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Address by President Nelson Mandela at visit to Magagong Community Project, Hartswater

28 August 1998

Business leaders;
Premier of the Northern Cape and MEC for Education;
The Chief and Community of Magagong;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dit is vir my 'n groot voorreg om u vandag te kan toespreek as 'n Suid-Afrikaanse nasie waarin almal mekaar sien en respekteer as gelyke vennote in 'n gees van versoening en soeke na voorspoed. Ek verwys in die besonder na die Wes-Kaapse sakeleiers en verteenwoordigers wat hier saam met ons is - verteenwoordigers van die regering en van die gemeenskap.

Ek is vol vertroue dat sodra ons begin om na mekaar se behoeftes te luister, sal ons 'n verskil maak aan die lewens van al ons mense, veral die wat arm en behoeftig is.

Ons moet nie bly hamer op die verlede nie, maar ons weet van daardie erfenis van verwaarlosing waaronder die meerderheid van ons mense gely het. Maar gesamentlik kan ons daardie ongelukkige erfenis ongedaan maak, deur die skepping van beter lewensomstandighede en geleenthede vir ontwikkeling vir almal.

Vandag kan ons met trots verklaar dat ons 'n nuwe, demokraties-verkose regering het wat verbind is tot die regstelling van die growwe ongelykhede van die verlede.

Since 1994 we have seen millions of South Africans getting access to clean water, electricity being switched on, houses being built, new clinics constructed, roads upgraded, schools built and renovated.

We also know that what we have done so far is not enough because the needs of our people are so great. Government is doing everything it can to redress these imbalances. But it will only succeed in partnership with communities and all the sectors of our society.

The Northern Cape Cabinet have started a good job of creating a platform of interaction with the people that they serve. That is very important for making them understand the needs of the people, especially those who are poor.

You as communities also need to join hands with government and engage in matters that affect your needs. You have already shown that spirit by taking up the initiative to start a school project.

To see and hear that there are children who must learn under poor conditions and uncertainties about the future of their school touches me deeply.

As ons ons sameleweing wil onvorm, moet ons met die opvoeding van ons kinders begin. Ons moet daarom toesien dat al ons kinders toegang het tot ordentlike skool-opvoeding. Ook in ons onderwys sal ons die jare van verwaarlosing moet oorkom.

Slegs op daardie wyse sal ons van Suid-Afrika maak die regverdige en voorspoedige gemeenskap waarvan ons droom.

Ek will 'n besondere beroep op die plaaseienaars doen om die regering en die gemeenskap te help om ons kinders van die straat af en in die klaskamer te hou. Ons moet ten alle koste keer dat die toekoms van ons kinders vernietig word omdat hulle nie onderwys ontvang het nie. Ons ekonomie insluitende die landbou-sektor, kan nie groei en vorder sonder mense met vaardighede en tegniese kennis nie.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the business community who have responded to our request to fund social investment projects. Partnership between government, the private sector and communities is critical to the development of our country.

There are many projects all over the country where business have donated funds to build and renovate schools. I am confident that the Western Cape business leaders who are with us today will also join in this very important and practical contribution to reconciling and healing our nation.

I thank you for having heard our request to come and discover opportunities for social investment in the Northern Cape.

Wanneer ek sien hoe mense uit verskillende agtergronde en gemeenskappe mekaar se hande vat om ons gebroke en verdeelde verlede te oorkom, besef ek telkens dat ek hierdie land nou eers regtig leer ken. En dit gee my baie moed en vertroue vir die toekoms van ons land.

Kom ons vat mekaar se hande en werk saam om beter lewensomstandighede vir almal te skep.

Baie dankie aan u elkeen.

Issued by: Office of the President

Source: South African Government Information Website

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