South African History Online

Speech at the of Thovhela Toni Peter Mphephu Ramabulana

Ndzelele, 28 November 1998

Your Royal Highness Thovhela Mphephu Ramabulana
Premier of the Northern
Province
Ladies and gentlemen

It is a great honour and a privilege to be invited to this special event
where government, traditional leaders and the community are joining hands as
South Africans to inaugurate a leader of our people.

Your Majesty;

I have come here not only to witness and celebrate an important event. I have
also come to pay my respects to a royal house which goes back many generations.

I am personally deeply honoured to attend the installation of His Highness
Thovhela Toni Mphephu Ramabulana as heir to the Venda traditional leadership.

The Ramabulana royal house is renowned throughout our land for its militant
anti-colonial struggles, a legacy dating from the days of Thohoyandou, Makhado
Ramabulana, Mphephu Ramabulana and others.

Today we pay tribute to the bravery of the Ramabulana soldiers who defended
their land against invasion, who turned the tide at Schoemansdal and preserved
the independence of their people into this century.

Traditional leadership in our country has lived for centuries and will
continue to do so. It is our pride as the people of South Africa, and a
tradition that cannot be divorced from us.

The institution survived under very difficult times during the dark era of
dispossession. Our oppressors sought constantly to undermine traditional
authority and to separate the leaders from their own people. However true
leaders managed to redirect their energies towards the advancement and
development of their own people.

Today we have a democratic government we can all be proud of, and one which
respects our traditions. That is why we have traditional leaders represented in
both national and provincial government and why we are seeking agreement on the
best way for traditional leaders to play a role in local government.

That is also why government decided, after consultation, to put the
remuneration of traditional leaders on a basis that reflects their status in its
different ranks.

Democracy has brought us the opportunity to rebuild a society torn apart by
colonial and apartheid rule, in particular, the rural areas. We must put
together what was broken when communities were displaced and forcibly removed
from their land, when families were separated by the migrant labour system; and
when bantustans were used to divide us as a people.

Now that we have put that history behind us, traditional leaders now occupy a
critical place in the great partnership of all social sectors whose joint effort
will make our country just and prosperous. Government alone cannot transform
this country, but as a united nation we will succeed.

Together we can eradicate apartheid's legacy of poverty and unemployment.
That challenge is greatest in our rural areas, which are the most disadvantaged.

This Northern Province is one of our poorest, and that is why it has been one
focus of our Rural Anti-Poverty Programme. The emphasis of that Programme is on
creating opportunities for women; encouraging participation of communities in
their own upliftment; and building capacity for our local authorities to work
with national and provincial government to meet needs of communities.

Traditional leaders are well-placed to help us achieve these goals, and we
count on your support. Indeed, in all the major challenges facing our country,
we know that you will help our nation to meet its goals.

Although we have been able during these past four and half years of freedom
to bring clean water, electricity, telephones, health care and decent education
to millions of our people, especially in rural areas, it is only the start of a
task that will take years to complete. With your help we can speed up delivery
and reach those whose needs must still be met.

I would also take this opportunity, if I may, to make an appeal to our
traditional leaders, and to all other people of influence in the community, to
ensure that the registration of voters and the forthcoming elections are a
success. Participation is the lifeblood of democracy, and it is democracy that
is bringing peace and prosperity back to South Africa and to Venda.

In conclusion, may I congratulate Your Royal Highness, Thovhela Toni Mphephu
in your assumption of your new responsibilities. Yours will be no easy task,
because the needs of our people are great and they deserve a better life. But
together we can make a reality of our dream of dignity regained and a better
life for all our people.

May you enjoy many years of good life and good relationship with your people
and that of South Africa at large.

I thank you all.