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20 June 2008

Programme director
Ubaba J.V Mdluli
Principal and Staff of Somcuba Primary School
Bukhosi obukhona
Members of the Matala Nkosi School Project
Learners
Abosomabubulo nabo soma-business aba-khona
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

In the words of Russell Ballard, a motivator, and I quote: "Attitude is an important part of the foundation upon which we build a productive life. A good attitude produces good results, fair attitude poor results, poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude."

I'm referring to this quote because it is indeed true, that attitude shapes who we want to be, and what we want to see happening around us. It is when you approach life in a positive attitude that you will be able to make it in life. With a positive attitude, the sky will be your only limit. It is people like ubaba J.V Mdluli who approached life in a positive attitude, who have made it and are now ploughing back to their communities. Remember – we are what we are, because our communities also contributed to our success.

Programme director, Sibusisiwe isandla esiphako, kune samukelako! What we are experiencing today is a true reflection of ubuntu – a spirit of caring, altruism and belonging. Ubuntu is about caring for the well-being of your neighbour – it is about understanding the pain and adverse conditions which even your enemy is enduring. Government alone will not be able to satisfy community needs all at once. Let us hold each other by hand and continue to better the lives of our people, especially the less privileged.

The donation of the school uniforms to the less privileged learners by Mr Mdluli is a clear indication that we still have people with a heart to give. May I take this opportunity to congratulate ubaba Mdluli for ploughing back to his community. I also want to challenge other business people to emulate Mr Mdluli and also contribute to such noble causes. You can do such by at least adopting a disadvantaged school, an impoverished family or a child who is less fortunate in your neighbourhood.

I actually draw inspiration from the words once said by Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, a Constitutional Court Judge, and I quote: "It is when you love yourself first, that you love others enough to keep giving, however little. That is what Ubuntu is."

As a representative of government, I also take this opportunity to commend you, the community of Msogwaba and the surrounding areas, for having not been swayed by the wave of hatred, which had engulfed our beautiful country and province in particular. Our brothers and sisters were attacked, displaced, maimed and even burned to death as a result of irresponsible utterances. What makes it more sad is that, after the storm is over and I want you to understand me correctly, it is discovered that even South Africans were killed during this barbaric acts.

As the country is still trying to come to terms with these senseless and inhumane killings of foreign nationals, I urge you to continue to live with these brothers and sisters as you have done so far. You've shown your ubuntu and lived up to the principles of the Freedom Charter and the commitment we made in the Constitution of our beautiful country, that South Africa belongs to all who live in it.

Let us continue to jealously protect the image of our beautiful province; that we are the people of peace and love; that we are the people with "A Pioneering Spirit!"

Once more, congratulations to Mr Mdluli for his contribution and dedication to assist those less privileged than some of us are. South Africa needs people like you if we are to build a caring and humane country. Our quest for a better life and safety and security for all, irrespective of one's origin, is being realised and supported through such nobleness.

Ngiyathokoza!

Issued by: Department of Finance, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
20 June 2008