15 February 1997

I deeply regret that I cannot be with you today. I had set aside the time so that I could join you in this important event to promote peace. But I am sure that will appreciate the magnitude of the family tragedy which forced me to change my schedule.

For not being with you today, I apologise profoundly. But it is my firm intention to come for a visit to Mitchells Plain, to be with its people and see the progress of your campaign for peace.

Die pad wat die gemeenskap van Mitchells-Plein geloop het, is a 'n veelbekende een. Die geskiedenis van Mitchells-Plein is die geskiedenis van die meeste Suid-Afrikaners: dis die verhaal van gedwonge verskuiwings, en van weggegooi word in afgeleë buurte sonder basiese dienste of middele.

Net soos u landgenote in baie ander gemeenskappe dwarsdeur die land, het u onder die moeilikste omstandighede die stryd aangepak om van nuuts af weer 'n lewenskragtige en gesonde gemeenskapslewe op te bou.

Vandag het u skole, moskees, kerke en winkelsentrums. Ons bring hulde aan u moed en u deursettingsvermoë.

Dit is daardie selfde gees wat 'n mens gewaar, in u doelgerigtheid om blywende vrede en veiligheid in Mitchells-Plein tot stand te bring; om 'n omgewing daar te stel wat bevry is van die las van geweld, armoede en honger.

Ek deel met u in u begeerte om 'n gemeenskap te sien waar ons vrouens en dogters in die strate mag loop sonder die ewige vrees om aangeval te word; om ons kinders te sien opgroei sonder die bedreiging van bendes en dwelmmiddels; om ons senior burgers te kan sien stap om hul pensioen af te haal sonder die vrees dat hulle beroof sal word.

Wat ons vir Mitchells-Plein verlang, is niks meer of niks minder as wat ons vir alle Suid-Afrikaners begeer.

Ieder en elk van ons, sonder enige uitsondering, het daardie reg - en verdien - om in 'n omgewing te lewe waar daar vrede, veiligheid en geluk is.

This is a battle we have to fight together. It is a battle we have to win.

Amongst other things, it means forming and supporting neighbourhood watches and community policing forums in our areas; it means co-operating with our police and giving evidence in courts when called upon to do so. And it means denying criminals the proceeds of their crimes by refusing to buy stolen goods.

The government is determined to make the lives of criminals very difficult indeed. We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that they are arrested by the police and properly dealt with by our courts. We are busy rooting out corrupt elements in the police service and the criminal justice system.

While this is being done, nothing should stop you from co-operating with the majority of policemen and women who are doing a wonderful job in the service of our communities and the country.

We dare not let the criminals erode the fabric of our society and tear our communities apart. Crime consumes our energies and diverts our efforts from reconstruction and development.

Hoeveel optrede teen misdadigers van kern belang is om vrede te bou, behels hierdie proses meer as net daardie aspek. Dit beteken ook om RDP-programme na al ons gebiede te bring, en om betrokke te raak by pogings om die lewe van al ons mense te verbeter.

Ons het 'n baie eenvoudige boodskap vir al die mense van Mitchells-Plein - vir ons en jonk; mans, vrouens en kinders; die gestremdes en bejaardes.

Die boodskap is: Kom laat ons hande vat.

Kom ons werk saam om vrede na ons gemeenskappe te bring.

Tesame kan ons 'n beter lewe vir almal bou. Daar is geen omdraai op hierdie pad nie.

Source: South African Government Information Website