Statement by Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa to the UN General Assembly to commemorate Nelson Mandela International Day
Mr (António) Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN
Ms (Limpho) Monyamane, representative of the Nelson Mandela Foundation
Penny Abeywardena, New York City Commissioner for International Affairs
Danny Glover, UN Children’s Fund Goodwill Ambassador
Distinguished representatives and honoured guests
Let me take this opportunity, Mr President, to commend you for the initiative to host an informal Session of the General Assembly to commemorate Nelson Mandela International Day. Thank you for inviting me to make a statement at this august occasion.
Nelson Mandela International Day commemorates the lifetime of service Nelson Mandela gave to South Africa and the world.
The day was launched by a unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly on July 18, 2009, the birthday of former president Mandela - affectionately known by his clan name, Madiba.
In recognition of Madiba’s 67 years, beginning in 1942 when he first started to campaign for the human rights of every South African, people around the world are requested to devote 67 minutes of their time - one minute for each year of Mandela’s time in public service - by making a small gesture of solidarity with humanity.
Since 2009, every year on July 18, we are called upon to reflect on how we, as individuals, can emulate Madiba and make a difference in someone’s life. We are asked to take action and inspire change to make every day a Mandela Day.
Mandela Day is an opportunity for us to celebrate Madiba’s life and legacy in a sustainable way that will bring about enduring change.
The theme for this year is “Action Against Poverty”. The question we should ask ourselves is what are we doing to make every day a Mandela Day by taking action against poverty? The seminal year of 2015 ushered in the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and, at an African Continental level Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want.
A preamble of Agenda 2030 recognises that eradication of poverty in all its forms, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and prerequisite for sustainable development to ensure than no one is left behind.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 espouses to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere”. Among others, SDG1 aims to eradicate extreme poverty, reduce by half
the number of people living in extreme poverty and resource mobilisation to implement programmes to end poverty.
The Aspiration of the AU’s Agenda 2063 for a “prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development” affirms the determination to eradicate poverty in one generation and to build shared prosperity through social and economic transformation of the continent.
Convergence and complementarity in achieving these two goals should be found in order to make a difference in the lives of people in Africa and the world in general.
Today, as the world reflects on Mandela’s legacy, we are called upon to emulate his life, leadership and devotion to humanity, and to humanitarian causes, in line with these two goals.
While Mandela saw himself first and foremost as a servant of South Africa’s people, his commitment to public service to everyone extended to making our world a better one for all. Madiba’s vision of social justice and freedom for all demands of us to become part of a continuous global movement for good and particularly to taking collective action to eradicate poverty.
Mr President, I am informed that in partnership with the City of New York, your office organised the weeding of a park and the cleaning up of the beach on Randall’s Island. It is these small actions of kindness that make a difference in the lives of people and I would like to congratulate you in this regard.
The world must continue to see the genius Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela - both as a person and as the embodiment of unity of purpose and reconciliation. In life and in spirit Mandela remains the glue that keeps disparate and distinct South African communities together.
It comes as no surprise that Mandela remains an inspiration to the kings, peasants, rich, poor and paupers, the elite and the working class. His life embodies the triumph of a human spirit against adversity.
We will be doing him a disservice if we do not draw from his simple but profound words. Perhaps there can be no other inspiring words than the expression of his vision for our country.
Mandela famously said during the Rivonia Trial, long before he became the world’s most renowned elder statesman: “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to
the struggle of the African people.
I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against
black domination.
“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
There are four aspects of this statement worth reflecting on:
1. The first relates to Mandela locating himself to a long line of his African heroes and heroines of the struggle - hence the insistence on having dedicated himself to this African Struggle. Mandela and the ANC were not confused by what the African was and what the African struggle entailed?
2. Second, is cherishing an ideal of a democratic society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunity.
3. Third, is the preparedness to give his life for what he believes in.
4. The fourth aspect that is less emphasised is Mandela’s reference to a society that will provide everyone with equal opportunity.
A careful reading of all the partners on this Mandela Day celebration is that all of them are engaged in efforts to promote a society
that provides equal opportunity
for all.
Indeed, nothing speaks to this challenge more than the material reality that confronts our beneficiaries today, or to put it differently, those who have enlisted to share with us in the Madiba magic.
Nothing exemplifies this reaching out more than the South African work with “women and young girls at-risk, homeless people, women and men, children in need, people living with HIV/Aids and chronic mental illness, as well as the homeless”.
In this regard, it is perhaps worth restating that the South African government has spared no effort in ensuring that Mandela’s dream continues to be realised, especially by the poor.
This resonates well with the theme of this high level political forum. Commenting on this, the chief executive of the Institute of Race Relations reminds us that under the South African government: “Service delivery successes were extraordinary. The number of households living in a formal house more than doubled after 1996.
“In 1996, there were 5.8 million households living in a formal house. By 2016, that number had increased to 13.4 million or by 131%.
“Every day since 1996, more than 1 000 families (1 042) have moved into a formal house. For every shack newly erected after 1996, just more than 10 formal houses were built. The proportion of black families in a formal house increased by 52.5% in 1996 to 73.8% in 2015.
“The number of families using electricity for lighting increased from 5.2 million in 1996 to 15.3 million in 2016 or by 192%. The proportion of families cooking with electricity increased from 47.1% in 1996 to 82.8% in 2015. The proportion cooking with wood fell by half, from 23% to 9.3%. There are few emerging markets that could match these numbers.
“The number of households receiving piped water increased from 7.2 million in 1996 to 15.3 million in 2016. The number of household with access to flush or chemical lavatories increased from 4.5 million in 1996 to 11.4 million in 2016 or by 151%.
“In 1996, almost half of families (49.7%) had substandard toilet facilities. That figure has now fallen to 32.4% despite the infrastructure challenges in poor communities and the fact that the total number of households in the country increased from 9 060 000 in 1996 to 16 900 000 in 2016.”
Despite these irrefutable successes, we are not blind to the fact that our work is not done. It is for this reason that our government has embarked on radical economic transformation to address the tripe challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Only then can we claim to have created a democratic and free society in which all persons live in harmony and with equal opportunity.
As we embark on the implementation of Agenda 2030 and its sustainable development goals, it is perhaps appropriate to close with Mandela’s expression of the never-say-die spirit.
Mandela’s reflections about life are as applicable to individuals as they are to organisations.
“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”
In conclusion, I would like to share this quote.
Mandela once said: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead”.