Programme Director
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Executive Mayors and Mayors
Dikgosi
Senior government officials
Community members
Members of the media
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Today is a day for celebration- jubilation and a day we again are reminded of the painful road that led us to be able to stand here tall and proud to declare that we all are free and equal.

Before we get into the proceedings of the day, I ask that we observe a moment of silence in honour of five comrades, five of our own and five departed souls who contributed to the building of a free, equal and just South Africa. To the Community of Laxey village in particular we convey our sincere condolences on the passing of Comrade Segametsi Malgas, Comrade Gabaitsi Medupi, Comrade Nosimanga Ruiter, Comrade Elizabeth Mecwi and Comrade Monica Morongwe. These comrades will not be with us as we continue to fight the battle of Economic freedom and they will not witness with us the day that we defeat poverty and unemployment. But they have helped lay the strong foundation we will build upon to see that their dreams of a prosperous Northern Cape and South Africa come to fruition.

We shall now observe the minute of silence.

Today we are gathered here to mark 24 years of our nation's freedom with the people of a region that has contributed to shaping the country we have today. This was done through pain and suffering and with all the courage and heroism that has marked our country's path to democracy.

Today we are reminded of the rural hills amongst which generations of South Africans began on that long walk to freedom that has taken our nation ever closer to the fulfilment of our dreams.

It was there in the hills and valleys of the Langeberg; in the rolling hills of Phokwane; in the Magogang settlement; and along the Harts River that we first understood that we are not free.

It is there that we were inspired and instilled with pride in our history. There, among the humble but proud rural folk under the leadership and stewardship of Kgosi Toto, Kgosi Luka Jantjie and Kgosi Galeshewe, we learnt of the courage of our forebears in the face of superior force.

We gather under the theme, “Celebrating our freedom and democracy through radical economic transformation.” This year’s celebrations coincide with the centenary anniversary of the former President Nelson Mandela and Mama Albertina Sisulu.

We remember these struggle stalwarts and are also reminded of our own icons that formed part of our struggle for liberation. We are allowed an opportunity today to honour Kgosi Toto, Kgosi Jantjie and Kgosi Galeshewe and the brave 1500 warriors who have died at the hands of the British Colonists as well as the many thousands of  men, women and children that were taken prisoner to Kuruman and over 2 000 others that were sold to Western Cape farmers. Similarly we pay tribute to those that died whilst in custody between Kuruman and Cape Town during the Langeberg Rebellion.

Wars such as these, serve to remind us that we were in the grip of a system that divided us one from the other; a system that set the minority above the majority by virtue of skin colour, language and origin of birth.

Millions were deliberately reduced to poverty and robbed of their humanity. During these wars, thousands of the Batlhaping and Batlharo became destitute refugees in their own country. The Northern Cape knows this fearful history because amongst those were sons and daughters of this province who helped pave the way for our freedom.

For this reason, we have identified today, a very significant day in our history, to unveil a monument in honour of those who fought and sacrificed their lives in the Langeberg Rebellion.  We wish to pay tribute to their lives and bestow on them the dignity they deserve, as a way of expressing our gratitude and appreciation.

Ladies and gentlemen

Freedom has power; it is a gift, a treasure that needs to be saved. The most important, remarkable gifts in life are always worth fighting for and it often it comes with a great reward. Our freedom however was not free and as history will teach us that many people had to make the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy our freedom today.  Sadly however, we often forget and sometimes even take it for granted or are even misled to believe that our freedom did not carry a heavy price tag. We should never forget the many men and women who had to pay the price for our freedom over many long years.

This is the day in our democratic government which has the greatest significance because it led to the free, non-racial, non-sexist democracy we have today. If we were to look at the definition of freedom, then it is the power or right to act, speak, or think as you want without any hindrance. This however carries great responsibility and caution

Dames en here

As ons terug dink en delf in ons geskiedenis sal ons vind dat die kwessie rondom grond gelei het na baie lewensverlies. Oorloë is baklei oor die einste kwessie van grond en die reg tot grond besit. Dit is daarom n baie netelige saak en ‘n baie emosionele saak. Ons praat met seer in ons harte van die dae toe ons met geweld van ons gronde verwyder is. Ons ouers en grootouers is met seer in hul hart na grafte waar hulle in elk geval nie moes begrawe was nie.

Die kwessie van grond en die gebruik van grond is n baie emosionel saak in Suid Afrika. Die goeie nuus is dat die 54ste konferensie van die ANC besluit het dat grond moet onteien word sonder vergoeding. Die besluit wat geneem was was in goeder trou geneem en was ‘n opregte besluit wat nie politiese aanklank het nie. Dit was ‘n besluit om reg te stel wat verkeerd gedoen was aan ons mense. Dit beteken dat ons nou uiteindelik die rou wond van Apartheid kan begin toe pleister en erkenning kan gee aan die gedagte van ons voorouers wat met hul lewens moes betaal vir hul reg om grond te besit.

Ons moet egter daarteen waak dat die baie belangrike kwessie van grond hervorming nie ontaard in chaos nie. Dit is ‘n proses wat reggestel moet word, maar dit moet met groot omslagtigheid gedoen word. Dit moet verantwoordelik gedoen word en dit moet binne die raamwerk van nasiebou gedoen word. Ons kan nie een verkeerd met ‘n ander vervang nie. So ek pleit met u om die Regering kans te gun om die proses vreedsaam af te handel. Die grond sal teruggegee word aan hul regmatige eienaars, maar dit sal op die regte manier gedoen word.

Ek wil ook pleit dat u baie waaksaam moet wees teen mense wat hierdie saak van grondeiening wil gebruik om politieke agendas te bevorder. Nie een lewens verlies is vandag die prys werd vir die grond kwessie nie. Ons as die ANC beleerde Regering staan sterk in ons belofte dat daar ‘n vreedsame skikking hieroor sal wees. Die grond SAL aan hul regmatige eienaars oorhandig word en ons sal toesien dat hierdie grond benut sal word tot voordeel van almal in daardie betrokke gemeenskappe. Nooit maar nooit sal daar ‘n herhaling van die verlede wees nie.

Ladies and gentlemen

As we celebrate this important day, we need to ask ourselves whether we are using all the opportunities brought by freedom and democracy to prepare a better life for tomorrow. We also need to reflect on the advances that we have made on emancipating all South Africans and restoring the human dignity.

All of us seated here must take a firm stance on justice and equality. We as leaders in our communities must be at the forefront of strengthening the transformation agenda and canvass for the uniting of a non-racial society.

Racism must be addressed through the regeneration of our moral fabric. The issue of Ubuntu should be reawakened; the concept of a rainbow nation and even African renaissance must find form and relevance in our interactions and lived experiences.

Ladies and Gentlemen

On the 27th April, 24 years ago, we knew that nothing could stop the people's declaration that the time had come to govern ourselves. We had then fully understood that none of us could be free unless we were all free; and that none of us could enjoy lasting peace and security while countless South Africans were cursed by hunger, homelessness and ill-health.

When we went out for the first time and voted in our millions, as equals - men and women of every colour, language and religion; rich and poor - our nation was reborn.

As we pledged to undo the legacy of our divided past, we rekindled the hope of a South Africa that would rise from the ashes of apartheid.

We gave new life to the world's hopes that peace and unity will everywhere prevail over division and conflict, and that justice, freedom and dignity will everywhere prevail over oppression, poverty and discrimination.

Let us thus continue to celebrate our heroes and heroines who fought for our liberation, the many men and women who took up arms and faced imprisonment, banning and torture on behalf of the oppressed masses.

As I conclude, I wish to express my gratitude to all of you for joining us today as we take this opportunity to celebrate and reflect on 24 years of transition from apartheid to an inclusive democracy. To all of you present here today, we all have a responsibility to ensure that our democracy and freedom is maintained and strengthened for future generations.

This is our day. Let us honour those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom by living as they would have lived. Let us all stand with one another, black and white, and let the fighting spirit of the people of South Africa live forever.

We are one nation, one people and one Country.

We are a Free South Africa

I thank you