We live in a South Africa where many people
are so focused on their own endeavours, ambition, business, wins or losses,
problems or success that they forget to look beyond their immediate situation
to take action as a positive, united collective. Today financial commentators
are analyzing the rand to the ninth degree based on current politics when in
fact the rest of the world are so wrapped up in their own politics and economic
policies that the latest turn of events is really just another day in Africa
which with repeated, ongoing speculation is magnifying the turn of events ten-fold. The university protesting students are so
intent on being destructive without paying any attention to
several offers of assistance to work with them on a sustainable free education
model that it defies logic. If protesting
students do not wish to complete their academic year, they could at least elect to
put their own time and the remainder of the year into building a fees model
with other interested parties who would like to help them achieve this goal.
This is the
essence of our collective success - an achievement that no sceptic can take
away from our nation. In this regard, we should congratulate all South Africans
for the reconciliatory spirit with which they have handled the transition, and
for their patience, as the new government found its feet.
One of the most crucial indices of success is how this fund is eliciting changes in the spending priorities of government departments at all levels, while maintaining fiscal discipline.
The second crucial question pertains to the task of ensuring that the public service becomes a servant of the public in fact! We commend members of the public service who have demonstrated their loyalty to the new government and their preparedness to adapt to new conditions.
It is not enough for business to concern itself with how its interests are protected under the current dispensation. Rather business should be part of the process of determining policy, with the full realisation that this entails both gearing business towards the objectives of growth and equity and ensuring active participation in the socio-economic programmes to uplift the disadvantaged.
Both the labour movement and large and small businesses should be fully involved in developing strategies for successful economic growth and equity, as partners with government.
The economic signs are encouraging, and the upswing is steadily consolidating. A growth rate of more than three per cent is no longer a pipe-dream. But this depends on co-operation among all sectors of the population in finding solutions to any constraints on economic growth, development and equity.
Let us harness the nation's energies to more rapidly develop and reconstruct our country. In this way, our society will experience meaningful and lasting reconciliation.
Thank You.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was Nelson
Mandela’s success. Nelson Mandela cast
his first vote in a South African democratic election on 27 April 1994, four
years after his release from prison 11 February 1990 and this was 18 years
after the Soweto student protests in 1976.
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison studying leadership strategy and
history. He analyzed the successes and
failures of all leaders from around the world and from different eras to build
his own leadership capacity. He is still
apparently, the most valuable brand in South Africa. We should all be following Nelson Mandela’s
lead, which was primarily to build a successful, peaceful South Africa for all
on a sound foundation of educational opportunities. Let us work together to do so.
In the Words of
Nelson Mandela
On
Reconciliation
“The mission of reconciliation is underpinned by what
I have dedicated my life to:
uplifting the most downtrodden sections of our
population and all round transformation of society. Reconstruction goes hand in hand with
reconciliation.”
On Survival
“For me, survival is the ability to cope with
difficulties,
with circumstances, and to overcome them.”
EXTRACTS FROM OPENING ADDRESS BY
PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET DEBATE - 18 AUGUST 1994
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET DEBATE - 18 AUGUST 1994
Madame Speaker and Deputy Speaker, President
of the Senate and Deputy President,
Deputy Presidents, Distinguished members
of parliament, Esteemed guests, Comrades,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I stand
before you aware of the momentous times that we are traversing. These times
also demand of us that we regularly account to this August assembly about the
work entrusted to us by the electorate.
At the end
of the day, the yardstick that we shall all be judged by is one and one only:
and that is, are we, through our endeavours here, creating the basis to better
the lives of all South Africans! Neither is it because there is a
magic wand that they see in the new government. Millions have suffered
deprivation for decades and they have the right to seek redress.
A hundred
days ago, the President and Deputy Presidents of the new democratic republic
were sworn in. Our people and the whole world marveled at what has been
variously characterised as a miracle and an epoch-making event.
Are we
worthy of their trust and confidence?
From the
outset, the government of National Unity set itself two interrelated tasks:
reconciliation and reconstruction, nation-building and development. This is
South Africa's challenge today. It will remain our challenge for many years to
come.
A hundred
days after our inauguration, our overwhelming impression of our reality is
that:
- Our nation has succeeded to handle its problems with great wisdom;
- We have a government that has brought together bitter enemies into a constructive relationship;
- Our parliament and cabinet have properly focused on the task of reconstruction and development; and
- We have a government that is in control and whose programmes are on course.
One of the most crucial indices of success is how this fund is eliciting changes in the spending priorities of government departments at all levels, while maintaining fiscal discipline.
The second crucial question pertains to the task of ensuring that the public service becomes a servant of the public in fact! We commend members of the public service who have demonstrated their loyalty to the new government and their preparedness to adapt to new conditions.
It is not enough for business to concern itself with how its interests are protected under the current dispensation. Rather business should be part of the process of determining policy, with the full realisation that this entails both gearing business towards the objectives of growth and equity and ensuring active participation in the socio-economic programmes to uplift the disadvantaged.
Both the labour movement and large and small businesses should be fully involved in developing strategies for successful economic growth and equity, as partners with government.
The economic signs are encouraging, and the upswing is steadily consolidating. A growth rate of more than three per cent is no longer a pipe-dream. But this depends on co-operation among all sectors of the population in finding solutions to any constraints on economic growth, development and equity.
Let us harness the nation's energies to more rapidly develop and reconstruct our country. In this way, our society will experience meaningful and lasting reconciliation.
Thank You.
Subject: Nelson Mandela's 100 Day Speech to Parliament
From: ancdip@wn.apc.org (tim jenkin)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Date: 18 Aug 94 16:01 BST
