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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 PREMIER’S ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE
 OF THE THE EASTERN CAPE, BISHO
 02 DECEMBER 1999



THEME : "CHALLENGES OF THE NEXT MILLENIUM"

There is an old saying in Biblical theology in respect of the interpretation of Scripture. The saying is : "The New Testament lies hidden 
in the Old and the Old is revealed in the New." There is a great resemblance to this exegetical premise in what we are called upon to do 
today. We are being asked to reflect on what the passing millennium, and more immediately, the century that will come to an end in the next 
twenty nine (29) days or so, what has it been like? What has it bequeathed to our society and the future? We are also called upon to cast 
our eyes into the future and scan what challenges lie ahead and what our aspirations are for the next century and millennium.

It is common knowledge that this ending century had been preceded by a century of wars that ravaged the lives of our people in this 
Province. One hundred years that saw Africans, Boers, Britons, the Khoi people, Germans etc. steeped in wars of dispossession, colonisation 
and defence of land, nationhood and human dignity. Of course the descent of each one of us tend to distort the facts on these issues. But 
scientific data is there to show who fought who.

So the twentieth (20th) Century saw a battle-weary people in the Eastern Cape trying to pick up the pieces. Unfortunately this was not 
going to be so. Both the Anglo-Boer War as well as the Two World Wars that followed it made sure that our people (Black and White) were 
still to face the horrors of war. It became a bloodied son of bloody parents.

The deals that were signed at the end of the Anglo-Boer War led to a lot of unhappiness and political agitation. The spirit of nationalism 
was rekindled. It was no surprise, therefore, that in 1902 African people in the Cape formed the Cape Native Congress which became a 
precursor of the South African Native Congress (later African National Congress) in 1912. African people felt cheated at their exclusion in 
the Treaty of Vereeniging. They felt short-changed by the imminent Land and Pass Laws.

By the same tokens, Afrikaans felt cheated by the British. Inspired by a narrower form of nationalism (Afrikaner Nationalism) they formed 
the Nationalist Party in 1914. The rest of the history of this century was plagued by a prolonged struggle to integrate or separate these 
two nationalists. The discovery of minerals, the economic Depression of the 1930’s lopsided philosophies and theologies made sure that 
South Africa was not going to have a common vision. The birth of a South African National was not going to be realised.

Again I do not want to go into the long history of struggles by Black people trying to have their humanity recognised in their land. The 
various machinations by successive White regimes to keep Black people out of the equation of nationhood and shareholders in the economy 
they contributed to build. I can also point out that parents and grand parents of ALL parties present in this House stood on one of the two 
sides : the side of oppression and discrimination and the side of struggle for liberation. The Elections of April 1994 saw the end of that 
Chapter. At least in so far as the franchise and the statutes are concerned. Not in terms of socio-economic needs.

But the 20th Century was not all about negatives. Education reached more people than before (irrespective of its being unequal). This in 
turn raised the ability of our people to have access to knowledge and decision making. They also improved their livelihood. In the field of 
science and technology, we are far advanced than any other era before. The countryside was transformed as cities grew where only villages 
previously existed. Unfortunately this reflected the philosophies of the time. Preferential treatment for some and total neglect for 
others. Whether it is in Education, Health, Wealth, infra-structure or whatever, this racial divide continued to be an ugly blotch in an 
otherwise developing country.

The President, in his address to the Joint Session of Parliament in November 19 traced this prejudice to the world-view of Pliny of the 
Roman Empire. Indeed the advent of racial prejudice precedes even Pliny and his fellow Romans. When one looks back at the 1999 Elections 
and how some Parties marketed themselves as custodians of these antiquated prejudices, one cannot help conceding that the next century will 
also be saddled with the problem of racial prejudice. Unfortunately it tends to rely on the colour of the skin and the length of the hair. 
We find these stereotypes even within a particular race group. But even racism is not as naked now as it was at the turn of the century.

The advernt of freedom has unleashed another problem: greed and corruption. After years of deprivation, our people think they must hurry 
and become millionaires too. The value systems have changed. Selfishness has replaced communalism. The self has become more important than 
the total good and well-being of society. The individually is the be all. This has become a major challenge to the moral fabric of our 
society. The high levels of crime, corruption, female and child abuse etc. find their root in this new value system. Discipline and respect 
are gone among the old and the young. Things seem to be truly falling apart.

But the advernt of freedom has also thrown all the gates wide open. Globalisation pervades the economic as well as the cultural aspects of 
our lives. No sector will escape it. The few that are priviledged to have been exposed to what their sectors are doing elsewhere will stand 
a better chance in this brutish competition.

The 20th Century ends with strides having been made with respect to the recognition and protection of the rights of women, disabled persons 
and the youth. But we have also to contend with a disease that is threatening the very continuation of the human race in the next 
millennium. HIV/AIDS will send us to extinction if we do not deal with it effectively and quickly. Threats of other dangerous viruses like 
Ebola are on the horizon. So whilst a lot of strides have been made in medicine, new diseases are showing their heads.

In a word, the challenges of the next century can be summarised as : to revamp the economy and create jobs, fight poverty and crime, 
improve the quality of education and training to equip our people to compete fairly with their global counter-parts; build a new patriotism 
on non-racial and non-sexist basis; equitable distribution of the resources of our country and to improve the moves of our society. The 
fight against HIV/AIDS as well as the war on poverty must be tackled as the first priority.

Besides the democratic framework which is now in place, numerous steps have been taken to achieve what our President calls "a caring 
society". As a Province we have gone a long way of building sufficient consensus around a common vision of what needs to be done. What we 
now need is good leadership. The leadership that is able to transcend narrow Party interests. A leadership that is prepared to manage 
change and not the conservation of the past. Whatever we say or do should be measured against the contribution it makes to the social 
transformation that we all agree must take place.

We have made good friends around the world. Their contribution, especially in human resource development, must be encouraged to continue. 
But more than all the support from the whole world and national government, we ourselves are the greatest resources to guide our Province 
through the challenges of the next century. We have the human capacity. What we need is the will and commitment to pull together in the 
same direction. The tribe must die for the nation to live. We need statesmen and women rather than professional politicians who only 
specialise in blowing hot air but mean very little of what they say.

As we close this millennium, we must salute those who took us here. Sons and daughters of our land who suffered so much for so long from so 
few. They planted the seeds of freedom. We are now called upon to water that tree. Some of us will not have more than twenty (20) years to 
make a contribution. So we must not waste time whether we are in government or not. We are one generation with one responsibility. We have 
been able to do so much with nothing. What can stop us now? Absolutely Nothing !

REV. M.A. STOFILE
 PREMIER : EASTERN CAPE



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