All South Africans must renew their pledge to do everything in their power to create jobs and fight poverty to give renewed hope to millions in the country that 2006 will be a happy and prosperous year for them as well, said President Thabo Mbeki.
”We all know that as the year 2005 ended, with many of us enjoying ourselves in the traditional festivities, which will continue as we welcome the New Year, there are also many who did not have the possibility to celebrate.
”Many of our fellow citizens could not join the festivities because of the poverty which still affects so many people. These are fellow South Africans who do not have enough to eat even on normal days, who do not have proper housing, and are everyday exposed to diseases of malnutrition and poverty,” Mbeki said in his New Year message on Saturday.
He said during the past year the economy performed ”extremely well” reaching levels of growth it had not achieved for many years.
”This has given us [government] the possibility to aim for even higher rates of growth and development, the creation of even more jobs and generating the wealth we need to fight poverty.”
Mbeki thanked South Africans who, during 2005, joined the national effort to confront the scourge of poverty and underdevelopment.
He added that the government would count on its partners in business, labour and civil society to join the initiative to give meaning to the hope shared by SA citizens of enjoying a happy and prosperous New Year.
”Besides the poor, others have also not been able to enjoy the celebrations. These include all those who have lost their loved ones as a result of the road accidents that still claim too many lives and maim many people,” said Mbeki.
”The appeals — don’t drink and drive, arrive alive and drive safely — are well known to all of us. But the continuing and unnecessary deaths and injuries on our roads communicate the message that some irresponsible people among us still refuse to respect the lives of our people.”
Mbeki appealed to all road users to drive safely and arrive alive. He also extended his condolences to people who lost loved ones during the past year particularly as a result of road accidents and other forms of violence, including assault and murder.
”Our sympathies and best wishes also go to those who could not join in the festivities because of ill health. We wish all these a speedy recovery and thank all medical personnel for sacrificing their holidays to attend to those in need of medical care.”
The president also urged South Africans to register to vote and to actually vote during the March 1 election.
He conveyed a message of solidarity to people beyond SA borders who were affected by natural disasters, such as the Asian tsunami, the hurricanes that affected the Caribbean, central America and the Unites States, and the Pakistani earthquake.
”We wish them success as they work to address the destruction caused by these calamities. We extend a similar message of solidarity to those who fell victim to indiscriminate acts of terrorism, such as those that took place in the United Kingdom, India, Egypt, Jordan and Indonesia.”
Mbeki also thanked and conveyed best wishes to members of the national defence force and police service who are deployed on peace missions in various African countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Sudan and C�te d’Ivoire.
”The valuable work they are doing contributed to such important African achievements as the conclusion of the Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the holding of successful elections in Burundi and Liberia, and the equally successful conduct of the constitutional referendum in the DRC.”
”Let me also congratulate all those learners who passed their matriculation examinations and urge those who did not to take advantage of all existing possibilities to seek further education and training,” said Mbeki.
He also wished the national soccer team, Bafana Bafana, success in the forthcoming African Cup of Nations tournament to be hosted by Egypt.
”And as we bid farewell to the year 2005, and welcome the year 2006, I would like, on behalf of our government and in my own name, to wish you all a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year,” Mbeki concluded. – Sapa