South African History Online

Speech by President Nelson Mandela at a banquet in honour of President Nujoma of Namibia

Cape Town, 13 May 1996.

Your Excellency President Nujoma;
Honorable Ministers;
Distinguished
Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your visit has a very special significance for South Africans. The first
official state visit of a Namibian President to our country sets the seal on the
reunion of our peoples, no longer resistance fighters against apartheid
colonialism, but masters of their own destiny.

Even in the short hours you have been here you will have felt the pulse of a
nation whose elected representatives have just adopted a constitution embodying
our people's deepest aspirations. You will have sensed the confidence with which
our people embrace the prospect of completing our transition to fully-fledged
democracy.

We know that you share our joy, because these are the aspirations that have
kept our peoples on a common path. Walking this path ahead of us, the Namibian
people set an example that we could emulate. You have also demonstrated what our
people know to be true, that unity and reconciliation do not depend on enforced
co-operation among political parties.

Nor do we need to explain to you, as we might to others, that even in the
time of rejoicing we do not forget those who suffered for freedom and justice.
We do not need to explain, because your freedom fighters and ours were confined
by the same prison walls and went defiantly to the same gallows. Our people and
yours learnt to love freedom and universal justice in the same crucible of
brutal repression and denial of our humanity. We shared the same trenches in
armed struggle and trudged the world together in search of solidarity.

For all these reasons, the warmth of our welcome to you and your delegation
is deeper than friendship. Through you we embrace the people of Namibia as our
own.

Freedom for Namibia and South Africa brings the opportunity for us to join
hands, as neighbours and fellow-members of SADC, to work together for peace and
prosperity not only in our countries, but in the entire region and in our
continent as a whole. In particular we look forward to contributing together to
the formulation of strategies for investment and growth for our countries and
our region.

We are most encouraged by the progress that has been made in strengthening
bilateral relations in the short era of our new democracies. The steps that have
been or will soon be taken to foster co-operation in science and technology;
telecommunications; health; education, sea fisheries and policing will be of
mutual benefit to our countries. They will also help us develop a uniform
approach towards problems of the region.

Deserving of special mention are the bilateral efforts at resolving problems
arising specifically from the apartheid era and the occupation of Namibia. We
are gratified by the progress made in matters arising out of the transfer to
Namibia of Walvis Bay. The return of the Riemvasmaker community from Namibia to
the Northern Cape serves as a model for co-operation between our countries. We
appreciate the efforts made by your government in this matter.

We look forward with confidence to continuing progress in all these bilateral
matters and in multilateral matters, including the completion of negotiations on
the South African Customs Union.

At long last, neighbours, friends in need and friends indeed, can join hands
at all levels in pursuit of the common interest. At long last, the southern tip
of Africa has restored to her crown the jewel of Africa's political freedom.

Ladies and gentlemen;

I ask you to rise and raise your glasses in a toast to President Nujoma and
the people of Namibia; and to the flourishing of relations between Namibia and
South Africa.

Issued by: The Office of the President