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Mrs Mbeki,
Mr Herbert von Nitzsch and all of our friends from the German Frigate Consortium,
General Nyanda, Chief of the SANDF,
Officers and members of the SANDF,
Members of the German Navy.

This is a very auspicious day for a number of reasons. It is an important day for the South African Navy; it is an important day for the South African National Defence Force; and it is an important day in the history of the relationship between our two countries, South Africa and Germany. But most importantly, this is the first naval vessel to be launched by a democratic South Africa.

The decision to purchase the corvettes was the result of a long process of consultation and transformation whereby defence in South Africa became defence in a democracy. Defence in South Africa has been transformed from being offensive to defensive. Part of that process of transformation identified the importance and significance of the Navy as a component in our new National Defence Force.

We are a maritime country both in terms of our economic exclusion zone, our extensive maritime resources, and the fact that we are situated on a very important world waterway. 3,000 kms of coastline makes the sea our longest frontier. As our economy transforms and we participate more in world trade, so our ports become increasingly important to generate economic benefit for our people.

This corvette is the first new warship for South Africa in 16 years. And it is the first major war vessel ever designed specifically for South African conditions and South African waters.

We come from a history where the defence force was designed to look after the interests of a minority. The previous apartheid state was shunned by the world and the Navy had to take what it could get. The fact that we now have a ship designed for our waters is a further indication of how we have returned to the community of nations. Security in the modern world can only be a shared security where we are able to act together politically and militarily in defence of peace if necessary. This means that as a democracy, South Africa looks forward to cooperating with other democracies in defence of peace, stability and security. Peace and stability are the basis on which our economies and the economic ties between our two countries will grow. This approach of economic growth coupled with stability and peace, is at the core of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, NEPAD.

NEPAD must be seen as a partnership for growth and development.

The names of the new South African corvettes have been selected to honour all those who have given their lives in valour and sacrifice for their country. The naming of our ships is yet another step in building unity in our country.

This corvette is named AMATOLA.

The Amathole mountain range is part of the great chain which marks the edge of Southern Africa's highveld plateau. The overwhelming majority of the Ngqika Xhosa lived on the slopes of the Amathole and it was the natural fortress of the Xhosa nation. The war that ensued against the British colonial forces in the 19th century, was the longest, hardest and ugliest war ever fought in over one hundred years of bloodshed on the Cape Colony's eastern frontier.

The Xhosa warriors, despite their inferior firearms (made specifically for the African trade), had no artillery of their own and no defence against the canons of the Imperial forces, their small numbers (estimated to be no more than 200 fighting men at any one time), defied more than 4,000 of the British Army's finest troops with their enormous technical superiority.

In late 1852, after a string of defeats, British forces under Sir George Cathcart swept through the Amathole mountains. Unable to gain a straight military victory, they had a deliberate plan to systematically eliminate the Xhosa by burning their crops and settlements. By January of the following year, the Ngqika people began to starve and die.

Despite this, the Xhosa Chief, Maqoma, and a small band of about 40 followers, using ambush tactics and clever use of the terrain seriously challenged the British forces.

Finally, realising that they were no match for the superior forces, Maqoma put aside old disputes and rivalries with other African rulers and joined forces with them. Maqoma's presence and guerrilla activities in the Amathole were eventually rooted out by the British forces, but our people showed brave defiance against overwhelming odds.

Maqoma was finally captured by the British. They had tricked him with an offer to negotiate, and when he arrived for the meeting, he was captured and imprisoned on Robben Island, where he died eleven years later. A century later, Nelson Mandela and the hundreds of others imprisoned on Robben Island with him, were the last of the political prisoners to be incarcerated there.

SAS Amatola, as it sails our waters, serves to commemorate and enshrine in our history, the bravery of the people of South Africa, who fought so courageously against their colonisation and oppression.

May she sail safely and protect all who sail on her.

I thank you.

Issued by: Ministry of Defence, 7 June 2002