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Last Update: April 29, 2001 |
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Mbeki takes conciliatory stand on Freedom Day President Thabo Mbeki on Friday said most white South Africans were committed to helping bring about transformation in the country, and were working hard to achieve this aim. He told a Freedom Day rally in Pietersburg: "It is important for us to follow their good example because they realise that their continued prosperity depends also on the advancement of the poor. "I know that the majority of white South Africans are committed to contributing towards the transformation of our society." Mbeki said he believed the entire country was shocked by incidents like the murder of Northern Province teenager Tshepo Matloha, allegedly by nine white rugby players. "I am convinced they do not reflect on the people of one province, or on the people of South Africa as a whole," the president said. "I am convinced that all sections of our diverse nation are deeply committed to building a South Africa that belongs to all." The country's main Freedom Day celebration at the Pietersburg stadium got off to a cheerful start. People packing the pavilion were unfazed by an early morning drizzle as cultural performances got under way. Mbeki's speech rounded off a three-day tour of the province in what has been labelled an initiative to reach out to ordinary people. Before he began his address, a flypast by South African Air Force jets surprised and thrilled the crowd. Mbeki was introduced by Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Minister Ben Ngubane. Recounting some of his experiences during the provincial visit, Mbeki said the tour had confirmed to him that all sectors of government should communicate with and listen to ordinary people. The government would work hard to ensure that everyone had enough food, access to water and electricity, properly equipped schools, and medical facilities. Another priority was to increase the number of jobs created by the economy. "Without these things, which the majority of our people have been denied for so long, our freedom remains incomplete," Mbeki said. He added he intended to conduct similar visits to other provinces. Other leaders should also adopt the principle of imbizo, which meant listening to the people themselves on how the government could speed up change for the better. "We must go from village to village, from community to community. We must listen to the concerns of our people." Mbeki said he was confident that South Africans were on a road towards building a great and successful nation, which would have eliminated the deep divisions of the apartheid past. "All of us should join with the many people of our country, black and white, who are seeking how to deal with the legacy of racism in a way that unites us all." Mbeki added: "Together we are striving to eliminate the mindsets of inferiority and superiority from the consciousness of our people." The Freedom Day rally featured colourful performances by a variety of artists, and cultural events that included volkspele, the traditional Afrikaner dance. Popular stars belting out lively songs on a large stage erected on the rugby field evoked great enthusiasm from the crowd, with many swaying along with the beat of the music. A police band, drum majorettes, 120 schoolchildren carrying banners, and choirs also entertained the crowd. The festivities continued into the afternoon. Few whites were seen among the crowd. However, this should not be viewed as some kind of boycotting behaviour, Mbeki said on a local radio talkshow on Thursday. One should keep in mind that whites had different political traditions, he stressed. "The black population, having engaged in the struggle, is very much used to mass meetings and rallies. I would certainly not say that if whites don't come, that they are boycotting the day. "They have done things differently in the past. I don't know when last you saw a mass meeting of whites." Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ]  Kytie Koekblik ColumnKytie Koekblik Washington D.C. - My maag is nog lekker vol van kerrievis, boerewors en samoosas. Ek het gisteraand alles afgerond met super Cadbury’s sjokolade. Dit was ‘n surreele naweek. ‘n Naweek waarin jou maag en hart onthou het waar jy vandaan kom. Suid-Afrika, South Africa, Sud-Afrika; Afrique de Sud; Azanie. Terwyl ek die een hap na die ander gevat het, en na speeches geluister het waarin ons land onsself ‘n klop op die skouer gegee het vir ons peaceful transition to democracy, kon ek nie help om heeltyd te dink aan die ironiee nie. Dit was ons land se sewende vryheidsdagvieringe, maar dit was die eerste keer dat ek dit gevier het. Ek erken: ek is skaam daaroor. “The past ten months in the States have been my political coming of age,” het ek aan almal vertel wat wou hoor hierdie naweek. Nog 'n ironie. Ek moes die klein dorpies en die lieflike Berg van Suid-Afrika verlaat om regtig aan nuwe perspektiewe blootgestel te word. Daarmee saam het ek ook nuwe gevoelens ervaar. Ek was bly en verlig dat EK as Afrikaanse girl saam met alle Suid-Afrikaners die dag kon gedenk. Ons kon almal Nkosi en die Stem sing, terwyl die res van die wereld in verwondering staan oor ons daai pad van reconciliation almal saam aangedurf het. Die ambassadeur het ons geleer om ‘n Africanised version te doen van daai dans wat al die teenyboppers gewoonlik in blokke doen by parties. Gister was ek by ‘n piekniek vir Suid-Afrikaners wat die Cape Dutch Bakery gereel het. Ek kon nie help om te glimlag toe ek verskillende kleure almal SAAM sien eierspeletjies en driebeenresies en toutrek doen. Een van daai wonders van die nuwe SA. Ek het nie saamgespeel nie. Na jare se Sondagskoolpieknies en kermisse en bazaars en talle ysbrekeraktiwiteite waarin jy geforseer is om saam te werk en saam te speel, het ek myself belowe om dat ek myself NOOIT weer daaraan sou subject nie. Nee wat dankie, ek los die boeresports maar vir die jonger landsgenote en expats wat seker so half nostalgies moes gevoel het. Ek was ook hartseer. Vrydag-aand in die SA Ambassade was ons omring deur aarbei-bome en salmon visse en ‘n leeu gemaak van ys en kase en wyne en hoender en ander delicatessen. Dit was Minister Trevor Manual wat ons almal daaraan herinner het dat ons aan Freedom Day celebrate namens die majority of the poorest people in South Africa. Ek was ook verskriklik, verskriklik kwaad. By die einse braai van 250 mense, het net twee vrot appels my die moer in gemaak. Ek wou hulle met daai eiers gaan gooi waarmee hulle die boeresports gedoen het. Vir die eerste keer wou ek haat. Oor daai soort met die mentaliteit wat Afrikaners ‘n slegte naam gee. Twee rooi-gesig mans van die ou soort kon hulleself nie help nie. Hulle moes Belangrike Sake op Afrikaans kliphard met rassistiese aanmerkings bespreek. Twee bierboepe en hulle ou gewoontes is al wat nodig is om daai boerewors ‘n bitter smaak in die mond te gee. Ten spyte van die twee ou manne, was dit ‘n braai om te onthou, met aartappelslaai gemaak met die regte-egte mayonaisse…Ons kon net sowel in ‘n karavaanpark in ons eie land wees. Daar was selfs 'n brakkie met die naam Bliksem. Al wat jou daaraan herinner het dat jy kontinente weg is van jou regte Home, was die Amerikaanse toddlers met yank-aksente wat agter die brakkie aanhardloop en “Bliksem” roep. ‘n Naweek wat ek nooit sal vergeet nie. ‘n Surreele ervaring wat jou skielik weereens herinner het waarom Ameika nie Suid-Afrika in jou hart kan inneem nie. Ek lag nou nog na die naweek en my spyskanaal se dankie. 'n Naweek vol goue oomblikke. Toe die DC-Em by die Embassy aan die Suid-Afrikaners se: “No matter where you are, a South African is a South African is a South African.” Toe die township jive weergalm in Massachusets avenue en die son op ons bak en jy skielik voel asof jy Home is. Toe “Scatterlings of Africa” deur Adams Morgan eggo en meng met die klanke van hip-hop en bluegrass en reggae Saterdag-nag, ons eie new generation party, en ons drie whiteys wat voor ‘n audience van Amerikaners Zulu-danse doen. Ek op hoehakke wat hoog opskop soos ‘n wafferse Zulu warrior en die ander whitey wat aan almal die toy-toy leer en ons pogings om gumboot dancing te doen. Die Nuwe SA vlae op al die blink karre. Iewers tydens een van daai Sondagskoolpieknieks het ek geleer van die atleet wat moet fokus op die eindpunt en nie konsentreer op die krampe en blasé op sy voete nie. Dit het ek onthou, so saam met die herinneringe aan sakresies. Ons is op daai road of Reconciliation. Kytie K. Kytie Koekblik would like you to respond to her tongue-in-cheek running commentary on suburban life in America in this editorial. Fresh off the boat, she is ready to explore and experiment with American bath plugs and to drive on the other side of the road. You can contact her here. © RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ] Jumbo move planned for 1000 Kruger elephants South Africa is getting ready for one of its biggest "Noah's Ark" wildlife relocations, which involves shifting 1 000 elephants from Kruger National Park over the border into Mozambique. Environment Minister Valli Moosa told journalists in Pretoria on Tuesday that the jumbo load would be moved to Mozambique's Coutada 16, a former hunting concession area, which would form part of Africa's largest transfrontier conservation area. The proposed Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou conservation area, which incorporates wildlands in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, will cover an area of nearly 40 000km2. International border fencing which obstructs ancient migration routes of wildlife will eventually be removed along South Africa's north-eastern borders with Zimbabwe and Mozambique in an attempt to create "the world's greatest animal kingdom sanctuary". Moosa said he hoped "significantly large" sections of fence would be removed towards the end of the year - but wildlife experts had advised that elephants could not simply be chased over the border into Mozambique. The 1 000 elephants would be captured in selected family groups and moved by road into Mozambique over the next three years where they would be carefully monitored by researchers and armed rangers. Moosa said taxpayers would not be asked to fund the operation, which was expected to cost more than R20-million. Cape-based tobacco magnate Anton Rupert had expressed great interest in the project and had already raised major funding almost single-handed. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] R238m plan to boost Joburg's cultural hub The Gauteng government has launched an aggressive plan to turn the Newtown Cultural Precinct into a vibrant, money-making economic and cultural centre. The development plans form part of a massive R7,5-billion initiative - known as the Blue IQ - which is being led by the provincial government to woo strategic investments. The broader aim is also to project Gauteng as a "smart province". Oren Fuchs, Blue IQ's general manager, said on Wednesday that the Newtown Cultural Precinct was one of the 10 strategic mega projects under way in the fields of tourism, technology, transport and high-value-added manufacturing. "Blue IQ will invest R238-million into Newtown. This is viable because of its potential for economic development and job creation," Fuchs said. The provincial government and the Johannesburg council have dedicated R800-million to the Newtown development. The rejuvenation of Newtown includes the construction of the Mary Fitzgerald Square on land opposite the celebrated Market Theatre, and a weekly flea market centre. The design of the multi-purpose square would serve both as a Johannesburg landmark and cater for specific functions, such as exhibitions, concerts and commemorations. Inner city manager Graeme Reid said the focus of the Newtown strategy was the creation of an open space for people to use and enjoy. He said the amount of space, the historical relevance of the site, and its location with respect to current and future creative industries made Mary Fitzgerald Square the ideal spot to build a public area. "To achieve this, we have created a master plan for Newtown," Reid said, adding that the plan outlined four strategies for the area to reach its potential. Reid said the first focus of the plan would be on the creative industries. "In May we will begin building a R7,5-million design and craft centre across the street from Mega Music. Separate facilities for film and dance will follow in the next two years." The second focus would be on creating a 24-hour area, with emphasis on attracting more people to live in the area. This would be followed by a strategy to improve access to the area through the construction of interchange routes linked to the M1 motorway. The final focus of the plan would be to establish a clean and safe environment. "We are creating an area for people who want to work in a creative place, who want to enjoy South Africa's rich culture and history and, above all, we are creating a place for people to have fun," Reid said. Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs Jabu Moleketi said it was the work of the government to establish an environment to create jobs. He added that the R7,5-billion Blue IQ initiative for the province would build the infrastructure that businesses needed to thrive in. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] Apartheid payout plan to be finalised soon A final decision on reparation policy for apartheid victims is expected within two weeks, a justice department official said on Wednesday. Medart Rwelamira was speaking at the two-day Reparations Indaba being held at the Holocaust Museum this week. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission handed the government recommendations on reparations two years ago but the policy on the matter has not been finalised. To date, the TRC has declared over 21 000 people victims and has made emergency interim payments of about R2 000 to some. Rwelamira said one of the reasons for the process being delayed was that the TRC had not furnished the department with enough documents. "It would have been easier to pay victims if the TRC had outlined the victim's case - providing the victim's problems and the number of dependents." He called on civil society and the business sector to help with payments and said the issue of reparation should include memorials. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] SA newspaper prints Mbeki plot document A South African newspaper on Sunday published the documents that triggered a police investigation of an alleged plot to oust President Thabo Mbeki by purporting to link him to the 1993 murder of a key rival. The Sunday Times said an October 2000 report to Mbeki and a sworn affidavit given to police on Tuesday led Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete to announce on national television later that day that senior members of the ruling African National Congress were plotting against Mbeki. In the two documents, suspended ANC official James Nkambule says Mathews Phosa, a former ANC legal advisor and provincial premier who is now a businessman, called a meeting last October to plan a media campaign to discredit Mbeki. He says part of the plan was for Januz Walus, one of two white right-wingers serving life terms for the 1993 murder of revered Communist Party leader Chris Hani, to name Mbeki as a co-conspirator and say he provided the gun. At the time of his death, Hani was Mbeki's key rival to become deputy president under Nelson Mandela following the country's first all-race elections the following year. Nkambule, suspended pending a ruling on 77 allegations of fraud involving party funds, says in the police affidavit that Phosa "shared" the Walus allegation with former ANC secretary-general Cyril Ramaphosa, now also a leading businessman. Nkambule says Phosa told him on one occasion that "something ugly was about to hit the president of the country". Ramaphosa narrowly lost to Mbeki in the race to be deputy president in 1994 and currently is the man most often mentioned to succeed him. Mbeki succeeded Mandela in June 1999. Tshwete on Tuesday named Phosa, Ramaphosa and Tokyo Sexwale, former premier of Gauteng, the province that includes Johannesburg, as targets of the police probe. All three have been mentioned as possible successors to Mbeki, who is limited by the constitution to two five-year terms. All have denied the plot allegation. The documents published on Sunday provide no firm evidence of treason. Nkambule says in one he will seek permission from his sources to name them and put their evidence on the record. Many political analysts have said Mbeki authorised revelation of the alleged plot in hopes of crushing an internal revolt against his controversial leadership. But the Sunday Independent said in an editorial that the ploy had backfired spectacularly and that Mbeki had fuelled rather than ended discussion about a successor. "The ANC is likely to be the ruling party for the foreseeable future, but it is overwhelmingly good news that the spell of fear and silence surrounding discussion of the presidency for most of the past 22 months has been broken for good," said the newspaper. The Sunday Times said Tshwete's allegations had damaged South Africa's international credibility. "Before Tshwete spoke unwisely, South Africa was perceived to be a stable country with Africa's most vigorous democracy.... Tshwete has cast a dark shadow over that image," it said. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] |
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