Opening address by President Nelson Mandela to the third session of parliament
Opening address by President Nelson Mandela to the third session of parliament
Cape Town, 9 February 1996
Honourable President and Deputy President of the Senate;
Honourable
Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly;
Chairperson and deputy
Chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly;
Deputy Presidents,
Minister
and Deputy Minister;
Provincial Premiers;
Chief Justice;
President
of the Constitutional Court;
Leaders of our Security Services;
Directors-General and leaders of the public service;
Honourable Members
of Parliament;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen;
Today in the streets of Johannesburg, the New Patriotism of our new democracy
once again asserts itself as citizens of that city express their appreciation
for the feat of our soccer team in the African Nations Cup. This is bound to
replay itself in other cities, adding to the crowning glory of our rugby world
champions.
Our sports-persons are performing beyond the nation's wildest expectations.
On and off the field, they are uniting our nation like never before, by their
determination to do the best for their country.
Such is the true character of South Africans. We do possess the inner
strength to achieve excellence. We have the will to persevere against all odds.
We enter 1996, as Cabinet and the rest of the Executive, as parliamentarians,
as workers and managers, as professionals, traditional leaders, security forces,
students and communities in general, faced with the challenge of bringing these
positive qualities to beat on every thing we do: to make South Africa a winning
nation.
We must bring out the best in all of us; and, like our sports-persons,
perform better everywhere:
- to expand the economy and create jobs;
- to improve the quality of life for all;
- to expand the frontiers of freedom; and
- to ensure comprehensive security for all citizens.
These are the critical challenges that we face within and outside these
hallowed chambers.
In October this year, we shall pass the half-way mark of the present
legislature and its executive. The nation and the world will judge us not on
whether we mean to do good; but, above all, on whether we have mobilised south
Africans to work together to improve their quality of life.
Indeed, Madame Speaker, we can say with confidence that, steadily but surely,
the great majority of South Africans do feel that things are improving for the
better. We are on our way - South Africa is on its way - to a better future.
Life has started to have real meaning for the hundreds of thousands who now
have access to clean and safe drinking water. The benefits of democracy have a
tangible impact for the 400,000 homes which have been supplied with electricity
during the course of last year. To the millions of children who benefit from the
school nutrition scheme, free medical care and free and compulsory education,
not only has the present become better; there is also great confidence in the
future.
This is the case with communities where the clinic-building programme and the
district health system are taking root; the workers in Public Works Programmes;
the communities who can, at least, feel secure on a piece of land they can call
their own and the families ho, for the first tim, are benefiting from the farm
support programme and extension of agricultural credit.
At last, millions who had no hope in the future can look ahead with
confidence in the full knowledge that they have a government prepared to work
together with them to build a better life for all.
We formally start the third session of the democratic parliament with South
Africa's economy healthier than in many decades. The rekindling of business
confidence and optimism reflect the solid foundation on which the economic
upswing is based. The expansion of the manufacturing sector, phenomenal growth
in fixed investments and large capital inflows hold out a promise for a durable
recovery and the potential for an even better performance.
We enter 1996 with no hesitation about the extent to which democracy has
taken root in our society.
The confidence of the population in the democratic process was again shown
during the Local Government elections.
At the same time, the institutions charged with safeguarding constitutional
freedoms such as the Human Rights commission, the Land Commission, and the
Office of the Public Protector have been formed. The Constitutional Court has,
in its one year of existence, firmly asserted itself as an independent,
impartial and authoritative guardian of the Constitution. In brief, South
African politics is ascending to the level of normalcy, where civilised
standards of political relations will be entrenched, unmediated by antagonistic
conflict or administrative interventions.
The progress we have made, across the board, is a result, in great measure,
of the intervention of Honourable Members gathered here and the provincial
legislators, in setting the parameters and direction of transformation; in your
devoted attention to draft legislation and in your confident interaction with
the citizenry.
It is to be expected hat critical attention will be paid to the performance
of these elected institutions. Our legislatures are, in the first instance, the
custodians of the new system, and, secondly, the bodies through which the
programme of reconstruction and development, nation-building and reconciliation,
can and should be codified and turned into a living reality.
Yes, South Africa is not only on the right road. We are well on our way to
making this the country of our dreams. I take the opportunity to congratulate
all South Africans, in the public and private sectors - the most prominent in
the land as well as the humble member of the community - all of whom are
striving to add another brick to the edifice of our democracy. We have set out
on this road together, and we should together aim for the stars. Madame Speaker;
If these achievements are something to be proud of, this is because they have
laid the foundation to make a real impact on the inequities of the past. For we
are only at the beginning of a long journey, a journey we should undertake with
expedition, if our consciences are not impervious to the cries of desperation of
millions. But this is a journey, too, that requires thorough planning and
tenacious industry, if we are to remain on course and capable of sustaining our
march.
Let me preface the identification of the challenges of the coming year by
saying that all of us, all South Africans, are called upon to become builders
and healers. But, for all the joy and excitement of creation, to build and to
heal are difficult undertakings.
We can neither heal nor build, if such healing and building are perceived as
one-way process, with the victims of past injustices forgiving and the
beneficiaries merely content in gratitude. Together we must set out to correct
the defects of the past.
We can neither heal nor build, if on the one hand, the rich in our society
see the poor as hordes of irritants; or if, on the other hand, the poor sit
back, expecting charity. All of us must take responsibility for the upliftment
of our conditions, prepared to give our best to the benefit of all.
We can neither heal nor build, if we continue to have people in positions of
influence and power who, at best, pay lip service to affirmative action, black
empowerment and the emancipation of women, or who are, in reality, opposed to
these goals; if we have people who continue with blind arrogance to practice
racism in the work-places and schools, despite the appeal we made in our very
first address to this parliament. We must work together to ensure the equitable
distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society.
We cannot build or heal our nation, if - in both the private and public
sectors, in the schools and universities, in the hospitals and on the land, in
dealing with crime and social dislocation - if we continue with business as
usual, wallowing in notions of the past. Everywhere and in everything we do,
what is now required is boldness in thinking, firmness in resolve and
consistency in action.
The message I am trying to convey is that all of us must take the national
project of accelerated and fundamental transformation of our country very
seriously indeed. The achievement of the objectives of equity, non-racialism and
non-sexism constitute the very essence of the new society we seek to build.
In the history of nations, generations have made their mark through their
acumen to appreciate critical turning points, and with determination and
creativity, to seize the moment. South Africa is well on its way to a new and
better life. This we will achieve only if we shed the temptation to proceed
casually along the road; only if we fully take the opportunities that beckon.
We must unite in a New Patriotism to achieve the goal of creating a new
society.
Madame Speaker;
The potential for economic growth and development are better than in many
decades. But let us be brutally frank.
Despite the welcome rate of growth, very few jobs have been created. In fact,
against the backdrop of new entrants into the job market, there has been a
shrinkage in opportunities. We need a national vision to lift us out of this
quagmire.
If we do not act together in the public and private sectors to develop and
implement such a national strategic vision, the danger is that even the modest
growth we have attained, will peter out in a matter of a few years, as the
strain of limited capacity, skills shortage, balance of payments and other
constraints start to gather momentum; and as increasing unemployment and
accelerating poverty bear down on our society.
To move forward with purpose requires that we extricate the public and
private sectors from the current comfort zones, and break through the threshold
to achieve a rate of growth sufficient to create jobs, and generate resources
for rapid socio-economic programmes to uplift the poor.
For purposes of emphasis, let me identify three important investment
challenges and attendant difficult choices that have to be made.
Firstly, we require major investment in infrastructure, including such areas
as municipal services, housing and construction and telecommunications in order
to create jobs at the same time as we improve services to the citizenry. As we
enter these areas in a decisive manner, the question will arise, over and over
again, whether we can attain our objective, if the profit motive is the only
dynamo of our actions!
Secondly, we need investment and restructuring of manufacturing and other
industries such as tourism, agriculture and mining, which are critical for
export and foreign exchange earnings. Related to this, for instance, is the
challenge whether we can continue with the same structure of our agricultural
industry given our capricious climatic conditions!
Thirdly, none of the economic objectives we aspire to can be realised without
massive investment in people. I refer here to questions of skills development,
adult education, and the overhaul of our entire education system, as well as
health and other services, which I will return to later. Indeed, as we struggle
to widen the skills base and to absorb more people into the economy, the
challenge will continue to face organised labour and the employed in general,
including the managers: can we succeed if we premise our actions narrowly on the
interests of those who are already economically engaged!
When all is said and done, we return again to the challenge of a New South
African patriotism: that at the end of each day everyone of us should afford a
smile in his or her face, when we pose to ourselves the question: what have I
done today to create jobs and improve my skills and those of others!
As Government, we fully acknowledge the critical role that we need to play in
realising the vision of growth and development.
I wish to emphasise that, over the past year, Government has moved to a new
level of co-ordination that is unprecedented in the history of our country. It
is quite clear to us, that success in achieving the growth and development
objectives we have identified requires integration of planning and operations
across departments and provinces. Important cross-sectoral meetings and
inter-governmental forums are being held to elaborate the growth and development
strategy and the institutional mechanisms required to drive it.
I should personally make the observation that we are finally succeeding in
galvanising Government to give effective leadership to economic growth and
development. Within weeks, we should be able to make major announcements on the
progress made.
In order to improve the investment climate, our monetary authorities are
reviewing, on an on-going basis, the timing and pace of lifting existing
exchange controls. For us, it is not a matter of whether, but of when, these
controls will be phased out.
It is critical, if we have to promote competitiveness, export and the
creation of jobs, that we should have in place the necessary supply-side
measures. Already consensus is being reached in NEDLAC about the required
incentives that will help boost training, productivity, work organisation and
investment in particular industries and regions. Arguably, the most important
measures in this regard pertain to the development of small and medium-sized
businesses.
Relevant legislation on these issues, as well as the critical question of
competitive practices in the economy, should come before parliament during the
course of this session.
I am convinced that the various role-players in the economy have long passed
questioning the need or otherwise for such competitive practices, and the
long-term benefits this will bring to the economy, including big and small
companies. I hope, too, that legislation on employment equity and standards will
be passed in this session, with the support of all relevant stake-holders.
This should also be the case with the restructuring of public assets, in
order to use them to accelerate growth and development, attune them with modern
levels of technology, reorganise them to expand services to all citizens, and
reshape them in line with the imperatives of internal democracy.
It was to be expected, that such a massive undertaking should generate much
debate among the public and the working class, in particular. What is clear,
though, is that there was a breakdown of communication, which precipitated
unnecessary acrimony on an issue that should enjoy the support of all interested
parties. I am happy that the National Framework Agreement, negotiated between
Government and the Trade Unions, was adopted by Cabinet two days ago. Therefore,
the government's relationship with labour, from the level of the executive as a
whole, to the departments and the management of public enterprises, must be set
on a viable footing to ensure co-operative rather than confrontational
interaction. We are confident that the restructuring programme will be carried
out with due speed - and carried out in a manner that involves and benefits all
stake-holders.
Madame Speaker and Honourable Members;
It is the firm view of the Government of National Unity that the growth and
development strategy should be pursued in an integrated manner. We do not
subscribe to the notion that growth on its own can rectify the backlogs of
apartheid in a mysterious trickle-down fashion. In any case, in our skewed
social structure, there cannot be growth without development.
Government has to continue paying attention especially to those areas of
development that protect and improve our human resources. Four important areas
identify themselves for special mention.
The first area is education. On this the 20th anniversary of the Students'
Uprising and the OAU-declared Year of Education in Africa, we face the stark
reality that South Africa lags behind many African countries in so far as
literacy and other human development indicators are concerned.
We owe it to that corps of brave young people who rose up against the
apartheid system to institute further measures this year, decisively to move
towards a non-racial, democratic and equitable education system. If anything,
the Matric results last year, and the reality of children, in the Northern
Province and elsewhere, whose classes have to scatter in disarray at the first
signs of rain, are a stark reminder of how far we still are from that goal.
Clearly, rectifying these imbalances will require redistribution of the
limited resources among races and Provinces. It will also require even greater
commitment to teach and to learn from teachers and students alike. And I would
like to take this opportunity to congratulate them as well as the parents for
the stability that has set in, in our institutions of learning.
Two days ago, Cabinet adopted the White Paper on education. The centre-piece
of such restructuring should be the establishment of a quality-driven public
school system available to all South African children. Among other things that
should drive this, is democratic governance involving parents, teachers and
students at secondary level, a curriculum and career-guidance scheme that are
more appropriate to the needs of the country, and community involvement. Adult
Basic Education and Early Childhood Development will also receive particular
attention.
At university and technikon levels, it is necessary that the debate on
