Monsterlus Stadium, Northern Province, 03 January 2002
Directors of Ceremonies, Comrade MJ Mahlangu,
Chairperson of Committees (National Assembly); and Councillor Queen Mahlangu;
The Premier of Northern Province, Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi;
The Premier of Mpumalanga Province, Comrade Ndaweni Mahlangu;
From the Northern Province Provincial Government, allow me to acknowledge the presence of;
MEC for Transport, Comrade Tshenuwani Farisani;
MEC for Agriculture, Comrade Aaron Motswaledi;
MEC for Local Government and Housing, Comrade Joe Maswanganyi;
MEC for Safety and Security, Comrade Dikeledi Magadzi;
MEC in the Premier’s Office, Comrade Catherine Mabuza.
From the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, we have with us today;
MEC for Roads, Public Works and Transport, Comrade Jabulani Mabona;
MEC for Local Government and Traffic, Comrade Mahomed Bhabha;
MEC for Health, Comrade Sibongile Manana;
From our Local Government;
Your Worship the Mayor of Sekhukhune Cross-Border Municipality, Comrade Dickson Masemola;
The Mayor of the Greater Grobelasdal Municipality, Clr A. Leope;
The Mayor of Greater Marble Hall, Clr MG Tshehla;
The Mayor of Feta Kgomo,
The Mayor of Tubatse,
Our Local Councillors;
Our Traditional Leaders led by Kgosi Mahlangu;
Baruti (Our Religious Leaders);
OUR DEAR BROTHERS, SISTERS AND CHILDREN OF THE GREATER CHEGO
FAMILY;
RELATIVES AND FRIENDS; COMRADES.
WE HAVE ALL GATHERED HERE AT THE HLOGOTLOU TODAY TO SHARE IN THE GRIEF OF THE CHEGO FAMILY, TO PRAY WITH THEM FOR THEIR DEPARTED LOVED ONES, TO OFFER THEM OUR SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT, AND TO HELP THEM TO MAKE THE UNBEARABLE LOSS WHICH THEY HAVE SUFFERED AND LITTLE BIT LESS UNBEARABLE.
TODAY, WE CONVERGE TO DRAW A CURTAIN ON A UNIQUE FAMILY SOLIDARITY AS WE COME TO PAY OUR RESPECT TO 48 LOVED ONES WHO WERE TO YOU, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FATHERS AND MOTHERS, CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN, MENTORS AND ROLE MODELS. WE HAVE COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO BID FAREWELL TO THEM.
WHAT A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IT IS WHICH HAS BEFALLEN ONE FAMILY – 48 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN LOSING THEIR LIVES IN ONE HORRIFIC ACCIDENT.
ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT I CONVEY DEEPEST AND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE CHEGO FAMILY. WE WISH YOU STRENGTH IN THE DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD. WE WANT THE FAMILY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WITH THEM IN THEIR MOMENT OF GRIEF. WE KNOW THAT YOUR PAIN AND SORROW ARE IMMEASURABLE. WE CAN TRY TO GRASP AS WE DO THE DEPTH OF YOUR GRIEF. BUT PLEASE BE COMFORTED BY THE FACT THAT THE NATION SHARES YOUR SORROW, AND THAT WE ARE HERE TO HOLD YOUR HAND IN THE HOUR OF NEED.
THE COMBINED FUNERAL OF YOUR DEPARTED LOVED ONES LIES AHEAD OF YOU.
WE ARE SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH YOU - AS NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS - AS YOU ENGAGE IN THE LAST RITUALS AND PREPARE TO LAY TO REST ALL 48 OF YOUR DEPARTED LOVED ONES IN TWO DAYS TIME.
HON PREMIERS, DISTINGUISHED FELLOW MOURNERS AND MEMBERS OF THE CHEGO FAMILY; THE TRAGEDY WHICH OCCURRED ON THE EVENING OF 30 DECEMBER 2001 ALONG THE 15 KM NARROW DUST ROAD AT HARTELUS, IN THE ROSSENEKAL DISTRICT NEAR STOFFBERG IN MPUMALANGA IS ALL THE GREATER BECAUSE THAT LAST JOURNEY WAS NOT TO A CELEBRATION OR A PARTY BUT A PILGRIMAGE, A RELIGIOUS AND CEREMONIAL EVENT TO THE FAMILY’S ANCESTRAL LAND AT TUBATSI. AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, THE JOURNEY HAS RE-UNITED THE 48 MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY WITH THEIR ANCESTORS. MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS MYSELF TO THE CHEGO FAMILY.
I SAW SOME OF YOU WHEN YOU VISITED YOUR INJURED RELATIVES AT HOSPITAL ON 31ST DECEMBER, THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR 2001. I WAS TOGETHER WITH ACTING PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN PROVINCE, HON AARON MOTSWALEDI, THE MEC FOR HEALTH, COMRADE SIBONGILE MANANA AND MEC FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TRAFFIC, COMRADE MOHAMED BHABHA IN MPUMALANGA PROVINCE AND AS WELL AS THREE EXECUTIVE MAYORS PLUS SENIOR OFFICIALS.
WE WITNESSED THE SHOCK, ANGUISH, BEWILDERMENT AND PAIN, WHICH YOU WERE EXPERIENCING. NOTHING WE SAID THEN AND NOTHING WE SAY NOW WILL BRING BACK YOUR LOVED ONES BUT I WANT YOU - AS THE CHEGO FAMILY - TO KNOW THAT WE ADMIRE AND RESPECT YOU FOR THE WAY YOU HAVE TRIED TO COPE WITH THE HISTORICAL INJUSTICES PERPETRATED AGAINST YOU DURING OUR COUNTRY’S SAD HISTORY OF LAND DISPOSSESSION AND DISEMPOWERMENT.
LIKE MANY TRIBES, CLANS AND FAMILIES ALL OVER SOUTH AFRICA, YOUR CLAN WAS A VICTIM OF LAND DISPOSSESSION. YOU WERE FORCED-OFF YOUR ANCESTRAL LAND. IT NOW BELONGS TO ANOTHER. COMING TO THE NORTHERN PROVINCE TODAY AND MPUMALANGA PROVINCE 3 DAYS AGO, I COULD SENSE THE BURNING DESIRE FOR JUSTICE – FOR THE LAND QUESTION TO BE ADDRESSED – WITHOUT WHICH POLITICAL RIGHTS AND POLITICAL EQUALITY WILL NOT HAVE MUCH MEANING FOR THOSE WHO WERE AND REMAIN VICTIMS OF FORCED REMOVALS AND LAND DISPOSSESSION.
THE TRAGEDY OF 30 DECEMBER COMES AT A TIME WHEN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ORGANISATIONS ARE MAKING AN ASSESSMENT OF WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTRY AND AS A GOVERNMENT ON LAND REFORM. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY JUBILATION FROM THOSE WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE THOSE WHOSE NEEDS HAVE NOT BEEN MET AND WHO CONTINUE TO REMIND US THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE IN ORDER TO SPEED UP CHANGE.
WE WANT TO SAY TODAY AT THIS MEMORIAL SERVICE THAT A BETTER LIFE IS WHAT WE ARE STRIVING FOR, NOT FOR A FEW, BUT FOR ALL. MOST OF OUR PEOPLE ARE THE MAJORITY OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES WHO LIVE IN WHAT USED TO BE CALLED RESERVES OR BANTUSTANS AND WHOSE QUEST IS FOR MORE LAND AND DEVELOPMENT AND SECURE TENURE THAT IS RECOGNISED BY THE LAWS OF OUR LAND.
LAND REFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA ARISES FROM THE SCALE AND SCOPE OF THE LAND DISPOSSESSION OF THE AFRICAN PEOPLE THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE 1652. THE WHITE MINORITY BASED THE DISPOSSESSION ON THE CONTROL AND DOMINANCE OVER THE BLACK MAJORITY OF THIS COUNTRY.
MILLIONS OF AFRICAN PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED INTO EVER SMALLER AND POORER PATCHES OF LAND, RESULTING IN OVERCROWDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. THESE LATER WERE KNOWN AS NATIVE RESERVES, WHICH SERVED AS POOLS OF CHEAP MIGRANT LABOUR FOR WHITE-OWNED FARMS AND MINING COMPANIES.
ALL OF US ADMIRE YOUR DETERMINATION AS THE CHEGO FAMILY TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN THE FAMILY AND TRIBAL LINK, THE CLAN’S TOGETHERNESS AND THE COMFORT, THE SOLIDARITY AND MUTUAL SUPPORT FOR EACH OTHER. THAT DETERMINATION IS EVIDENT FROM HOW YOU RESPONDED TO THE LOSS OF LAND AND TO THE DISPERSAL OF FAMILY MEMBERS ACROSS A NUMBER OF THE VILLAGES ACROSS THE SEKHUKHUNE DISTRICT.
YOU STRUGGLED AND SUCCEEDED TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER AND ORGANISED EVENTS - HUMBLE THOUGH THEY MAY BE - WHICH HELD THE CLAN, TOGETHER.
EVERY YEAR YOU PAID A CEREMONIAL AND RITUAL VISIT TO THE ANCESTRAL VILLAGE TO PRAY AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR ANCESTORS. IN THIS WAY YOU CREATED A LINK BETWEEN THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. YOU STRENGTHENED AND BUILT UP VALUES - COMMUNITY VALUES, FAMILY VALUES, SOCIAL VALUES AND MORAL VALUES - ALL OF WHICH HELPED TO SHAPE PERSONALITIES, CHARACTERS, ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS OF ALL CLAN MEMBERS.
THROUGH YOUR INITIATIVES YOU HAVE HELPED TO PROVIDE THAT UNSEEN CEMENT WHICH KEEPS SOCIETY TOGETHER AND WHICH HELP TO PROMOTE SELF RESPECT, RESPECT FOR OTHERS, RESPECT FOR THE LIFE AND DIGNITY OF EACH HUMAN BEING. IT IS YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO MAKING UBUNTU (BOTHO) A UNIVERSAL VALUE IN OUR SOCIETY.
YEAR AFTER YEAR PAINSTAKINGLY AND AT COST, WHICH WAS A BURDEN SHARED BY ALL, YOU ORGANISED SUCH TRANSPORT, WHICH YOU COULD AFFORD. YOU WENT FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE TO GATHER THE CLAN, BRING THEM TOGETHER AND MOVE TOGETHER TO YOUR ANCESTRAL VILLAGE. THIS YOU DID EACH YEAR UNTIL THE FATEFUL DAY 30 DECEMBER 2001.
ALL SOUTH AFRICANS WOULD WANT TO HONOUR YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU MAINTAINED THE INTEGRITY OF THE CLAN AND KEPT ALIVE THE LINK WITH YOUR PAST DESPITE ALL DIFFICULTIES. I THINK IT HAS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEFORE 30 DECEMBER 2001 THAT YOU KEEP UP THAT TRADITION. BUT YOU HAVE PAID VERY DEARLY FOR SOME LESSONS MUST BE LEARNED BY ALL.
IN THE FUTURE WE NEED TO MAKE PROPER ARRANGEMENTS, INCLUDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRANSPORT. WE MUST OBSERVE THE LAW AND THE RULES OF THE ROAD AND WHEN WE CONVEY LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WE MUST TAKE EXTRA CARE THAT OUR VEHICLES ARE ROADWORTHY, THAT WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL ARRIVE ALIVE. BUT THE ANNUAL RITUALS MUST CONTINUE AND WE MUST HELP TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU, THE CHEGO FAMILY, AND OTHERS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO KEEP ALIVE THE TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF OUR PEOPLE.
ALLOW ME AT THIS STAGE TO THANK THE CHEGO FAMILY, ITS ELDERS, FATHERS AND MOTHERS AND THE TRADITIONAL LEADERS, OUR CHIEFS, FOR THE ROLE THEY HAVE PLAYED OVER THE YEARS. YOU NOW FACE AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE AND OUR DIFFERENT TIERS OF GOVERNMENT -NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL - WISH YOU STRENGTH AND OFFER YOU OUR SOLIDARITY.
IF MY WORDS THUS FAR HAVE FOCUSSED ON THE CHEGO FAMILY, I WOULD BE FAILING IN MY DUTY IF I DO NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ROAD SAFETY.
I DO NOT WANT TO PASS JUDGMENT ON WHAT CAUSED THE HORRIFIC ACCIDENT. THE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE MATTER. THE DRIVER HAS ALREADY BEING BROUGHT TO COURT AND HE IS FACING CHARGES OF CULPABLE HOMICIDE. THEREFORE I MUST LEAVE IT TO THE COURTS TO MAKE APPROPRIATE FINDINGS. BUT I AM SURE THAT THE FOLLOWING ARE AMONG THE ISSUES, WHICH MUST BE INVESTIGATED.
1. WAS THE TRUCK OVERLOADED? WE ARE TOLD THERE WERE BETWEEN 120 AND 130 PERSONS BEING CONVEYED.
2. WAS THE TRUCK IN A ROADWORTHY CONDITION?
3. WAS THE DRIVER FIT TO DRIVE?
4. WHAT ABOUT THE ROAD AND ROAD CONDITION AND DID THE DRIVER ADJUST HIS DRIVING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SUCH CONDITIONS?
WE LEAVE THESE MATTERS IN THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE THE DUTY TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATIONS AND ALSO TO OUR COURTS.
AT THE SAME TIME IT IS NOT OUT OF PLACE TO SAY THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ACCIDENTS IN OUR COUNTRY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY RECKLESS AND NEGLIGENT DRIVING, DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF LIQUOR, SPEEDING AND INCONSIDERATE DRIVING. OVER 200 PEDESTRIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED ON OUR ROADS DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. UNFORTUNATELY BAD PEDESTRIAN BEHAVIOUR (SUCH AS BEING DRUNK ON ROADS, CROSSING ROAD WHEN UNSAFE TO DO SO, JAYWALKING, AND LACK OF VISIBILITY) HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTS AND LOSS OF LIFE.
AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT 758 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER 2001. ALMOST 300 OF THEM ARE PASSENGERS.
THE TIME HAS COME FOR ALL SOUTH AFRICAN ROAD-USERS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN LIVES AND SAFETY AND THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF OTHERS.
THE LAW AND RULES OF THE ROAD ARE THERE TO ENSURE AND MAINTAIN ORDER AND SAFETY ON OUR ROADS. WE MUST ALL OBSERVE THE RULES SUCH AS:
1. DO NOT SPEED;
2. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE;
3. DO NOT OVERLOAD;
4. WEAR YOUR SEATBELT;
5. ENSURE DRIVER AND VEHICLE FITNESS; AND
6. PROMOTE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
THESE ARE OUR ROAD SAFETY COMMANDMENTS. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THEM LEAD TO SORROW AND GRIEF. ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENT OUR ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY CALLED ROAD TO SAFETY 2001-2005 WITH VIGUE. THE ROAD TO SAFETY STRATEGY AIMS TO ADDRESS KEY SYSTEMIC ISSUES SUCH AS DRIVER TESTING CENTRES, VEHICLE TESTING STATIONS, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, FLEET MANAGEMENT, COMBATING OVERLOADING AND DEALING WITH FRAUD AND CORRUPTION.
WE APPEAL FOR COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS TO ENSURE THAT THE TRAGEDY OF 30 DECEMBER 2001 WILL NEVER BE REPEATED AGAIN.
IN CONCLUSION, I WANT TO COMMEND THE NORTHERN PROVINCE FOR AN OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AND HARD WORK DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. IT IS THE PROVINCE WITH THE LEAST NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS UNTIL NOW. OF COURSE ONE LOSS OF LIFE IS ONE TOO MANY. BUT THE REDUCTION OF DEATHS IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE IS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF THE LEADERSHIP PROVIDED BY THE NORTHERN PROVINCE GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY THE MEC FOR TRANSPORT REV FARISANI.
MY WORD OF APPRECIATION ALSO GOES TO:
FOR YOUR CONTINUE SUPPORT.
ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENCY, AND ENTIRE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT I CONVEY DEEPEST AND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE CHEGO FAMILY. WE WISH YOU STRENGTH IN THE DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD.
FOR OUR LOVED ONES WE SAY; ROBALANG KA KHUTSO.
Issued by Mike Mabasa
HEAD: Media Liaison and Corporate Communication
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT