REMARKS BY PREMIER
Programme Director
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
I feel truly humbled to be part of this event. It is really a great pleasure for me to be in these surroundings - so natural and so refreshing. Away from volumes of files and constantly ringing phones.
I have been invited here to tell you a story. Once upon a time there was a young learner called MANTWA. She was part of a group of more than 70 learners in her class. Mantwa, like most of those in her school, was a product of the irrational PASS-ONE, PASS-ALL call. That's how she landed in Grade eleven.
On this particular day her teachers asked her to read out loud to the class. Mantwa broke down and cried. Only then did the teacher discover the sad truth - Mantwa could not read. I am sure you all know of Mantwa in Yizo Yizo.
Friends it is important that we acquire reading and writing skills. They are essential in our everyday life. I am sure your teachers have told you how important story-telling is. Through oral and written history we are able to connect our present with our past and our future.
As a new nation it is important that we preserve our past through the spoken and written word. As people in the province of the rising sun, we need to come to a proper understanding of our history which has been most grievously affected by the ravages and distortions of apartheid and colonialism.
The challenge to all of us – black and white - is to ensure that we preserve this history in all our languages. So that our experiences can be recorded in many different ways, many different voices. We must develop a way in which all our languages can, through the process, further grow and flourish.
No-one in this province must be made to feel that he or she is not part of the collective experience. All events, all celebrations, all cultural festivals in the province must add value to our task of forging our nationhood. We need to take stock of what we have accomplished and what still needs to be done in preserving our heritage and rewriting our history.
To the young people here today, black and white, you need to constantly encourage and promote unity. As leaders of tomorrow, you need to be vigilant in ensuring that the diversity which is our strength is never again used to divide us. Encourage mutual respect for the rich variety of our languages and cultures.
In conclusion, let me tell you that today MANTWA can read. When she leaves school she will be able to take care of her accounts; write and receive letters; read newspapers and magazines and watch TV.
There are those who say our children spend too much time watching TV. But believe me, TV is educational … everytime someone switches on the TV, I go into the room next door and open a B uilt-in O rderly O rganised K nowledge device.
This device is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on.
It's so easy to use even a child can operate it. Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere -- even sitting in an armchair by the fire -- yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disk. But before I sit down let me make this call:
In partnership with all sectors of society, we must continue to give absolute priority to HIV/AIDS programmes. We must continue to mobilise popular awareness of the seriousness of the epidemic. All of us must realise that the epidemic is not only a health issue, but also an economic one.
It is an epidemic which we ignore at our peril. So let's observe the ABC – Abstain, Be faithful and Condomise.
Finally, m any are wondering what is this thing called the B uilt-in O rderly O rganised K nowledge device.
It is otherwise known as a BOOK. So let's go on and enjoy the book.
I thank you.