27 October 2011

Programme Director, MMC Tshongweni

Members of the Tambo family

Ministers and Deputy Ministers here present

Members of Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures

The Executive Mayor of the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality, Councilor Mondli Gungubele and other Mayors here present

Members of the Mayoral Committees and other Councilors here present
 
Honoured Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Comrades and friends:

Thank you for inviting us to this important event; once more to pay tribute to Comrade President O.R. Tambo and his beloved wife, our mother and comrade, Mama Adelaide Tambo.

This event, organized as part of O. R. Tambo Month celebrations, is a fitting tribute to the proud legacy of O.R and Adelaide Tambo.

This is a legacy of selfless and dedicated service to the people of South Africa and indeed to all of humanity.

O.R. and Adelaide Tambo belonged to that generation of freedom fighters who dedicated all their lives towards the goal of a united, non racial, non sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa, that belongs to all who live in it black and white; a South Africa that is at peace with itself and the world.

This vision of the kind of society we seek to build found expression in the words of O.R. when he said; “It is our responsibility to break down barriers of division and create a country where there will be neither whites nor blacks, just South Africans free and united in diversity.”

These profound words are today the basis of our democratic and progressive Constitution.

Furthermore these words continue to guide the process of reconciliation, social cohesion, nation building, national healing as well as reconstruction and development in our country.
  
Programme Director it is this proud legacy that O.R. and Adelaide Tambo together with their generation of freedom fighters have left for us.
 
We therefore take this opportunity to congratulate the Ekhuruleni Metro Municipality for the work they are doing to preserve the legacy of O.R. and Adelaide Tambo.

This work is in line with initiatives by the Department of Arts and Culture to honour the heroes and heroines of our struggle for national liberation, among them O.R. Tambo.

As indicated recently by President Zuma we will establish an interpretative centre at the Garden of Remembrance in Nkantolo, the birth place of O.R.

This work is expected to begin in April next year.

Next month, will begin with the construction of a statue of O.R, the rehabilitation of the Garden of Remembrance and declare the graves at the Garden of Remembrance as a national heritage site.

In January next year, we will begin with the upgrade of the house at which O. R. was born and turn into a museum, depicting his life and times.
 
We have also begun discussions with the Department of Public Works to construct a road linking Nkantolo and Bizana.

The Holly Cross Church in Ngquza Hill, where O.R. was baptized and was a member will also be declared a heritage site.

In September next year, we will have finalized the processes of declaring the graves of O.R. and Adelaide Tambo, here in Wadevile, as a national heritage site.

Programme Director, most of the work we are doing in Nkantolo and many other parts of the country will form part of the national liberation heritage route project.

Through this project, we will document and tell the stories of sites and individuals that are of significance to our struggle for national liberation.

The O. R. Tambo Narrative Center, that we are today officially opening, is an important addition to the work we are doing to honour the heroes and heroines of our liberation struggle
We take this opportunity to call on other municipalities to work with us to preserve our country’s liberation heritage as part of our broader cultural heritage.

In particular, municipalities must prioritize investment in the preservation of their local heritage.

Municipalities must do this not only to promote   reconciliation, social cohesion and healing at local level, but also to take advantage of the benefits of heritage preservation as a catalyst for local economic development and job creation.

Fellow South Africans, let us continue to draw lessons and inspiration from the lives of O.R. and Adelaide Tambo.

In particular as directed by O.R. himself let us work together to “break down barriers of division and create a country where there will be neither whites nor blacks, just South Africans free and united in diversity.”  

Long live the Spirit of O.R Tambo.

Thank you.

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