The past few days have proven the durability of South Africa’s constitutional order and the vibrancy of its democracy, President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Sunday.
”We have no choice now other than to move forward, to forge ahead undaunted with the tasks we have set ourselves,” he told the nation in a television broadcast.
”As president of South Africa, I undertake this responsibility knowing full well the duties and responsibilities that are attached to this high office, and the expectations that the people of this nation rightly have of the head of state.
”I will do everything in my power, during the time that I occupy this position, to serve the nation with dignity, commitment and humility.
”In everything that this task demands, I have the good fortune to be able to draw on the example set by my immediate predecessor, president Thabo Mbeki,” he said.
The government had moved quickly to bring stability to the country’s national executive, confirming the positions of ministers and deputy ministers, and filling any vacancies that had arisen.
The government would work to draw on the collective abilities of all South Africans as it strove to achieve its goals.
The focus would remain on, among other things, reducing unemployment and poverty by half within 10 years, providing the skills required by the economy, ensuring all South Africans were fully able to exercise their constitutional rights, and providing compassionate and competent service to the people.
Others focuses were reducing cases of TB, diabetes, malnutrition and maternal deaths, and turning the tide against HIV and Aids; effectively reducing the number of serious and priority crimes, with a programme that also addresses the social roots of criminality; and positioning South Africa strategically as an effective force in global relations.
”We can say now with confidence that this government, working together with the people, has indeed made significant progress in fulfilling this mandate,” Motlanthe said.
However, the country faced many challenges, and the people still endured many hardships.
”Yet by working together — by building on what we have achieved, by acknowledging our shortcomings, by learning from experience — we will be able to make even further progress in improving the lives of our people.
”Even under difficult global conditions, we will remain true to the course that we have set, knowing that we have done what is necessary to weather the storm,” he said.
Equal obligation
The government’s vision, in line with the Freedom Charter, was all-encompassing. It did not exclude any single South African.
Nor did it allow that any person has any greater claim than any other to being an integral part of the nation.
”Just as we all have an equal claim to this country, we all have an equal obligation to build a society that is united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous.
”This is a task for all of us — for government, for communities, for non-governmental organisations, for workers, for business, and for all sectors in which our people are organised,” he said.
”At this moment in our history, as we stand poised to make still further advances towards the achievement of a better life, it is as important as ever that we stand united as a nation.
”Never before has South Africa been closer than it is today towards the achievement of a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous nation.”
”We therefore have a shared responsibility to build on these results and to strive together — sparing neither courage nor strength — towards the achievement of a better South Africa, a better Africa and a better world.
”Together, we can only succeed,” Motlanthe said.
Next year’s elections — the fourth democratic elections for national and provincial government — were an opportunity for the people of South Africa to once more take a hand in determining their own future.
”It is an opportunity to exercise your hard-won democratic right to choose a government that will respond to your needs and champion your interests.
”These elections are a crucial part of the effort to build a truly participatory democracy, in which all our people play an active role in all matters that affect them.
”That is why we will continue to work to ensure that people participate in directing the daily work of government, and are practically involved in building the country.
”We therefore call on all South Africans, particularly the youth, to act now to ensure that you will be able to exercise your right on election day.
”We urge all those who have not registered to vote, to do so now,” he said. — Sapa