South African History Online

Speech by President Nelson Mandela at the opening of the Embo community health care centre

Embo, 29 May 1998

Your Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini;
Premier Ngubane;
Cabinet
Ministers;
Amakhosi;
Members of the Provincial Executive and
Legislature;
Members of the Embo Community;
Distinguished guests.

It is a great pleasure to return to Embo. I have come to see with my own eyes
what has been achieved by a community that did not wait for government to bring
improvements.

When I visited Embo in 1995, we discussed the serious lack of health
facilities. I learn that people had to go more than 100 kilometres to Prince
Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital for treatment. I heard how many people grew more ill
and even succumbed to illness because of this distance and lack of money for
transport. We resolved then that we would tackle the problem head on.

Today, we meet again, on the hill where Tilongo and Sikhukhukhu united to
join Bambatha.

Today we are here to witness a new kind of unity amongst our people, a
partnership between government, South African Breweries, the Embo Masakhane
Development Committee and the community.

Today, the Embo Community Health Centre stands as a proud landmark shoulder
to shoulder with the Ngilanyoni and Nhlazuka Mountains.

The patients who are already visiting the centre are only the first of many,
many people who will benefit from the health care it brings.

This facility, built under the leadership of Amakhosi aseMbo, will serve all
the people of this region, from all tribal areas around it, irrespective of
political affiliation.

The population of more than a quarter of a million of Umbumbulu and
surroundings have for years suffered from inadequate health facilities. All of
them must find comfort here. All must feel welcome. Deliveries will take place
here. The children of Embo will be born here in Embo; and the children of
Umbumbulu will be born here in Umbumbulu!

The building of this clinic was a part of our national effort to bring health
services to the people. Five hundred new clinics have been built since 1994
bringing access to health care for five million people. Over 130 of those are in
KwaZulu-Natal. Never have so many clinics been built within such a short space
of time in both urban and rural areas.

Government could not have achieved this on its own. It is a product of the
spirit of Masakhane.

The building of this health centre has shown what can be achieved when we
work together. It shows us that development, skills training and job
opportunities walk hand-in-hand with peace and stability. Without peace,
stability and respect for the law there can be no development.

It is with great sadness that I have learnt of murders taking place in
Umbumbulu, Margate, KwaMaphumulo and other areas over the past few months.

I make a plea to all Amakhosi and political leaders to work together to
create peace. The leadership of KwaZulu-Natal can take great pride in the
progress they have brought together for peace. Let us not allow political
violence to return to this province.

I want to convey my unequivocal support for the peace initiatives in this
province. I urge Amakhosi to utilise their influence to strengthen peace. I urge
Amakhosi to avoid being used or drawn into the political contest.

I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage the Premier, Dr Ben
Ngubane, the Minister of Economic Affairs, Jacob Zuma; and their colleagues to
speed up the peace process. No opportunity should be left for the forces of
violence to derail the process. Let us not allow our people to be discouraged by
those who seek to take us back to war talk and political intolerance.

This peace process has the support and blessings of both my leaders;
President Thabo Mbeki of the ANC and President Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the IFP.
The working relationship between the IFP and the ANC in government remains
remarkable at both national and provincial levels. Let us therefore not send one
message at leadership level and another one at a grassroot level.

I want the people of KwaZulu-Natal to heed the advice and the call for Peace
made on numerous occasions by His Majesty King Zwelithini. For, he has made this
call for people of KwaZulu to respect each other, tolerate each others views and
to fight together against our common enemies which are poverty, unemployment,
ignorance, disease and other ills. Let us make the vision of the Founder of Zulu
Nation a proud reality in our times. Let us commit ourselves to embrace Peace
and work for social upliftment of our people. And to you, your Majesty, we thank
you for your unwavering leadership.

But today we are here to celebrate. We celebrate because development has
begun to flow to Mbumbulu. Delivery is occurring here as it is in other rural
areas, amongst our people who were neglected for so many years by the former
government. As you are celebrating the expansion of Primary Health Care today,
others across the country have reason to celebrate the connection of
electricity; or telephone services; clean water supplies or improvements to
their roads.

Of course, even as we rejoice, we know this is only the start of a task that
will take us many years. But the foundations have been laid and today we have
seen how we can build when we join hands.

So we must pay tribute to all those who have made this project a resounding
success: - Amakhosi; the Embo Masakhane Development Committee and the community.

We pay tribute to Mr. Meyer Kahn, Mr. Dunbar Buckhall and the entire South
African Breweries. Without their massive financial support of over three million
rands this health centre would still be a dream in the minds of the Embo
Community. Just as important is SAB's spirit of goodwill that has led them to
help improve the lives of many communities, in projects such as Mawele High
School in Msinga and others in this province as well as many other provinces.

Lastly I must thank the province and the department of health for ensuring
that this facility its completed.

As this clinic was built, so should it be officially opened, as a collective
effort it is therefore right that I should be joined in this ceremony by
representatives of all the partners in this project: Amakhosi; the Development
Committee; and government at national and provincial level. In particular, I ask
Mr. Laurie van der Watt of the South African Breweries to join me in unveiling
the plaque to mark he opening of the Embo Community Health Centre.

Mkhize, Khabazela Kamavovo Gcwabe Kazihlandla, Ngunezi!!!!

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the President