Speech by President Neslon Mandela to the school children at Brits sports centre
South African History Online 
Speech by President Neslon Mandela to the school children at Brits sports centre
Brits, 26 November 1995
Chairperson;
Boys and girls;
Friends.
It is no secret I am a great lover of the beauty and skill that is displayed
by drill teams and drum majorettes. Today's event is therefore a very special
occasion for me.
It is always a pleasure to be at political rallies and gatherings where the
occasions are livened up, and injected with the joy of life, by the skilful
displays of drum majorettes.
But skill and artistic beauty never just happen by themselves. They are the
result of many hours of hard work and sweat. There can be few things more
exciting than to strive for perfection, and being among the best in the world.
I would like to congratulate those who have achieved so much.
Ek is trots dat die span van Laerskool Roodebeeck ons land ook op
internasionale vlak so uitstekend verteenwoordig het by die Internasionale
Kompetisie op die Isle of Man. Baie geluk met die hele string eerste plekke wat
julle daar behaal het!
Unfortunately Martha's Marines could not attend that competition because of
financial difficulties. I know how sore your hearts must have been when you
could not take your rightful place to represent our country. But do not to be
discouraged. Your hard work is noticed and will be rewarded. Although it is
small consolation, I want to assure you of my pride and great appreciation for
what you have achieved.
I hope that such disappointments are a thing of the past. I hope that South
Africans will in future open their pockets to ensure that of all our teams which
qualify for international competitions can participate. There can be no better
investment than investing in the growth and development of our children.
The skills demonstrated here today are just one small part of the enormous
wealth of talent and potential which is in all of you. You young people are the
leaders of tomorrow. When we older people have done all we can, it is you who
must continue to build our nation. Together with all the children of our land,
you are the greatest wealth that we have, more precious than all the gold and
other minerals in our soils.
But for your great potential to be turned into the skills which our people
need, education is essential. A decent education is something that most of your
parents never had. They struggled long and sacrificed much so that every South
African child could have the opportunity which they lacked. I urge you to seize
that opportunity. Apply yourselves to your studies. In doing that you will be
building your own future and the future of your country.
I always feel that one of the worst things that apartheid did was to prevent
all the children of our country from simply being healthy and natural young
people, and playing and working together. This gathering here today tells us
that our children are in the forefront of our country's return to normality.
Vriende;
Ek wil afsluit om elkeen van die jongmense wat vandag hier byeen is, vanaf
die kleinste tot die oudste kind, te verseker van my groot liefde vir julle.
I want to say to each young person here today, that I love you very much
You are the future of South Africa. The hope of our rainbow nation.
Thank you
