Programme Directors: MEC Kontsiwe and Speaker Johnson
Abefundisi Bemvaba zonke
Mayors of NMM
Members of the Provincial Executive Council (MECs)
Ministers and Deputy Ministers
Hon. Speaker cde Helen, all MPs, MPLs
All other Mayors and cllrs present
Mayor of Merafong, Speaker and Cllrs
Leaders of Political Parties ingakumbi I members ze ANC and Alliance
Iinkosi zezwe lakuthi
DG, PC, HODs government officials nama Polisa onke
Langa Massacre Foundation and victims, our hosts
Abantu base Kariega, nabantu base Eastern Cape
Molweni ephondweni
Namhlanje sidibana apha KwaNobuhle sizokukhumbula usuku lwaMalungelo oLuntu (Human Rights Day).
The theme for this year is “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights.”
We are commemorating this year’s Human Rights Day in a year when our country is celebrating 30 years of freedom and democracy. Most of the gross human rights violations were committed against black people during the struggle for freedom, by agents of the apartheid regime.
Kubalulekile ke ukuba siyicacise ukuba lusukelaphi olusuku luyiholide namhlanje eMzantsi Africa. Kaloku phakathi kwethu kukho abantu abatsha ekufuneka sibaxhobise ngolwazi ukuze bayazi imbali ebuhlungu yokuhlukunyezwa kwabantu abamnyama kweli lizwe.
Ngo 1994 urhulumente okhokhelwe yi ANC wathatha isigqibo sokuba olusuku lwanamhlanje lubeyi holide ukuze kubhiyozelwe amalungelo oluntu. Kaloku phambi kwe Nkululeko yethu esayifumana ngo 1994, umntu omnyama apha kweli lizwe wayengazelwe nto ngurhulumente we apartheid.
At every given opportunity the apartheid regime trampled on the rights of black people in the most brutal ways imaginable. Zimbini izehlo zenkohlakalo zorhulumente we apartheid ezaba nempalalo gazi yabantu abamnyama ngalomhla we 21 ka Matshi eMzantsi Afrika.
Eso kuqala isehlo senzeka nge 21 ka March ngo 1960 eSharpville kwela phondo lase Gauteng xa abantu abantu abangaphaya kwe 5000 babeqhanqalazela umthetho wamapasi. Impendulo yorhulumente we apartheid kubaqhanqalazi yaba zimbumbulu ezabulala abantu abamnyama abangaphezulu kamashumi amathandathu (60), kuquka nabantwana abalishumi.
Abantu abangaphezulu kwamakhulu amabini (200) bonzakala kweso sehlo, uninzi lwabo bakhubazeka kuba badutyulwa ngasemva. Emva kwalo ndyikitya yokubulawa kwabantu abamnyama eSharpville iAfrican National Congress yathatha isigqibo sokuseka umkhosi wokukhusela abantu abamnyama kwi apartheid yawunika igama lokuba nguMkhonto WeSizwe, under the command of late President Nelson Mandela.
NguloMkhonto weSizwe ke lo kukho abazama ukuba imbali yawo, benze ngawo umbutho wopolitiko. Niyababona behla benyuka beyantaza bethetha iintsomi emini bethembisa izulu nomhlaba. We must all reject them wherever they raise their ugly heads because uMkhonto WeSizwe is the heritage of the ANC, and therefore the heritage of the people who are members and supporters of the ANC. Mabawuthiye ngelinye igama lambutho wabo.
Twenty-five years after the Sharpeville Massacre, yet another massacre occurred in our country. Leyo indyikitya yokubulawa kwabantu abamnyama yenzeka apha eKariega, kwilokishi yakwa Langa nge 21 ka March ngo 1985. Ngalomhla, abantu abamnyama abangamashumi amabini anesithoba baphulukana nobomi babo, nabo bebulawa ngurhulumente we apartheid. Uninzi lwabantu olonzakala ngalomhla, luphila namanxeba achaza isiganeko salo mini. Isono sabo yayikukuya emgcwabeni welinye iqabane eladutyulwa labulawa ngurhulumente we apartheid.
Yimbali emfutshane ke leyo eyabangela ukuba urhulumente we ANC athi ngo 1994 olu suku lwe 21 ka March yi-Human Rights Day. Ngokwenza njalo urhulumente we ANC wayezibophelela ekukhuseleni amalungelo abantu. Ukuqinisekisa ukuba izehlo zokunyashwa kamalungelo abantu ezifana ne Langa Massacre ne Sharpeville Massacre aziphinde zenzeke phantsi korhulumente wentando yesininzi.
We are here to remember the people whose rights to life were violated in the Langa Massacre. As a result of the Langa Massacre, many families were robbed of loved ones. Ndithetha ngezintsapho zilandelayo:
Mpenzana family
Jantjies family
Tshinida family
Fumbatha family
Hote family
Mana family
Makinana family
Bettie family
Wambi family
Mjikwa family
Dlokova family
Gugile family
Vena family
Blaauw family
Matambo family
Kama family
Vusani family
Majikizana family
Nobathan family
Mahuwa family
Thompson family
Pityana family
Mdiko family
Plaatjies family
Booi family
Nzuzo family
Solani family
Ngxazula family
Tembani family
Gavu family
Maneli family and
Mdlazulwana family
Without a doubt, this community of Kariega was deprived of people who could have made positive contributions to its development and our province lost potential leaders. May the souls of all those we lost at the Langa Massacre continue to rest in peace.
We also take this moment to remember other citizens who fell in similar massacres in our province because their rights to life were violated too. Here I am referring to people who were killed in the Bullhoek Massacre, Ingquza Hill Massacre, Duncan Village Massacre, Bhisho Massacre, Egerton Massacre, and Komani Massacre.
Niyazivela nani kweli nani le ndyikitya zokubulawa kwabantu abamnyama kwezi zehlo ukuba i-Eastern Cape yimbiza apho umzabalazo wenkululeko waphekwa, waphakwa khona. It is by no accident therefore that we produced remarkable and selfless revolutionaries in this province such as Tata Nelson Mandela and Tata Oliver Tambo who truly valued human rights.
Kuba ke singabantu abathanda ukulibala msinya thina sizwe esintsudu, mandinikhumbuze ukuba urhulumente we apartheid owahlukumeza abantu abamnyama wawukhokhelwe ngabantu be bala elinye. Niyabazi abantu belo bala, ngaba oo-yise mkhulu baxutha umhlaba kokhokho bethu. Ngaba oo-yise mkhulu basiphuca isidima sethu benukuneza abantu abafana noMama uSarah Baartman. Ngaba oo-yise mkhulu basicinezelayo into engapha kweminyaka engamakhulu amathathu.
Ndithi ke zilumkeleni iinjongo zesizukulwana sabantu belo bala, azikho msulwa kuba nezoo-yise mkhulu zazingekho msulwa ngaphambili. Ndiyathemba niyayazi lantetho yakwaXhosa ithi igqabi aliwi kude emthini.
Niyababona oondlebe ziyakhanya banika imali abantu abamnyama ukuze bavule imibutho yopolitiko. Injongo zabo kukuba i-ANC iphume elu lawulweni kubuyelwe kundalashe wokungaphuhli kwendawo zabamnyana.
Ukuba nenze impazamo yokubanika ondlebe ziyakhanya iivoti zenu okanye ababawayo babanike imali yokuvula imibutho zeniyazi ukuba bazokunyamalala emva kolonyulo bayokuzivalela ngapha kwamadonga amade kwimizi yabo eDolophini banishiye nidinga uphuhliso kwezilokishi zethu. Eyethu ingcebiso ithi ningalahli imbo yenu ngoophoyiyane abazokunithembisa izulu nomhlaba, bajike banyamalale.
Some cynics falsely claim that we have failed the memory of the people who fell during the struggle for our liberation. We rebut their false claims with the contempt they deserve. If anything, the ANC-led government has fundamentally transformed the lives of our people. First of all, we are a province where the rights of all individuals are protected, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, or social standing. Secondly, we have used the 30 years of freedom and democracy to give tangible meaning to the Bill of Rights. Hence today we boldly state that:
The people are governing.
All national groups enjoy equal rights
All are Equal Before the Law!
All enjoy Equal Human Rights!
The Doors of Learning and Culture are open
There are Houses, Security, and Comfort
There is Peace and Friendship!
In less than 70 days, our people will descend to voting stations to decide who will lead our province and country in the 7th general elections. This is what we mean when we say the people are governing. Phambi ko 1994 abantu abamnyama, abangabona baninzi eMzantsi Afrika babengavoti. Babethathelwa izigqibo ligcuntswana londlebe ziyakhanya.
Urhulumente we ANC wayiphelisa lonto. Sicela ke niphume ngobuninzi benu nge 29 ka March niyokukhusela inkululeko eyafunyanwa kanzima ngempalalo gazi yabantu abaquka aba bawa kwi Langa Massacre.
We have good things going under the democratic dispensation. For instance, all national groups enjoy equal rights. Phambi ko 1994 kwakunzima kumntu omnyama. URhulumente we apartheid wakhe wanyanzela abantu abamnyama ukuba bafunde i-Afrikaans ngenkani. Sigezelekile kodwa!
But under the ANC-led government, all languages are respected and promoted. Our children have a right to be taught in the language of their choice. Ilungelo lemfundo livulelekile kumntu wonke, ingakumbi abantu abatsha. These are human rights that were historically denied to their parents.
Abantwana bethu bayathuthwa ziimoto ezibhatalwa ngu rhulumente xa be hamba imigama emide ukuya esikolweni. Yayingekho lonto phambi ko 1994. Abantwana bethu bayatyiswa ezikolweni izidlo ezimbini, nalena inkqubo yaqalwa ngurhulumente we ANC owayekhokhelwe nguMongameli Nelson Mandela. More than 170,000 learners in Nelson Mandela Metro benefit from the School Nutrition Programme. This programme is also benefiting over 1000 food handlers in this region.
Abantwana bethu bafunda kwizikolo ezidilisekileyo, ezinobuxhaka-xhaka balemihla.
Eight schools were constructed in Nelson Mandela Metro by the ANC-led government in the past five years. Noninzi Luzipho Primary and Nkululeko High are solid proof of the work we have done. We hope this work inspires our children and teachers to produce outstanding results like the results of Soqhayisa Senior Secondary School which produced the second-best maths results in the whole of South Africa.
Kodwa ke makhe ndiningxolise bantu balapha eNelson Mandela Metro. Amalungelo ahamba noxanduva lokukhusela izinto enizenzelwe ngurhulumente. Kutheni lento niyeka izikolo zenu zityhuthulwe ziphele zizigila mikhuba enihlala nazo? Akukho bantu basuka kwezinye izithili zeliphondo bazokutyhuthula izikolo apha, zityhuthulwa ngoonyana benu neentombi zenu.
Are you going to say the protection of your schools is the responsibility of the government? Ayihambi njalo xa izokulunga bantu bakuthi. Kusafuneka urhulumente akhe ngokutsha izikolo ezikwimeko embi kakhulu kweliphondo. Thathani unxanduva lokukhusela izikolo zenu esele zakhiwe.
If you have not noticed Nelson Mandela Metro is becoming the capital of school vandalism in South Africa. I have seen many schools in this region that have been stripped to the ground by vandals. You cannot expect the government to rebuild such schools when you did nothing when criminals vandalised your schools. This area of Nelson Mandela Metro used to have activist citizens who fought and defeated apartheid. We call on you to stand up and fight criminals who are vandalising your schools.
One of the rights we have guarded jealously as the ANC-led government is the right of our people to access healthcare. Impilo yooTata nooMama iphucuke kakhulu, baphila ubomi obude. Nabantwana abasandokuzalwa baphila kakuhle kakhulu. Kodwa sicela sincedisanene ukulwa ukukhulelwa kwamantombazana asafundayo. This problem of teenage pregnancy is ruining the future of young girls.
This year we will be doing a lot of infrastructure upgrades in several healthcare facilities in this Metro which include Dora Nginza, Livingston Hospital, Motherwell, and KwaZakhele Community Health Centres. Kwiveki ephelileyo urhulumente ebenikezela nge Mobile clinics ezingamashumi asixhenxe anesixhenxe. Isixhenxe (7) kuzo ziza apha e-Nelson Mandela Metro kuba sininazo ezilishumi elinesihlanu (15). Lilonke nizobana 22 mobile clinics kule region.
We are doing all of this work to improve the quality of health services that our people are getting. We are implementing plans to improve the management of health facilities. Bubuqhitala nokungakhathali kubaphathi bamaziko empilo ukuva izinto zokuba akucocekanga ezibhedlele.
Abantu balapha e-Nelson Mandela Metro nabephondo fanele bazingce ngokubakho kwesikolo sokufundela ubugqirha sesibini kweliphondo. The establishment of a second Medical School in Nelson Mandela University will produce doctors who will help us sustain the right of our people to access healthcare services.
Ndakuba andithethenga ukuba andilichaphazelanga ilungelo lokuhlala kwimeko enesidima. Asiyithandi into yokuhlala kwabantu abamnyama ematyotyombeni. Yiyo lonto urhulumente we ANC oko esakhela abantu izindlu zasimahla.
Phakathi ko 2008 no 2024 urhulumente wakhe izindlu ezingaphezulu kwe 174 000 kweli phondo lethu. Nelson Mandela Metro ihamba phambili ngezindlu ezingaphezulu kwe 40 000 ezakhelwe abantu. Siyazi ke ukuba bakhona abangekafumani izindlu, iphulo esikulo lelokukhawulezisa ulwakhiwo lwezindlu ezintsha.
Bantu balapha e Nelson Mandela Metro, izinga lobundlobongela liphezulu apha kule region. Ilungelo labantu lobomi, nokuphila ngokukhuselekileyo liyahlukunyezwa apha kule region. Ngoku iGqeberha ikwi ndawo yeshumi kwiiDolophu zehlabathi ezinobundlobongela obuqatseleyo. Noko ayilowonga elihle eli nge ndawo ethiywe ngoTata uNelson Mandela, umntu owayenoxolo nothando.
Despite many efforts and interventions by the government to send specialised teams to curb violent crime in this metro, crime persists. Asikwazi ke ukunikezela kulemfazwe yokulwa ulwaphulo mthetho, kodwa kuzofuneka sitsaleni ngamandla amanye, sitsalele kwicala elinye. The private sector, municipality and SAPS must all work together to restore law and order in this Metro and reclaim the streets from criminals. Urhulumente uzokuqinisa ekukhangeleni imipu ethe tshitshilili kule Nelson Mandela Metro. The fight against gender-based violence is intensifying with over 12 000 people sentenced for sexual offences in the past five years.
The government built a brand-new Forensic Science Laboratory here in Nelson Mandela Metro. Sele isebenza sithetha nje. Since it started operations the Forensic Science Laboratory has received 56,000 samples of DNA, fingerprints, and ballistics. I repeat that those who rape, those who shoot people with firearms, and those who sell drugs, science is going to help us catch you.
Masiyitsho into yokuba umzamo omhle siyawuzama, kodwa ugqatso azikaluphumezi ekuqinisekiseni ukuba ilungelo labantu abafuna umsebenzi siyalifezekisa.
Over the past five years, we created 246,000 permanent jobs for our people and most of those jobs were created here in Gqeberha by companies that manufacture cars. Ndiyafuna ukunazisa ukuba kukhulu ukuzayo okuzokudala amanye amathuba emisebenzi amatsha apha e Gqeberha. Inkampani yemoto iStellantis izokuqesha abantu abangaphezulu kwe 1500 xa iqalisa ukuvelisa iimoto eCoega kungekudala. Ulwakhiwo lwe factory yale nkampani luyaqala kulonyaka. Inkampani yemoto iBAIC nayo izokuqalisa ukuvelisa imoto ngoku kwaphaya eCoega.
U VW, Ford no Isuzu bazinzile apha e Gqeberha. Ngoko ke sanukulahla ithemba bantu bakuthi amathuba emisebenzi amatsha ayeza.
Gqeberha should be leading by example in Tourism for this province so that we can create more jobs for our people. We have plans to improve the look of the Summerstrand beachfront to turn it into a vibrant tourism hub that competes with other coastal cities of South Africa. We intend to see great progress in the implementation of those plans in the next five years.
The ANC-led government has done a lot to affirm our people with political, social, and economic rights. That is why in our manifesto we are committing to do more, better and faster.
We are going to pursue only 6 priorities after we win the May 29 elections.
PRIORITY 1 is the Jobs Plan
Wonke umntu oselungelweni lokuphangela sifuna afumane umsebenzi.
PRIORITY 2 is Industrial Development and Infrastructure Investment
Sizokuphucula iziseko zoqoqosho eziquka ulwakhiwo lweendlela, izikhululo zenqanawa nemizila ka loliwe ukuze sitsale abatyali mali. We will also support township businesses panel beaters, hawkers, hair salons, and general businesses.
PRIORITY is Investing in People.
Sizokuphucula intlalo yoluntu. Very soon we will be launching a Mega Skills Project in partnership with MerSETA in our province. This project is targeted to train 10,000 young people in the province as artisans.
PRIORITY 4 is to Invest in Service Delivery
Service delivery is the anthem of the ANC-led government. We will intensify the programme of supporting our municipalities to effectively spend service delivery funding that has been allocated for infrastructure improvement, building new infrastructure and maintenance of existing infrastructure.
PRIORITY 5 is promoting investment and trade in key economic sectors. Sizokuphucula ezorhwebo namazwe angaphandle. We will attract new investments in the automotive, tourism, agro-processing, creative industry, oceans economy, digital economy, and retail sectors.
PRIORITY 6 is Building a better Africa and World
Sifuna kuhlaliswane ngoxolo nokuhloniphana ngamazwe ehlabathi sikowazi ukurhwebelana kwisimo esizolileyo. Asigungqi kwikhwelo lethu elithi uSirayeli makahloniphe amalungelo wabantu basePalestina, ayeke ukubulala abantwana basePalestina. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) must urgently deliver its judgement on that genocide because day after day Israel is killing more Palestinian people in Gaza.
Conclusion
Bantu bakuthi baninzi ke ozungulichele bemibutho abazokunilukuhla. Ngo 2019 imibutho eyathatha inxaxheba kulonyulo yayi 48. Kulonyaka yigilikithi yemibutho eyi 350 efuna ukuphatha eli lizwe. Abanye bafuna nje iivoti zenu bayokudlala ngazo ePalamente. Ningavumi ukulingwa.
Mandiniyeke ngelithi sijonge ukusebenzisana nani emva kolonyulo siphuhlise iGqeberha, iKariega nephondo lethu nangakumbi. Ukuze yenzeke lonto masiphumeni ngobuninzi bethu nge 29 ka May siyokuvotela umbutho owasikhulula kumakhamandela engcinezelo ukuze sakhe ikamva eligcono lomntu wonke.
Long live the spirit of the fallen heroes of the Langa Massacre Long Live!
