PREMIER'S SPEECH
His Excellency Ingwenyama Makhosonkhe II
Chairperson of the House of Traditional leaders, Inkosi MB Mzimeta
Council Members of the House of Traditional Leaders
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are gathered here at this historical site to stake claim to what is rightfully ours - to correct and rewrite our own history.
Allow me to take you back many years ago during the now battle of Isandlwana. The amabutho had just inflicted a heavy defeat on an army feared and revered throughout the world, when a British army commander reported to his superiors: "The camp is in the hands of the enemy, Sir".
Almost one-hundred-and-twenty years later, we gather here at Komjekejeke - the place of fertile soil - in the full and fulfilling knowledge that we can now declare: "The country is in the hands of the people, dear friends! 1) 5
And so we meet, as descendants of valiant fighters, in a different setting, in a different era, to plan for peace and not war; to promote unity and not division; to forge a common nationhood and not exclusive privilege.
That we gather at the dawn of the new millennium, is a reminder of the fact that, valiant though their resistance was, the African people were conquered; a dark interregnum of defeat and humiliation set in; and yet the resistance continued,, taking many forms 'under many different conditions. In the end, right triumphed over might.
We meet not as victors to dance to the cries of war; we meet not to celebrate over any vanquished people. Our trophies are neither swish nor precious booty.
We meet to assert the humanity of persons one to the other; to seek unity and reconciliation; to set shoulders to the wheel in building a better life for all.
The presence among us of Ingonyama Makhosoke 11 and other traditional leaders, once again attest to the oneness of the national government, the provincial government, the local government and traditional leaders. As in the past, and as it will be in the future, we are one people with one destiny.
Chairperson, I feel truly humbled to stand before my leaders and acknowledge their status and role as full participants in national affairs; as part of the corps of leaders in the reconstruction and development of our province and our country.
We are mindful that the journey to where we are today has not been easy. But all of us persevered because we knew that what we had set out on was the right road.
In our province we have already set pointers to the kind of co-operation we want between traditional leaders, the province and local government. We have started to address unity across ethnic lines.
The Office of Traditional Affairs in the Mpumalanga government has started to examine many vexed questions about representation; they have started to work out programs to bring traditional leaders fully into the socio-political life of the nation, and to ensure complementarily rather than competition between elected and traditional authorities.
We are gathered here today precisely because those who saw it fit to allocate our land amongst themselves sought to divide us from our traditional leaders.
'The Institution of traditional leadership was an integral component of the historical form of social Organisation long before the colonialisation of the South African territory.
It is precisely because of that colonialisation and the violent acquisition of land that the people of Komjekejeke were forced to move - disrupting their lives in ways some of us will never understand.
Both the colonial forces and the apartheid state consistently used the institution of traditional leadership to control, divide, repress and -rule the African communities. But many of our traditional leaders refused to be co-opted and instead played a heroic role in leading African communities in the struggle for freedom from the colonial oppressors.
In rewriting our own history and reclaiming our historical sites, we need to restore the dignity of the institution of traditional leaders. We cannot - yes, we dare not do otherwise.
The respect and recognition of the institution of traditional leaders should reside in the hearts of each one us. The fact that we are here as government is one clear example of our commitment to that ideal.
Our traditional leaders should lead the way as custodians of our culture, custom, the promotion of unity, the promotion of consensus around development projects and plans, and the administration of justice in democratically transformed community courts.
We call upon traditional leaders to advise and assist the national and provincial governments respectively on matters that have a bearing on traditional communities.
These, dear leaders, are the concrete challenges we face. Indeed,' because we are meant to be leaders of the people, our challenges cannot be different from those that the people face.
Foremost amongst our tasks as a nation is to mobilise the people for reconstruction and development. As the people were their own liberators'. So should they become active agents in changing their lives for the better.
For this, our communities need information about what resources and funds are available to them; skills to turn their needs into plans and project proposals; and an effective partnership with government. Traditional leaders can promote these requirements.
As we go into local elections next year, let us ensure that we work together in accelerating delivery in our villages in accordance with the mandate given to us on June 2.
As leaders, we need to be vigilant in ensuring that the diversity, which is our strength, is never again used to divide us.
Fundamental to our unity is the mutual respect for the rich variety of our languages and cultures. While the constitution recognises rights in this regard and proposes institutions to promote them, this will have little effect without the involvement of traditional leaders.
Our freedom is also giving impetus to the recovery of our history. Recent excavations, together with earlier work, are being our understanding of the past from the colonial account of our' country and region.
They point with increasing detail to our country's place in Africa's civilisation. Traditional leaders can promote and assist continuing research so that we know who we truly are.
Ngonyama Makhosoke, Babethu, and other traditional leaders here, the nation, with your help, also needs to come to a proper understanding of those whose history has been most grievously affected by the ravages and distortions of apartheid and colonialism.
Bound up with the knowledge of our history is the resolution of the disputes on lineage bequeathed to us by apartheid's ruthless attempts to bend the institutions of traditional authority to its own end. . Again, we have a central role to play in helping to resolve these problems.
Perhaps more difficult than most, is to find the best ways in which out elected structures of local government and traditional leaders can work together for the good of their communities.
This is a crucial area for reconstruction and development, and a resolution of outstanding differences and conflictual matters is of the greatest importance. Our experience has shown that with goodwill and la commitment to the interests of the community as a whole, even the most difficult problems can be overcome and mutually beneficial solutions found.
AU these tasks will demand infrastructure and resources, and Government commits itself to providing these, within available resources.
The victory that we have scored against apartheid has laid the basis for all the people of South Africa to unite across colour, language, ethnic and religious barriers. It has launched us on the course of realising our true potential.
Before the darkness of the interregnum of defeat and humiliation, great visionaries such as Silamba, Mabhoko, Mswati, Gonnema, Moshweshwe, Cetshwayo, Nghunghunyane, Hintsa, Montsiwa, Sekhukhuni, Ramabulana, Mzilikazi and Kok had come to the realisation that the disunity of the African people was at the centre of their woes.
From the plains of KwaTlapiso and Embilaneni, Ingonyama Silamba Mabhena fought valiantly against colonial and missionary domination.
He fought against the dividing rift missionaries caused within the ranks of the Manala community by threatening to bring back the converts from the Wegmannstal -missionary station to their Own People. It was King Silamba who resisted paying tax and fought against a number of restrictions missionary tried to impose.
That is our history as we know it. It is only in a free South Africa that we can begin to rewrite the lies dished out at schools during the colonial and apartheid years.
Having together resolved that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, we know that the unity of our nation is our strength as we strive to build a prosperous nation.
Our tryst with these forbears is to build South Africa into a united, non- racial, no-sexist and democratic country; a nation of Africans across colour lines; an African democracy in the modem world.
The country is in the hands of the people. Let us roll up our sleeves and get down to work.
May we, on behalf of all the people of the province of Mpumalanga extend congratulations to His Royal Majesty and the Royal Fanifly of Ingonyama Makhosoke on the launch of this heritage site.
This is a momentous occasion for the people of Komjekejeke and the Manala people and indeed for the entire province; and we are greatly honoured to share this moment in the beautiful hills and valleys of this beautiful land.
The Royal House of Mabena has contributed greatly to the spirit of freedom and justice that now reigns in this country. Many heroic battles were fought in this region when your forefathers resisted encroaching colonialism.
The challenges facing us are different from those facing our forefathers. Hunger, starvation, illiteracy and unemployment may not seem as powerful as the enemies of the past but we know that they are equally destructive and just as painful to our people.
In order to better the lives of the people of Southern A-Africa we are committed to redoubling our efforts at economic integration and co- operation for development.
As a province we shall play our part in vigorously defending the peace and stability that we have all worked so hard to achieve. We shall strive to find creative ways to invite investment, boost trade and advance manufacturing.
While we preserve and revere our traditions we shall use our centuries- old experience to benefit our peoples; so that our peoples have access to the resources, education and technology that we need for success in the new age.
Let us join hands to ensure that as we enter the new millennium, the political rights that the twentieth century has recognised, and the independence that nations have gained, shall be translated into peace, prosperity and equity for a.
This gathering today reaffirms for us the continuity between heroic tradition and renewal for the sake of the betterment of our people. We are confident that Ingonyama Makhosoke I 1, Re his forefathers will rise to meet these challenges with wisdom. We wish him good health and strength to carry out his duties with courage and conviction.
It is now my leasure and privilege to unveil the plaque.
I thank you