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AZAPO RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS
by
Mosibudi Mangena
8 June
2009
Mr Speaker
Mr President
Honourable Members
In AZAPO we listened with appreciation your timely call to join
hands, not only to survive the present crushing economic
squeeze, but to progress, to develop our country, to create
jobs, to defeat poverty and create a more caring society. It is
particularly at difficult times such as these, that the whole
country looks up to its leadership.
The story is told of a prisoner in Pretoria Central Prison in
the sixties who called himself Long John Silver. He was the boss
in his cell, naturally with the best blankets and getting the
other prisoners to amuse him in whatever way he desired.
They would run in circles singing his favourite song: Mmutla ka
bohlale o tlogetse bana ba hae, o tlogetse bana ba hae. Sitting
in his corner, Long John Silver would be going: KRR…..Qah.
At some point he would stand and ask: Ngubani lo? They would
reply: NguLong John Silver
Udlani na?
Udla imealie rice, isonka ne shukela, USilver wabantwana.
But the point is that, he was locked up as a prisoner like all
of them – he didn’t have the key to get out.
The vast majority of us in this house, together with compatriots
in the townships and villages, are in a giant cell, without a
key. Some among us might have better blankets, or afford Imealie
rice, isonka ne shukela, but fundamentally, we are all in a
cell.
That might explain why we would smash up a university if we are
angry with the vice-chancellors, why we would trash the city and
break as many things as we can find if we are in disagreement
with the council, why we would burn trains if it arrives late at
the station. There is no sense of ownership of the city,
Metrorail and its trains, and the university.
The terribly skewed ownership of the economy, the huge
inequalities and the crushing levels of poverty, all combined to
deny us the clue required to unite the country – the workers,
peasants, business and government – to work together to save our
country from the ravages of the global economic meltdown that
you referred to.
We agree with you, that we must cultivate and nurture patriotism
among all our people, but the content of that patriotism must be
more equitable ownership of the economy of the country. That’s
the missing key, and we must find it. Otherwise, how do we ask
people to save an economy to which they feel alienated?
We are pleased that education and skills are prioritised.
Without a functioning, effective and efficient education system,
we will not get it right – not the economy, social
infrastructure, not crime. As long as we fail, as a society, to
give youngsters skills and good character through education, the
criminal justice system will continue to battle difficult odds.
We also hope, Mr. President, we will take advantage of these
economic difficulties to develop, fund and commercialise new
South African technological innovations, so that when the upturn
arrives, we are ready to trade with the world in goods and
services containing our own intellectual property. The talent
and know – how are there, needing only support, recognition and
encouragement. Increasingly, let our
Krr…..Qah! take place outside the cell.
Thank You
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