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Six years ago we took an historic decision to establish a New South Africa. We put behind us centuries of division and conflict and committed ourselves to the establishment of a non-racial multi-cultural democracy that would be based on the rule of law and recognition of the rights of individuals and cultural minorities.

The new nation that we envisaged could not be founded on common culture, language and tradition as are most other nations. Our complex population and divergent histories and traditions made this impossible. Instead, it would be built on common values and aspirations contained in a new constitution that would be adopted by a process of negotiation, compromise and consensus.

The constitution accordingly occupies a central and critical position in our new society:

it is the contract that binds our diverse communities together;

it is the guarantor of our individual and communal rights;

it is the foundation for peace, stability and prosperity in our nation.

The future success of South Africa will depend to a very considerable extent on the degree to which its integrity will be maintained and respected.

The constitution has particular significance for the maintenance of minority and individual rights. The majority in a democratic system can always assure the promotion of its interests through its control of Parliament. This is not the case with minorities and individuals whose best or only recourse against majority domination will often be the entrenched rights that they enjoy in terms of the law and the constitution.

If they wish to preserve these rights, they will have to maintain great vigilance.

Op die oomblik staan 'n aantal van hierdie regte in die kruisvuur. Daaronder tel:

eiendomsreg;

vryheid van spraak;

die magte en bevoegdhede van provinsies; en

die regte van kultuur- en taalminderhede.

Hierdie aangeleenthede is tans die onderwerp van intense debat gedurende die finale weke voor die aanname van ons nuwe Grondwet. Ek is seker dat ons daarin sal slaag, soos in die huidige interim-grondwet, om verstandige en aanvaarbare kompromie te bereik.

However, there is no room for complacency, now or after the adoption of our final constitution.

It is essential that all those who are committed to the preservation of the constitution regardless of their ethnic background or political affiliation should:

join together in standing guard over the constitution;

that they should mobilise public opinion for the defence of basic individual and minority rights;

that they should make use of the judicial and administrative mechanisms provided for the protection of individual and group rights; and

that they should resolutely challenge and oppose any person, official, politician or level of government that might try to circumvent the provisions of the constitution.

Die Nasionale Menseregte Trust kan 'n krities belangrike rol in hierdie verband speel:

Waar ons in die verlede staat gemaak het op brandwagte wat op die heuwels bo-kant ons laers op die uitkyk was vir komende gevare, moet ons nou staatmaak op organisasies soos hierdie Trust om alarm te maak wanneer daar 'n dreigende gevaar teen ons regte verskyn.

Waar ons gemeenskappe in die verlede op assegaaie of gewere staatgemaak het vir hulle verdediging moet almal nou staatmaak op regsargumente, die mobilisasie van openbare mening en veral die howe vir die beskerming van regte.

Die Nasionale Menseregte Trust se doel is om 'n sleutelrol in hierdie arenas vir die verdediging van die Grondwet en die fondamente van die nuwe Suid-Afrika te speel.

Dit is teen hierdie agtergrond dat ek die daarstelling van hierdie Trust nie net verwelkom nie, maar ook trots is op die inisiatief wat die Nasionale Party in die verband geneem het. Hierdie instelling word vanaand aan sy Trustees oorhandig om as bewakers in diens van die burgerlike samelewing op te tree. A1 is hierdie inisiatief deur bemiddeling van die Nasionale Party van stapel gestuur, sal die Nasionale Party op geen wyse voorskriftelik teenoor die Trust optree of poog om die werksaamhede van die Trust te beheer of te rig nie. Die Trust moet onafhanlik wees en sonder inmenging opereer. Daarom herhaal ek vanaand ons onderneming om die politieke onafhanlikheid van alle Trustees ten volle te respekteer, hier in die openbaar.

Ek wens al die Trustees en die Nasionale Menseregte Trust alles van die beste toe. Mag u werksaamhede die land en al sy mense tot groot heil strek.

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