Waterkloof Air Force Base Pretoria, 18 April 2002
The Director of Ceremonies,
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is truly a proud moment for all of us, as we now officially launch the Moral Regeneration Movement, which will be the vehicle through which we will begin the journey towards reviving our collective morality.
Through this movement, we now have a common vehicle through which we will renew and reinforce our values, and restore a sense of pride, dignity and respect in our nation.
I am sure that you will agree with me that the Summit has been an important signal of the country's commitment to this important national priority programme.
I am convinced that you also share the view that the success of this movement cannot be judged only on its launch, for today is only the beginning of a more demanding programme for all of us, running over the next few years.
The MRM, as a broad-based dynamic movement, will continue to mobilise communities across the country to drive the moral renewal process.
The strength of the launch is that it commits all of us to the denunciation of an immoral social order and a promotion of a collective common South African identity as envisaged in the Constitution.
We all speak in one voice in denouncing such things as violence, corruption, and rape of our mothers, children and infants, beating of our partners and wives, and the exploitation of the poor.
We have committed ourselves to promoting the common good that is based on our humanity, and to the promotion of the values of compassion, integrity, freedom, peace, justice and respect for one another.
In doing this, we have, through the deliberations here, recommitted ourselves to upholding and promoting the Constitution of our country.
Certainly, we have committed ourselves to a new way of life, which will put in place integrity models in our society in order to contain the scourge of corruption and address the needs of the most vulnerable of our community.
There can be no moral regeneration if ordinary South Africans do not drive the process. What is unique about this 'full partnership of all the people' we envisage is that it must mobilise every man, woman and child at every level of our country, around an initial national four year Programme of Action.
Ladies and gentlemen, today we have reflected on all the existing programmes, knowledge and tools for moral renewal from all sectors of society. We have looked at what was needed, in addition, to reinforce and advance these. We have also looked at what was expected from each one of us to realise the ideal of a confident society with a strong moral fibre.
All sectors have committed themselves to working within their areas of influence and responsibility, to make sure that this movement lives within each and every one of us.
Another important front on which we must win the battle for the hearts, minds and souls of our people, is the kind of role models the youth can aspire to. In this regard, we must build on the vast pool of positive role models we have in all sectors, to make them an inspiration for our youth.
This is part of the enormous tasks that will have to be carried through by the MRM. The work of the MRM will be promoted through the National Working Committee that was set up in November 2001, which has been expanded to include more sectoral representatives.
It is critical that all of us understand that the MRM is a movement of the people. Therefore, its success will largely depend on the extent to which people work successfully, closely, together at all levels of society.
Through the MRM, we will ensure that our ongoing work is connected to a framework of intended outcomes, based on time frames that and can effectively be monitored. There is clearly a lot of work that needs to be done, even in terms of structuring the MRM itself as an organisation and establishing it at different levels.
It is important that we ensure that this Summit results in concrete action.
In this regard, within three months from now, we expect provinces to report back on the extensive consultations they would have held with various structures, communities and neighbourhoods.
The MRM is an opportunity to redouble our efforts, as a full partnership of the people, to translate our words, and commitment, into actions and a strong commitment amongst all citizens to stay the course. We have come here in all earnestness because of the pressing nature of the issues.
Let us now go back to our communities and breathe life into this important fight, through today's example and through popular mobilisation. Our quest for moral rejuvenation provides a solid foundation for our children, and theirs, to become ethical and socially responsible citizens.
It has been truly an honour for me, Chairperson, to launch the Moral Regeneration Movement, and to interact with my countrymen and women here today. I am convinced that what we have started today, will soon bear fruit and will become a strong catalyst for developing a caring and humane society.
I Thank You.