Hilton Hotel, Sandton, 10 June 2000
Mr Mandla Mandela, grandson of Madiba, here on behalf of our former State President
and world-respected leader
My Colleague, Minister Alec Erwin
Mr Eugene Julies, President and CEO of the South African Bureau of Standards
Fellow South Africans
Ladies and Gentleman -
It is indeed a pleasure to be here with you this evening and to participate in a ceremony further acknowledging the honour of and contributions made by Nelson Mandela, to the struggle for equity and justice for the people of South Africa. As all of us gathered here today know, Mr Mandela's life and ideals have had an affect far beyond the borders of a country, and his journey to freedom has illuminated a path to democracy for those living under oppression everywhere.
The SABS Gold Medal will be awarded to Madiba for his ongoing efforts in working for a better life for all and in striving to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. Given Mr Mandela's ongoing commitments, for instance in Burundi and other areas seeking peace, he is, unfortunately, not able to be with us this evening. However, he is represented by his grandson, Mr Mandla Mandela, whom I am sure will show us how well we can follow in the footsteps of our forebears!
Since completing his term as State President of South Africa, Mr Mandela has, based on his international standing and his inspiring ability to reconcile and forgive, become a beacon of hope to communities around the world where conflict has attacked the social fabric. I am sure that all of you will agree with me when I say that, since 1994, a miracle has happened in our wonderful land. South Africa is unique internationally in terms of the speed and success of its transition to democracy and is positioned to continue to attract the admiration and respect of people, leaders and countries around the world. Mr Mandela both embodied and symbolised the spirit of South Africa, which we all dreamed of and his legacy is taken forward in the vision of our new President, Mr Thabo Mbeki.
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that the awarding of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) Gold Medal could not be made to a better candidate. He is the person who laid the foundations on which our President and our government, in fact all of us, are now, as a nation, working for a better life.
Mr Mandela, Madiba, has had such a meaningful and multifaceted influence on our development and our establishment as a democracy that I will not even attempt to cover the range, scope and impact of his activities here. Suffice it to say that his work, past, present and future, bares testimony to his compassion, his love for the world and the people around him, his commitment to making a meaningful and significant improvement in the quality of life of his fellow human beings and his place in the hearts of communities around the world.
The awarding of the SABS Gold Medal to Mr Mandela is particularly appropriate when one considers the emphasis on quality that lies at the heart of the work of the SABS. Mr Mandela's life is an expression of the SABS's mission, which, as Mr Julies was saying to me earlier, is the improvement of the quality of life of all South Africans.
By his commitment to the enhancement of our lives, Nelson Mandela has set internationally recognised standards in leadership, statesmanship, peace initiatives, reconciliation and nation building. Nowhere can his commitment to the reconstruction and development of our people be seen more clearly than in his devotion to the plight of our children.
The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund is a shining example of Madiba's dedication to the needs and aspirations of the youth of South Africa. This forms part of his efforts to effectively address the historical disadvantage and current and emerging issues and challenges facing our youth. The young people of our country must be equipped to grapple with a challenging global economy and increasing competition for resources. Our children must be empowered to overcome the deadly grip of poverty, to know and effectively deal with threats such as HIV/Aids, to realise their potential and to make the most of the many opportunities that life affords them. Our children must grow up in an environment in which compassion and understanding for those around them are woven into the cultural fabric, where violence and crime are opposed and where environmentally sensitive sustainable development is possible.
There is no leader in the world that has set an equal example of realising one's dreams, to the benefit of all, as Mr Mandela. We should continue to find inspiration in his work and take strength from the power of his convictions and interventions aimed at the creation of a better life for all.
Ladies and gentlemen, an example suitable for use at tonight's occasion is the creation of a small, medium and micro-enterprises desk by the SABS, in line with the work of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. As the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund wishes to facilitate and create opportunities for children to successfully and positively integrate into society at all levels, so should our organisations and institutions take into cognisance the vital need to ensure that all of our people have the opportunity to join the mainstream economy. We should continue initiatives such as these to realise the economic empowerment of all our people, especially those who were previously disadvantaged.
In his statement at the World Economic Conference in Davos, Switzerland on 31 January 1991, Mr Mandela pointed out that the continued impoverishment of millions of people throughout the world has become one of the greatest sources of global instability. He stressed that this dire situation of poverty not only impacts on those who are deprived, but reverberates across the Globe and negatively affects all of us.
At this occasion Mr Mandela said that it is necessary that "a massive transfer of resources take place from north to south." One issue he addressed in this regard was the continued decline in the prices of commodities that the poorer countries export and the access to markets for their products.
As is the case with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, so the SABS wishes to help create new wealth for our country. The Fund wishes to achieve this by reuniting and reconstructing families, the SABS wants to help such exports through the promotion of standards that facilitate trade and assure quality. The instruments may differ, but the mission and goals are the same. And what better example to follow in this regard, than that of Nelson Mandela himself.
Mr Mandela pointed out that the transformation of South Africa should bring with it real changes in the material conditions of life of the people. "This", he said, and I quote, "is dictated both by the fact of widespread and endemic poverty that affects millions of black people in our country and the need to guarantee the success and permanence of democratic change".
Underlying many of the issues raised by Mr Mandela is the need for standards. If South African products meet international standards and quality requirements they should be very competitive on world markets in view of the current rate of exchange. It is in this regard that the SABS's core function - the preparation and provision of standards - has a very important role to play. Standards should support industry, the engine that drives our economy and puts the food on the tables of our people.
In closing on my brief and by no means comprehensive comments on Mr Mandela, I would like to say that that he has been the best "export product" for South Africa! He has become a symbol of the dynamic and inspiring identity of our country, both locally and abroad. He led us wisely in the difficult period since 1994 when we had so much to do and ensured financial stability and the normalization of our economy after years of isolation.
I think that it is only proper that his contribution should be acknowledged in South Africa by the award of the SABS Gold Medal. This is, I might add, done only in very exceptional circumstances, and only to people who are the very embodiment of the SABS's mission - "to improve the quality of life in South Africa".
To Mr Mandla Mandela - I thank you for being here.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen and thank you.
10 June 2000