East London, 19 September 2000
Issued by: Office of the Presidency
Masters of ceremony,
Chairman of Daimler Chrysler, Mr. Jurgen Shrempp,
Distinguished Guests,
Workers,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am indeed grateful to be amongst you today as we celebrate the launch of this important production line here in East London.
On behalf of the government and people of this country, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the management of Daimler Chrysler for having chosen South Africa as a place to build the new C-Class models not only for the domestic market but for the international market.
I particularly want to thank you because the investment into this plant, not only demonstrates confidence in our country, but it also helps to communicate a message that there is something this country can offer to the world.
It is a message that I think many business people here and abroad should understand well that, this country is ready and able to compete and be part of the global economy. Given the chance, through investments such as the one that Daimler Chrysler is making, we are able to intensify the process of eliminating problems that arise as the result of the absence of resources, lack of jobs and general underdevelopment.
I am confident that all of us, including the workers and the communities in this part of our country will not betray this trust that you have put on us.
I trust that both management and workers here, would want to make this plant a shining example. An example of how in the democratic South Africa we can build sound and constructive labour relations, based on integrity, honesty, maturity that helps us to look at the totality of things rather than adopt a narrow, selfish and subjective view.
I am confident that the view that we would want to adopt is the one that says, we want the world to look at this plant with envy such that, many others would want to follow the example of Daimler Chrysler to invest here in East London and in other parts of South Africa.
The theme of this occasion 'Build' resonates with our own vision, as government, of building a non-racial, non-sexist democracy where the entire nation is hard at work to bring change to the living conditions of all our people.
Our understanding of today's theme, which I am confident is the same as yours', is that we as government, the private sector, the community and workers must enter into meaningful partnerships.
These partnerships should help us to plan together and jointly make appropriate choices.
Together we should work tirelessly to ensure that we raise the levels of productivity at plants such as this, improve the skills of the workers, contribute to the all-round progress of our country and ensure the participation of everyone of us.
This plant must build a partnership of hard work, of mutual respect, of bringing about success. Success not for management or for workers as different entities, but success for the whole Daimler Chrysler company, success for all the people of East London and success for the rest of South Africa.
We need to infuse a new spirit of togetherness, of solidarity, of being inspired by the same vision - a vision of development, of effort, of innovation and of human values.
Because of the intense international competition that every company faces, we should all be aware of this challenge and the roles each one of us have to play.
I have confidence that we have what it takes to meet this challenge.
We have to turn into reality the dream that you mention in your 'Build Message', where one stands next to another and builds together, where we harness the great challenge of change and together build a company, a family and our community.
In this regard, we build people so that we can build our future and in so doing build our country. I don't think there is anyone who can disagree with this kind of vision.
I therefore would like to challenge all of us to commit ourselves to this vision and work out mechanisms of evaluating our progress towards the realisation of these goals.
Government is willing and ready to assist whenever we are required. I trust that we will all rise to the challenge.
I wish this new plant success.
I thank you.