Programme director for this privilege of addressing this event that is dedicated to our hero and veteran President Mandela. Regional chair my congratulations to the REC for bringing all those present to celebrate the life of President Mandela. Greetings to my comrades representing the Free State provincial executive committee. Greetings too to the traditional leadership present here, king Mopedi the chiefs and other traditional leaders. All of us know Madiba played an important role in restoring the status and dignity of traditional leadership in South Africa. He was a chief and knew the indignity visited upon traditional leaders who resisted apartheid. president Mandela revived the institution and created space for traditional leaders to play a full role in the development of their communities and in creating a better society. I also greet branch leadership who brought our branches here without you we would be without an organisation.
There have been thousands of eloquent tributes to our dear leader President Mandela. All of them have given us a full sense this great man, his character,his leadership, his love of South Africa, his sacrifices for and commitment to you and I, his people. The people of South Africa, Africa and the world.
President Mandela believed that behavior is not an accidental product of nature but is acquired through social interaction and nurturing. He said the following on this nurturing " one of the most powerful ways of children and young adults acquiring values is to see individuals they admire and respect exemplify those values in their own being and conduct. Parents and educators or politicians or priests who say one thing and do another send mixed messages to those in their charge who learn not to trust them. The question of leadership is therefore of vital importance. Madiba never behaved in a confusing manner his signals could be trusted. He was not like a person who imbibes alcohol and gets drunk while telling his children to beware of alcohol.
We know Madiba as a leader who chose reconciliation over revenge. He even I embraced those who had been his political enemies and made them believe in freedom and the benefits it brings to society. He is a leader whose moral courage defined our era of liberation so much so that history books are already defining the period of our freedom as the "age of Mandela".
The key values that defined this veteran, isithwalandwe, our leader are hard work,he was never lazy, respect for the lowest to the loftiest reconciliation and dignity. He did not refer to these values in populist speeches to please audiences ,he lived by them. Unlike many leaders who say what audiences want to hear, President Mandela meant and believed in what he said. We see these values in his life, his work,and his personal conduct. You comrades know of leaders who talk good values and steal contracts and public funds, that never happened with Madiba.
Many ask how will we honour President Mandela beyond erecting statues and renaming buildings? How will this giant who laid the foundations of our democracy be reflected in the life of the ANC his beloved organisation, in politics, in governance and in our society.? This is a question each of us must answer. Within the ANC we must reflect Madiba a leader within a collective and not a self obsessed egotist. president never sought to advance himself, he always pursued the good of all. There are many leaders who believe they are the centre of leadership that all must revolve around them.Madiba was not this leader with an ego. His example of collective leadership is shown by the enduring friendship of Mandela, Sisulu, Tambo, kathrada, Mlangeni and many others. These are leaders who were never a faction,who united for a good cause and pursued it. They never came together to plot against other ANC members,they had a cause and unity of purpose. They understood, the people were oppressed they resolved to change that condition and due to their unity they succeeded. Madiba and his compatriots who worked together to defeat apartheid knew that unity not division,not factions, is strength. They were never corrupt, never forgot their mandate of service to the people. We must honour Mandela and all our former leaders by rejecting factions, working as collectives, working honestly. For the good of all. Look around you who is your collective who is your lifelong friend in the ANC . Not friend for tenders or jobs for your family friend in building a strong ANC and building a better life.
You also know President Mandela believed very firmly in the transformative value of education- we will be honoring his memory if we ensure all children ,of all backgrounds enjoy quality education from grade R to university level.
President Mandela devoted his latter years to the care and nurturing of children. We will honour him if we love our children ,protect them from sexual predators and ensure they grow in communities that love and protect them.
One of the last projects of President Mandela was to build a children's hospital the largest in Africa. We will honour him if we in our branches contribute to the realization of this dream.
President Mandela also understood the importance of the rule of law - that is why he led the drafting of a Constitution that cemented democracy and the equality of all . A constitution that protects all of us and whose full meaning is still to be realized.
We will live and honour Mandela by ensuring that all he lived and fought for is expanded to benefit all people especially the most marginalized and poorest in our society.
I recall in conclusion the Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka's poem on Mandela.
Your bounty threatens me Mandela
that taut drumskin of your heart
on which our millions dance
I fear we latch,fat leeches
on your veins. Our daily
Imprecations,
Dull keen edges of your will
Compromises deplete your act's repletion
Feeding will voided stomachs
Of a continent,
What will be left of you
Mandela?
Issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs
Contact: Lunga Ngqengelele, MLO – Minister’s Office, 012 432 6646, 082 566 0446