South Africa: President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the general public on Dec 16, on the occasion of National Day of Reconciliation at Thohoyandou Stadium in Limpopo.
The country celebrates every year the greatest achievement of reconciliation between the races and the forging of a common identity as South Africans. The day signifies the courageous and intentional effort to confront history, learn from it and build bridges of understanding across the chasms of misunderstanding and mistrust.
While delivering the speech, President Ramaphosa said that reconciliation is a commitment to create a society that values everyone, celebrates diversity and transforms the scars of the past into a brighter and more compassionate future.
He mentioned that many other countries believed that South Africa would not be able to make peace and reconcile, but the national flag, anthem, symbols and days are a testament to a new and unique nation that emerged from a difficult past.
South Africa has built itself in a very short period of time. The democracy will soon be completing 30 years. Despite many challenges, the country has resolved the issues such as bigotry, racism and tribalism.
The President mentioned the recent achievement of winning the Rugby World Cup in France, which shows that the nation is united and feels proud of its ethnicity. Completing 30 years of independence next year, the government is focussing mainly on ending poverty, unemployment and inequality.
He talked about black economic empowerment, affirmative action, preferential procurement and other transformation policies. The nation has undertaken a massive redistribution of resources towards black South Africans through the provision of basic services, subsidised housing, improved education, health care and social grants, added the president.
The effective implementation of these programmes has transformed the lives of millions of South Africans and provided improved results for Census 2022.
Minister Cyril Ramaphosa shared that the federation has conquered the electricity crisis by removing the licensing threshold and enabling private investment in energy generation to improve the performance of Eskom power stations. This initiative encouraged and enabled households and businesses to invest in rooftop solar panels.
He expressed concern towards the youth of the nation and added that the Presidential Employment Stimulus has provided income, work experience and skills to more than 1.2 million unemployed people in South Africa.
Under the scheme, 1 million youngsters got the opportunity and found employment through the ‘SAYouth’ online platform. He also mentioned the pass-out parade of new recruits into the South African Police Service that he attended last Thursday.
President anticipates the implementation of a National Strategic Plan against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. He urged all parts of society to work together to bring the change in social attitudes and practices that penetrates the discrimination against women.
Concluding his address, the president mentioned the conflicts within the nation and in the continent of Africa. He said, “In the Middle East, the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the devastation being wrought on the Gaza Strip reminds everyone of the tragic outcome that fosters the old wounds.”
As mentioned by the president, the dispossession, occupation and discrimination directed against the Palestinian people have endured for over 75 years. According to South Africa, the only solution to this conflict is peace, for which both sides should come together and reconcile, added the president.
President Cyril Ramaphosa ended his speech by urging the citizens to stay in unity and build a better South Africa and wished them a peaceful and fulfilling Reconciliation Day.
