Nelson Mandela's address on the Senate President's budget debate
South African History Online 
Nelson Mandela's address on the Senate President's budget debate
Cape Town, 1 June 1995
Mr. President;
Deputy-President;
Honourable Senators;
Ladies and
Gentlemen.
Opportunities for us to account in this manner before the Senate are few and
far between. We therefore value this occasion for critical engagement with a
House that is central in the body politic of the nation.
A delegation led by the President has just returned from a visit to the
United Republic of Tanzania. Memories of the warmth and feelings of solidarity
of Tanzanians towards us are still fresh in our minds. We could not but be
struck by their pride in th selfless sacrifice that they made in support of
liberation struggles in the region, including our own.
The people of Tanzania, like others who made this sacrifice, do not expect
anything in return. They do appreciate South Africa's problems. But, like us,
they want to strengthen relations, particularly investment and trade.
What this visit has once more underlined, is the centrality of South Africa
and Africa in the foreign policy of our new democracy. This w intend to carry
out on th basis of equality and mutual respect.
Along with our neighbours, we are committed to promoting world peace, human
rights, democracy, development and equitable inter-state relations. These
principles do not only reflect our morality as a nation; but they also advance
our own interests as a state.
This, and only this perspective, forms the pillar of our foreign policy.
Mr. President;
It is a matter of pure coincidence, and yet so auspicious, that most of the
matters that are at the centre of current national discourse, relate closely to
the tasks of the Senate as defined in the Constitution.
When we had a similar opportunity last year, we were still grappling with the
challenge of defining our roles in practical terms. I am certain that all of us
can today confidently say that we have moved substantially from the
uncertainties of planning into practical implementation.
With regard to the Senate,m in particular, I have personally been struck by
the interesting report of the Select Committee on Liaison with Provinces. The
visit that was conducted to the Northern Transvaal Province has laid the basis
for the kind of field work that the Senate can do, to link up with communities
and help resolve their problems.
The collective inter-party assessment of concrete conditions in the Provinces
will help forge the Senate into a critical instrument in nation-building and
development. It will also promote rational debate to ensure that all parts of
the country, particularly the ones previously ignored, benefit from the scarce
resources we have.
Allow me, Mr. President, to be so presumptuous as to propose that, perhaps
such visits should, for a start, focus on such depressed areas, including parts
of the country that experience tension, political violence and lack of free
political activity.
We are confident that departments to whom the recommendations have been
forwarded, will deal with them seriously and expeditiously.
The people of Giyani, University of the North, Tshaulu and others whom you
met, should feel, from the practical results of your intervention, that, in
Senators and other legislators, they have representatives who have their
interests at heart.
Great stride have been made through inter-governmental forums to define the
nature and rules of functional relations between Provinces and central
government, and allocating the powers they need to carry out their functions.
The work of the Senate is a welcome contribution to this process.
We cannot pretend that there are no problems in this regard. Debate continues
around such issues as separation of elements of concurrent functions,
co-operation in respect of laws that should be jointly managed, the best and
quickest ways to rationalise former administrations and problems of capacity in
the Provinces.
All these issues are being thrashed out in discussion in relevant forums. The
exchanges in these forums are sometimes heated. But, the central thing is that
those who have the country's interests at heart are making valuable
contributions there.
Mr. President;
Our young democracy is at one of the most critical moments in its short
history. Such is the importance of the coming local government elections, both
to the task of completing the establishment of democratic government and
ensuring reconstruction and development.
Much progress has been made in the registration drive. But this is not nearly
satisfactory.
I wish therefore to call on all South Africans who have not yet registered to
do so before Monday, 5th June. Indeed, we need to pose the question to all
political parties a well as community, religious, business, sporting and other
organisations: what is it that we shall do over the next 4 days to ensure that
the overwhelming majority of the people register!
The structures and procedures put in place to facilitate these elections were
set up in a spirit of compromise and consensus, and with the overriding
consideration of de-racialising South African society. It is therefore critical
that leaders at all levels exercise their powers in a manner that advances this
delicate transition.
What is needed is maturity and a sense of balance, an approach that should
make it unnecessary for central government to intervene. All of us will agree
that, especially in this period of constitution-making, the country requires a
style that enhances rather than undermines confidence in the capacity of
Provincial Governments to exercise their powers with responsibility.
A robust local government election contest is unfolding. All of us -
including the media - need to take cognisance of the fact that in such a
campaign, emphasis will be placed on differences among parties rather than the
many common ideals we share.
This is entirely healthy. It's what democracy is about.
Yet, it will also bring, especially for members of the Government of National
Unity, a continuous struggle to strike the correct balance between party
political statements and cabinet responsibilities. For, we need to ensure that
our shared perspective on, and allegiance to, the constitution, the RDP and the
country are not undermined. In any case, we will have to continue working
together long after these elections.
It is therefore crucial that Government commits itself and is seen in
practice to act against any tendencies to subvert the constitution, foment
violence or prevent free political activity - be it in the name of the election
campaign or in pursuit of more sinister agendas. This must be dealt with firmly.
Government is solemnly bound to protect life and ensure the safety and
security of all citizens. A start has been made to improve the situation in
areas seriously affected in Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the
Eastern Cape. Where success has been registered, this is in part because of a
change in attitudes on the part of both the police and the communities, which
makes policing that much more easier and effective. Mr. President; Much debate
has taken place around the complex issue of language rights. The policy
positions of Government on this issue are clear and do not require repetition.
This is one of the critical areas in which the Senate has a special
responsibility. Delays in the setting up of a Pan-South African Language Board
are regrettable. There may be good reason for this. But the reality is that
there is a continuing vacuum, which does not lend itself to rational debate. We
hope that legislation on this matter will be passed before the end of the year.
The issue of language is among the concerns raised by those who are
advocating for a so-called Afrikaner volkstaat. Without commenting on the merits
or demerits of the solutions they propose, we do recognise that the issue of
language is a sensitive one. It affects, even more, languages which have been
discriminated against for decades under apartheid.
On the more general question of the report of the Volkstaatraad, I wish to
reiterate that my organisation and I, personally, will study the report with
sensitivity. We will do so taking into account co-operation by these leaders in
the peaceful transition. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to the
principles of democracy, non-racialism and equality.
It is also crucial that the process of setting up Houses of Traditional
Leaders is expedited. Most of the provinces affected have already done so; and I
understand that progress is being made in resolving problems in the Provinces
lagging behind. We cannot as government claim to be inclusive if we continue to
function without the input of our traditional leaders.
The related matter of salaries to these leaders has been the focus of public
comment in the past few days. The Bill should be submitted to parliament in a
fortnight or so; and it enjoys the support of the majority of traditional
leaders. This is the case because these leaders are at one with Government that
there should be national uniformity; and that this matter should be resolved in
a manner that eliminates political abuse.
Honourable Senators;
Today is International Children's Day. On this day, we can as a people, look
back with pride at the first steps that we have taken to make our children's
lives better. The free health care scheme, primary school nutrition and the
phasing in of free and compulsory education are the foundation upon which we are
building.
Recently, we removed a terrible blot on the conscience of the nation by
transferring child detainees and prisoners to places of safety. There are many
problems still to be resolved. But, in addition to carrying out our moral
obligation to these children, we have also ensured equality of treatment to both
black and white children.
I am informed that parliament will ratify the International Convention on the
Rights of the Child within a fortnight. More than anything else, this places an
even greater obligation on us to finalise and implement the plan of action to
realise the objectives of this Charter. On this, we cannot and shall not falter.
Mr. President;
On all these matters and others, we can say with confidence that South Africa
is on course. We are making steady progress towards our goal of a better life.
From emphasis on planning, we are now poised to see major visible changes in
the fields of housing, job-creation through public works, crime prevention and
other areas. The economy is in a steady growth path.
Nothing can subtract from these achievements
Inspired by these developments, and by the application of Senators to their
work, one can say that the South African nation is poised for even greater
successes.
