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Madam Speaker
Esteemed President of the Republic
Deputy President
Honourable Members

The ANC won an overwhelming majority in 1999 on the mandate to create a better life for all. To us in the ANC, the African benediction, "God Bless Africa" has always served as a connection and the expression of solidarity, unity and an expression of sisterhood and brotherhood with Africa. It is this moving ideal of our Movement that informs our interaction with and our action in Africa. This benediction cannot just be a prayer. It calls for action, unity in action for change. This is what the President and the Presidency has urged us to do. This is why our President has engaged the world through institutions like the DAVOS, G8, EU etc, the churches and local business, trade unions and NGOs to become partners in the consolidation of our country and the regeneration of the African continent.

If we move from a premise, as we surely must, that the foreign policy reflects our domestic policy and national interest, then we indeed need to contribute to the creation of a better world. The better life for all has its foundation on a non-racial and non-sexist society. Our contribution internationally should be the elimination of racism, sexism and the creation of a world that is peaceful, democratic and prosperous. These are our guiding principles. A world where no child goes to bed hungry, without access to education and health.

Our starting point is at home in South Africa and in the continent of Africa. Inspired by our shared values of UBUNTU and guided by the slogan of our founding fathers and mothers MAYIBUYE I AFRIKA we have sought to work with others in the continent to change ours into a truly free continent. As a result, Mr President, today we are hosting a team of Rwandese in pursuit of the work of the Joint Commission. - in the conviction that we cannot let that small beautiful country deal with the aftermath of that genocide on their own - we must extend a hand of friendship and contribute in whatever modest way we can, in the rebuilding of their nation in a way that will ensure that the genocide never revisits Rwanda.

For the same reason, Madam Speaker, we have chosen the route that we have in Zimbabwe because we are convinced that it will contribute to a better Zimbabwe rather than a route that will plunge Zimbabwe into a deeper crisis. Although the President has been subjected to virulent and strident attacks, he has persevered because his approach will finally bear fruits rather than get short-term praise from those who want to plunge Zimbabwe into utter chaos and do not have the responsibility to deal with the consequences. Those who have stood on the mountaintop and shouted insults at Zimbabwe, as a country and President Mugabe, have not produced a solution either.

We are pleased to announce to the house that former President Mandela is working very hard to help to find peace among the warring factions in Burundi. As opposed to previous to SADF activities in the region, we are proud to announce that our National Defence Force is involved in helping to keep peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Eritrea and Ethiopia.

At the close of the twentieth century the continent was characterised as a HOPELESS continent, a dark continent, a continent of disease, misery and grinding poverty. A continent of wars, refugees and underdevelopment. A part of this was a result of a colonial blunder and subjugation, but a large measure was a result of the mismanagement of the continent during the Cold War and the destabilisation policies of apartheid South Africa.

We have declared the 21st century as the African century informed by the determination of the African leadership to work towards the recovery of the continent.

Speaking recently at the Southern African Summit World Economic Forum, Mr Templesman, the Chairman of the Corporate Council on Africa had this to say about Africa, "I have been travelling to this continent for just over 50 years now and rarely have I been as encouraged as by this generation of African leaders. Both within and outside the government and within and outside this region, I see men and women who are in equal measure principled and pragmatic, and possessed of moral courage-the courage to act and to take responsibility for such action. That their time has come is evident in the evolving, tough plans for Africa's reconstruction that have rightly claimed the world's attention and should merit the world's allegiances, once completed".

The plan of recovery and reconstruction of the continent is founded on shared values such as democracy, good governance, peace and stability, sustainable people-centred development and good neighbourliness. This plan must of necessity result in the following:

* Development of the basic infrastructure
* Investing in Africa's people - education and health
* Diversification of Africa's production
* Agricultural development
* Investing in information technology
* Developing financing mechanisms
* Expanding export markets.
* Implementation of prudent macro-economic policies that result in development.

This plan is both quantitatively and qualitatively different from the previous ones because of the strong emphasis on partnership and unity in action for change. Developed countries including G8, donor countries in general, UN agencies, countries of the South, multilateral financial institutions, the private sector and civil society have pledged their commitment to its success.

Without these partnerships this plan will falter. Fortunately there is a clear and discernible interest and commitment on the side of the partners in ensuring that the continent does indeed succeed and that this 21st century belongs to Africa.

We all have a duty and a responsibility individually and collectively in ensuring that the continent recovers. As South Africa we have to be humble and modest and realise that we have a lot to learn from the continent whilst we also have a lot to contribute.

In just over two months, the delegates from the whole world will descend on the internal shore of Durban to spend time grappling with how to deal with the scourge of racism, xenophobia, and related forms of intolerance. They have chosen South Africa precisely because we ourselves are seized with the mammoth task of creating a non-racial, non-sexist and tolerant society where the tapestry of our diverse culture will flourish. They expect us to make our humble contribution to this important issue so that together we can come up with a plan of action that will be implemented nationally and internationally. It is therefore our responsibility as members of this House to make it a success.

The rebirth of our continent and the elimination of racism demand that we involve women in the planning and the implementation of the plan of action of the World Conference against Racism. If we are to achieve a better life for all and a better world for all, women have to be at the forefront of the struggle against racism and economic marginalisation. We do this with a clear knowledge that women bore the brunt of racism, racial discrimination, sexism, and xenophobia. As a consequence of war and conflict, women have been turned into refugees; sex slaves and treated as objects worth trafficking. Additionally, the feminisation of poverty has meant that women constitute the bulk of the poor of the world.

For the attainment of the rebirth of the continent, it is critical that women play a key role. As that daughter of the continent, Mrs Annette Mbayi D'erneville, once said: " The central role of a woman in social life is a fact of culture. She is the link, which holds together both the life of the family and of society. She is the source of production and of the exchange of social and cultural values. By her will alone, she can be the source of change and of revolution or, on the other hand, she can be responsible for stagnation and retreat."

How true! There can be no rebirth of the continent without a full involvement of women. This task needs both men and women! It can only make the continent richer and the task easier. Let us commit ourselves from all sides of the house in working together with our President and the Presidency to bring into being a new Africa that occupies the pride of place that should become the destination of choice for investment. This Africa of hope challenges us to be the midwives of her rebirth, to be the warriors of her renewal. Out of this Africa of old, the object of pity, must necessarily come a new and proud Africa of tomorrow. This is hundred years in which the gentle giant, that Africa is, must regain her former glory. We have the means within ourselves to do that. As lucidly and eloquently expressed by the ANC in the Freedom Charter, South Africa shall work energetically to ensure that there is peace and friendship in the Continent and to borrow from the President of South Africa:

"Where only the silence of peace would be broken only by the voices of Africa's children as they sing of life and peace and liberty and prosperity and the arts and our human dignity restored".

I thank you.

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs

21 June 2001