Other Speeches
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Premier of Free State, Ms Sisi Ntombela,
Acting Executive Mayor of Mangaung, Cllr Lebohang Masoetsa,
MECs and members of the Provincial Legislature,
Traditional leaders in our midst,
Representatives of various political formations,
Civil society representatives,
Members of the media,
Fellow South Africans
Dumelang. Sanibonani. Molweni. Lotjhani. Ndi masiari. Goeie dag. Good afternoon.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture welcomes you to the research workshop on “Towards South African book development policy”. The South African Cultural Observatory, a project of the Department, organises quarterly workshops where research carried out in previous quarters or periods is disseminated and debated with the view of improving the quality of the research and also the work of the Department.
Sixty-four years ago, our mothers, daughters, sisters and grandmothers stood defiant and proud, united in their demand to live in freedom.
They stood not for themselves alone, but for the rights of the generations of women yet to come.
On this day 57 years ago, the Organisation of African Unity was born. From the beginning it was dedicated to the idea that only through unity could Africa safeguard its independence and unlock its potential.
I have the honour to address this august body, the United Nations General Assembly for the first time as President of the Republic of South Africa.
I am humbled and honoured to join the community of Sedibeng to mark our country’s Human Rights Day. In the past,we commemorated this day as Sharpeville Day.
It is a great honour and privilege to deliver this State of the Nation Address. This Address should have been delivered last week, but was delayed so that we could properly manage issues of political transition. I wish to thank Honourable Members and the people of South Africa for their patience and forbearance.
Today South Africa marks 41 years since the heroic uprising by the youth of our country on 16 June 1976. This year’s national commemoration is held in the home of our struggle stalwart, JB Marks, whose remains we fetched from Russia and reburied here two years ago, and whose tombstone was unveiled in February this year.
We greet you all on this 23rd anniversary of the dawn of freedom and democracy in our country.
However, we start on a sad note.
The 21st International AIDS Conference, commonly known as AIDS2016, will be held from 18 to 22 July 2016, at the Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal under the theme: Access Equity Rights – Now.