Speech by the Honourable Chief Whip of the Majority Party in Parliament, Dr Mathole Motshekga, MP at the occassion of the Celebration of Nelson Mandela

18 July 2009, Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown, Johannesburg

Honourable Deputy President, Mr Kaglema Motlanthe
Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Lulu Xingwana
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Comrade Dennis Goldberg
The Mandela Family
Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile
Premier of Gauteng Province, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane
Leaders of various Political Parties and structures
Members of the 4th Democratic Parliament
Religious leaders, Traditional leaders, and Traditional leaders

We are gathered here to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 67 years of uninterrupted and selfless contribution to the liberation of black people in general and Africans in particular. Like his predecessors notably Z R Mahabane, Chief Albert Luthuli, OR Tambo, Nelson Mandela understood that the liberation of black people entails, in particular the recovery of humanity (ubuntu/botho) and its inherent values of equality, freedom and justice for all, black and white.

In pursuit of these Ubuntu/Botho values and principles Nelson Mandela dedicated 67 years of his life to achieve the ideals of a democratic society in which there is no oppression of one person by another or one racial family by another. These are the ideals that Nelson Mandela waged a protracted struggle to achieve and if need be to die for. He understood that the spiritual philosophy of Ubuntu / Botho and its inherent values and principles are a prerequisite for social cohesion, human, social and international solidarity.

He also understood that these progressive values can only be translated into reality through community work for the benefit of others especially the less fortunate and vulnerable groups in our society.

Hon. Deputy President, since Monday we have all participated in community work and activities in honour of Nelson Mandela. This event is a culmination of various initiatives by Government, Parliamentary Constituency Offices, women, youth, faith based organisations, business, interfaith organisations, traditional and religious leaders and professionals to do something good to serve the less fortunate and vulnerable groups in our society.

Throughout this week, we embarked on numerous activities and programs aimed at benefiting the poor, children, women, people with disabilities, the elderly and all those in need within our communities. All of us have been hard at work in various communities where we painted and refurbished public facilities such as schools, hospices, clinics, hospitals and correctional service centres. Some of us donated basic necessities such as food and blankets to the poor, orphans and the elderly.

We also held interfaith service prayers throughout the country in order to give strength to the sick and poor whilst praying for peace, safety, stability, reconciliation and nation building. We did all of this not only as government departments, private sector and business entities but also in our individual capacities as ordinary members of the public in various communities.

The annual Celebration of Nelson Mandela Day will offer us a platform for the cultivation of Ubuntu values and principles that are necessary for building cohesive, caring and sustainable communities. Nelson Mandela does not desire that this day should be a holiday. He wants it to be a working day on which everyone gives out their best to the benefit of others.

Nelson Mandela is a Pan African and international leader. Soon after his release from prison Nelson Mandela addressed a meeting of African States in Algeria where he lamented the destruction of the African City Carthage by the Romans and recalled the African genius that produced the monuments of ancient Egypt, Ethopia, Zimbabwe and Mapungubwe. He longed for the preservation of the tangible and intangible African heritage that produced these monuments.

Addressing religious leaders in 1997 he called on all religious, including African religion, to give out their best virtues for social reconciliation, social transformation and development.

Writing in the Phakamani, a magazine of the ANC Commission of Religious Affairs, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe identified the elements of Ubuntu philosophy in major religions practiced in South Africa and observed that this philosophy has been embraced by our Constitutional Court, the highest court of the land.

In his State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma pointed out that the creation of decent jobs and the provision of quality and affordable services are prerequisite for the recovery of the humanity of all South Africans.

The values and principles that Nelson Mandela fought for have now become a part of government priorities. In the words of President Jacob Zuma: “Since 1994 we have sought to create a united cohesive society out of our fragmented past. We are called upon to continue this mission of promoting unity in diversity and to develop a shared value system, based on the spirit of community solidarity and a caring society. Our shared value system should encourage us to become active citizens in the renewal of our country. We must build a Common National Identity and patriotism. We must develop common attachment to our country. Our children, from an early age must be taught to pay allegiance to the constitution and the National Symbols and know what it means to be South African citizens.”

The fourth Parliament has been established as an activist Parliament in his honour. Our Parliamentary Constituency Offices will become activist forums at all levels. The PCO's will be realigned for social mobilisation and voluntary community work by all sectors of our society.

The programmes of PCO's will be coordinated to ensure

• that all public representatives become social activists:
• to close the gap between public representatives and communities,
  
• to promote quality and affordable services to improve the quality of for all,
  
• to enhance accountability of public representatives including MPs, MPs and Councillors
  
• to effect oversight on service delivery accountability of deployees in all centres of authority, and
  
• to consolidate the institute of voluntary work as the hallmark of an activist Parliament

Honourable Deputy President, the successful organisation of this event by the Parliamentary Caucus and the Department of Arts and Culture, the co-ordination and integration of programs of Parliamentary Constituency Offices, and that of all three spheres of government and civil society, demonstrates beyond the shadow of doubt that working together we can do more and that poor service delivery becomes something of the past, in honour of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Nelson Mandela is a revolutionary and role model for excellence. As a nation, we are therefore very proud to have produced a leader, father, grandfather and guardian of all people of the calibre of Nelson Mandela who stood resolute in carrying forward the human values and principles of the Freedom Charter which was adopted by the one and only Congress of the People in 1955.

Long live Madiba and Happy Birthday
We thank you Seaparankwe

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