hand of friendship across our borders for the sake of regional development and harmony. Our Mozambican brothers and sisters extended this friendship during the struggle against apartheid.
We need to encourage more people to people co-operation at grassroots level, to break down the barriers of ignorance, prejudice and misunderstanding wherever these may occur, so that the spirit of solidarity shown to South Africans during the dark days of apartheid, is carried on into the future.
Given the fact that we are commemorating this great leader who led the people of Mozambique to freedom and supported our own struggle, we in South Africa should therefore view the Mozambicans not as foreigners but as our brothers and sisters.
I believe that the greatest tribute of all that we can give to the memory of President Machel and the 34 other comrades who died with him is to build our two countries into great social and economic successes, that truly benefit their two peoples. Nothing short of this victory will befit their stature.
President Samora Machel gave his all for the freedom of South Africa but he did not complete his mission. We are now called upon and tasked to complete his mission, by uniting a people of our two countries and by eradicating under development.
Let's roll up our sleeves, be ready to make more sacrifices and face every challenge with great determination.
Long Live the memory o President Samora Machel! Viva a memoria do nos Presidente Samora Machel!
A LUTA CONTINUA!
Khani mambo Frelimo!