On the picture H.E. Bruce Koloane, Ambassador of South Africa.
By Roy Lie Atjam.
Freedom Day celebration took place in Wassenaar-The Netherlands on Thursday 3rd May 2018. The Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa H.E. Bruce Koloane and Mrs Ntokozo Koloane hosted a superb reception.
For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157696451891824
Ambassadors of many countries, members of the Diplomatic Corps, OPCW, members of the various The Hague based Judicial Institutions, fellow South Africans and friends, were in attendance. Ambassador Koloane welcomed the many guests and delivered the following remarks:
“I would like to first take this opportunity to thank all of you for accepting our invitation to commemorate the 24th anniversary of our National day as the Republic of SA.
24 Years ago, South Africans of all races, gender, colour, creed and religious beliefs, were for the first time in their lives, able to exercise their democratic right to vote as equals before the law for a government of their choice, thus marking South Africa’s transition from the dark period of apartheid oppression to a free and equal society.
It’s a day on which our rightful place as people deserving of respect and dignity was restored, where the humiliation of racial discrimination became a thing of the past. Many lost their lives during the struggle against the most inhumane form of human degradation under apartheid, but all of the fallen heroes were vindicated, as the dream for which they sacrificed now has become a reality.
We have all seized to be pariahs in the land of our birth.
As much as the successive democratically elected governments have made significant progress in transforming the society and the country, e.g accessible health care and the provision of basis services as enshrined in the Freedom Charter, many challenges still haunt us.
Therefore, whilst we celebrate the freedom we have achieved and the great advances we have made in redressing some of the institutional and legislative ills that were the trademark of the apartheid machinery, which were premised on the insidious structural racism, bigotry and privilege, we are cannot be naïve to the following realities:
• So many of our people still go to bed on empty stomachs
• Unemployment is still a serious threat to our teething democracy
• Many still do not have houses, electricity or clean water
• There is a still a huge gap in wealth and opportunity between white and black people, and between women and men
Therefore, our Government, through our democratic constitution, progressive laws, and concerted programmes of social and economic redress, has made a resolve to affirm our determination to intensify the struggle for economic freedom and emancipation for all South Africans. Whilst many refer to South Africans as a rainbow nation due to their diversity, we have taken a conscious decision to resolutely remove the obstacles that still divide our society and instead focus on strengthening the many ties that bind us together.
We have done a lot to reduce poverty through social grants, access to healthcare and provision of houses to the poor, but the challenge is still how we grow the economy that creates decent jobs, how we transform the ownership, control and management of the economy, so that Black South Africans and women are fully represented and equally benefit, how we empower the youth of our country through education, skills development and workplace experience. And that is why we need to intensify radical economic transformation policies and programmes.
I would be failing in my job if I do not acknowledge and recognise the massive contribution and solidarity of the international community, and can assure all of you gathered here today, that we are determined to be champions of democracy, peace and human rights across the world.
We thank you sincerely, and would like to also convey our plea for an urgent need to further co-operate with us in the implementation of the radical economic transformation journey to ensure that we do not reverse the socio-political and economic gains already made.
Some of the most vocal, supportive anti-apartheid movements were in this country, The Netherlands, and it’s therefore no co-incidence that the first ANC policy conference that took a decision for a 50% mainstreaming of women in all government portfolios and in all three spheres of government, took place in The Netherlands.
2018 has been declared a year in which we celebrate the centenary of two of our struggle icons, namely Nelson Mandela and Mama Albertina Sisulu. The vision and the principles they dedicated most of their lives to still remain but a dream for the majority of our people, and thus we rededicate ourselves to decisively address the poverty, crime, land redistribution, inclusive economic growth and ensuring that all South African have access to basic services as enshrined in the Freedom Charter.
Only last month, South Africans mourned the passing of the Mother of the nation, Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. May her soul rest in eternal peace. She will never be forgotten for the pivotal role she played in mobilising democratic and progressive forces, exposing the ills of the apartheid government and keeping the plight of Black South Africans in the realm of the international community.
At a bilateral level, we have seen the strengthening of bilateral relations between SA and the Netherlands, characterised by numerous exchanges of high level visits between our two countries.
• Visit by Prime Minister Routte to SA in 2015 accompanied by a high level business delegation
• Visit to the Netherlands by Minister Nkoane-Mashabane ( DIRCO) and the signing of a bilateral framework agreement, The Joint Co-Operation Commission (JCC)intended to enhance our bilateral co-operation
• Repeated visits by then Minister of Science and Technology, Minister Pandor, at least three, between 2016 and 2018, where joint funding for research programmes on astronomy of development were identified, agreed upon, and committed
• Signing of the MOU on research co-operation and Joint Phd Supervision facilitated by the National Research Foundation of SA and Nuffic
• MOU on Water Co-operation and the Orange Corner Knowledge Programme focusing on water, agriculture and vocational training
• Renewal of the King Fisher Programme
• MOU on Co-operation between Institutions of Higher Learning
Whilst these are not in any way exhaustive but merely indicative, they are indeed a testimony to the cordial historic relations that exist between our two countries.The tourism numbers between our two countries are also healthy and the investments f4rom the Netherlands are equally growing, and thus making a significant contribution in job creation.
Our cultural cooperation has been very consistent, as manifested in the following :
• Tell Freedom Exhibition in Kunshalkade Amersfoort which end on 6 May 2018
• Cities of the World by Mr Titus Thabiso Mtiyane at Zuidstrandtheater in May 2018
• SA Miagi Youth Ochestra in August 2018 at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam
• Die Mamas currently showcasing some of the Master works of the late Mirriam Makeba
• Annual participation in the Kwaku Festival in July in Amsterdam.
South Africa will continue to use her leadership and membership in SADC, BRICS, the G20, The Commonwealth and other international bodies to forge a new world order founded on equality, dignity and mutual respect.
As President Ramaphosa said recently, and I quote :” Our duty , as custodians of this democracy, is to direct all our resources to conquer poverty, joblessness, racial hatred, anarchy, violence and lawlessness, illiteracy and idleness and place our country on a path of growth, development and lasting freedom”.
I thank you and would like to ask you break bread with us in a typical South African Tradition. God bless South Africa and the Rest of the World.”
