Friday, May 13, 2016

I am an African ... Thabo Mbeki

On Sunday 8 May 2016 The Thabo Mbeki Foundation hosted an event to commemorate the former president’s “I am an African” speech. It also marked the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. We join the dialogue on the iStart2 Show this week.


Seipati Kau, Executive Head: Private Office of Executive Mayor 
thanking President Mbeki on behalf of the City of Tshwane


Thabo Mbeki focussed on some pertinent issues:

His “I am an African” speech:
 “I would still say whatever our problems today, tomorrow will be better.”

The
Constitution:
"The Constitution whose adoption we celebrate constitutes an unequivocal statement that we refuse to accept that our Africanness shall be defined by our race, colour, gender of historical origins… It provides the opportunity to enable each one and all to state their views, promote them, strive for their implementation in the process of governance without fear that a contrary view will be met with repression. It creates a law-governed society which shall be inimical to arbitrary rule.”


On Societal Engagement:
“A lot of our people are not familiar with what this Constitution says. The consequence is that we sit in government and do something that is wrong and even unconstitutional. Mmusi [Maimane] will say it is incorrect and so will the judges. But where is the rest of society?”


Let’s have this national dialogue. The people must speak.”

Thabo Mbeki made a call to South Africans to get to know the Constitution better and also had some advice for the current leadership. We listen to excerpts from his speech on the iStart2 Show and discuss the importance of the Constitution in ensuring the sustainability of our Country. Ntsako Mkhabela joins us in studio.

To listen to the show, just click play below:



Thought of the Day:



Join our conversation and let's make a difference in building a sustainable South Africa for all the people of our beautiful country.

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