9 November 2001
The Principal of Sizameleni School;
Trustees of the Peace and Reconstruction Foundation;
Parents, learners and the community at large;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen;
I am very pleased to be able to be with all of you here this afternoon, to share in the joyous occasion of the official hand-over of your new school.
It is always good to celebrate important community events such as this.
The education of its youth is a matter of major importance to every country.
In Africa in particular, there is the need for us to catch up with the technology of the highly developed world, so that our various countries can compete on more equal terms in the international markets.
A great deal is said about this concept of globalisation and all the benefits that will flow from this. That is well and true, as long as we are all operating from the same base. The area where there has been the most remarkable growth in recent years, is that of information technology, and Africa as a whole has a long way to go to catch up with America, Europe and Japan in that field in particular.
It is only through the investment in the education of our children that we can hope to develop the necessary competitive edge in years to come. That is the reason we are here today, to celebrate as well as be part of this investment in the future. We look to the present generation of school-goers to take us into this future.
I recognise the difficulties under which many of our schools, particularly in the rural areas, have to function. I have seen your old classrooms and I know that you had to operate under difficult conditions.
At the same time, I must commend you for your dedication to learning which has enabled you to study in spite of this hardship and discomfort. Indeed, I am most impressed with the spirit, which I see here today. I believe that this will guarantee that with your new facilities your school will grow, not only in the numbers of your students, but also in the quality of your education and the grades that will equip you for higher levels of education in the future.
The most unlikely and poorly equipped schools have produced some of the most amazing results for our children. A short while ago when inspecting another school renovated by the Peace and Reconstruction Foundation, I was shown a working model of a radio, made by a young primary school student out of cardboard and bits and pieces of equipment which he had been able to gather and assemble.
Examples such as this convince me that the children of Africa will bring pride to our continent.
The Peace and Reconstruction Foundation, of which I am a Trustee, together with two other co-funders (the de Beers Foundation and McCarthy Retail) paid for the building of your new school facilities in recognition of the state of peace, which you now enjoy in Wembezi. We all recall the violence, which nearly destroyed this whole community a few years ago.
Over the years, the PRF has been able to reward many communities in KwaZulu Natal, which have been able to overcome the traumatic conflicts of the late 1980's and early 1990's. It has, with the involvement of these communities, been able to rebuild homes that were destroyed in this violence, repair schools and even build community halls and crèches. We congratulate the people in Wembezi for being able to work together for the benefit of your whole community, in this case the building of Sizameleni. We have already, as I am sure you all know, also rebuilt a number of classrooms and upgraded other facilities, at the nearby Zola School.
There are many other communities in KwaZulu Natal, which also should be rewarded for their peace efforts. I believe that recognition of peace is one of the most important causes in our country, and across our continent, today.
As you know, I have involved in Burundi, assisting Former President Mandela in his efforts to bring about peace and stability in that country.
In closing, let me share with you this proverb:
"When you plan for one year ahead, you plant your maize and pumpkins.
When you plan for five years ahead, you plant trees.
When you plan ahead for twenty years, you educate your children"
This is what children and teachers, parents and community, and PRF Trustees are celebrating this afternoon.
These buildings may not be the final stage of development of your school.
In fact, from what I have heard about your Principal, Mr Ndlovu, I am sure that he will continue to seek out donors for additional new buildings to further improve your training facilities. This will remain, however, a symbol of peace in Wembezi.
I wish you all the best of success in your continued efforts.
I thank you.