NELSON MANDELA'S ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF CAPE TOWN, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS INAUGURATION AS STATE PRESIDENT Your excellencies, members of
diplomatic corps, my fellow South Africans:
we are entering a new era
our country and its people. Today
celebrate not the victory of a
, but a victory for all the
of South Africa.
Our country has
at a decision. Among all the
that contested the elections, the overwhelming
of South Africans have mandated the
National Congress to lead our country
the future. The South Africa we
struggled for, in which all our
, be they African, Coloured, Indian or
, regard themselves as citizens of one
is at hand.
Perhaps it was
that ordained that it be here,
the Cape of Good Hope that
should lay the foundation stone of
new nation. For it was here
this Cape, over three centuries ago,
there began the fateful convergence of
peoples of Africa, Europe and Asia
these shores.
It was to this
that the patriots, among them many
and scholars, of Indonesia were dragged
chains. It was on the sandy
of this peninsula that first battles
the epic wars of resistance were
.
When we look out across Table
, the horizon is dominated by Robben
, whose infamy as a dungeon built
stifle the spirit of freedom is
old as colonialism in South Africa.
three centuries that island was seen
a place to which outcasts can
banished. The names of those who
incarcerated on Robben Island is a
call of resistance fighters and democrats
over three centuries. If indeed this
a Cape of Good Hope, that
owes much to the spirit of
legion of fighters and others of
calibre.
We have fought for a
constitution since the 1880s. Ours has
a quest for a constitution freely
by the people of South Africa,
their wishes and their aspirations. The
for democracy has never been a
pursued by one race, class, religious
or gender among South Africans. In
those who fought to see this
arrive, we honour the best sons
daughters of all our people. We
count amongst them Africans, Coloureds, Whites,
, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews - all
them united by a common vision
a better life for the people
this country.
It was that vision
inspired us in 1923 when we
the first ever Bill of Rights
this country. That same vision spurred
to put forward the African Claims
1946. It is also the founding
of the Freedom Charter we adopted
policy in 1955, which in its
first lines, places before South Africa
inclusive basis for citizenship.
In 1980s
African National Congress was still setting
pace, being the first major political
in South Africa to commit itself
to a Bill of Rights, which
published in November 1990. These milestones
concrete expression to what South Africa
become. They speak of a constitutional,
, political order in which, regardless of
, gender, religion, political opinion or sexual
, the law will provide for the
protection of all citizens.
They project
democracy in which the government, whomever
government may be, will be bound
a higher set of rules, embodied
a constitution, and will not be
govern the country as it pleases.
is based on the majority principle.
is especially true in a country
as ours where the vast majority
been systematically denied their rights. At
same time, democracy also requires that
rights of political and other minorities
safeguarded.
In the political order we
established there will regular, open and
elections, at all levels of government -
, provincial and municipal. There shall
be a social order which respects
the culture, language and religious rights
all sections of our society and
fundamental rights of the individual.
The
at hand on will not be
. But you have mandated us to
South Africa from a country in
the majority lived with little hope,
one in which they can live
work with dignity, with a sense
self-esteem and confidence in the future.
cornerstone of building a better life
opportunity, freedom and prosperity is the
and Development Programme.
This needs unity
purpose. It needs in action. It
us all to work together to
an end to division, an end
suspicion and build a nation united
our diversity.
The people of South
have spoken in these elections. They
change! And change is what they
get. Our plan is to create
, promote peace and reconciliation, and to
freedom for all South Africans. We
tackle the widespread poverty so pervasive
the majority of our people. By
investors and the democratic state to
job creating projects in which manufacturing
play a central role we will
to change our country from a
exporter of raw materials to one
exports finished products through beneficiation.
The
will devise policies that encourage and
productive enterprise among the disadvantaged communities -
, Coloured and Indian. By easing
conditions we can assist them to
inroads into the productive and manufacturing
and breakout of the small-scale distribution
which they are presently confined.
To
our country and its people from
morass of racism and apartheid will
determination and effort. As a government,
ANC will create a legal framework
will assist, rather than impede, the
task of reconstruction and development of
battered society.
While we are and
remain fully committed to the spirit
a government of national unity, we
determined to initiate and bring about
change that our mandate from the
demands.
We place our vision of
new constitutional order for South Africa
the table not as conquerors, prescribing
the conquered. We speak as fellow
to heal the wounds of the
with the intent of constructing a
order based on justice for all.
is the challenge that faces all
Africans today, and it is one
which I am certain we will
rise.
I thank you.