Chairperson and hon members, the debate, short-timed as it may be, provides us with a very rare opportunity to re-examine ourselves and our attitudes and stereotypes.
The notion of ubuntu has a very long history. It is a history that resisted attempts at its annihilation and thereby proved its extraordinary durability. We have seen many years of colonial rule, which sit at the centre of attempts to introduce contrary values to the values of ubuntu. But that notwithstanding, the values of ubuntu continue to be the cornerstone of the existence of our nation and indeed the humanistic programmes of our government.
Many writers, reflecting on this notion of ubuntu, do recognise that this philosophy is a philosophy that makes South African people uniquely different in their way of responding to issues. If you look at and ponder practices elsewhere, particularly conflicts in places like the Middle East, Yugoslavia, for instance, and look at our own experience, it becomes vividly clear that if we were not driven by this notion and principle of ubuntu, reconciliation in South Africa would never have been possible. This calls upon all of us as a nation to genuinely re-examine what the lessons of ubuntu are.
Particularly, in reference to this issue that gave rise to us debating this matter, I want to state categorically that when we visited Comrade Yengeni, without violating and undermining the rule of law, we were affirming that the walls of prison will not keep us from practising ubuntu. It was about showing our concern for his wellbeing. This is an unconditional extension of ubuntu by one person to another human being.
Visiting Comrade Yengeni in jail was therefore a form of vomiting out the colonial notion of a prison that is a hell of bonfires in which people must be perpetually tortured in all human dimensions to maximum effect. This notion of a prison has led to the rejection of prison inmates by the community. By visiting Comrade Yengeni we generously extended love, compassion, respect, kindness, concern, forgiveness, warmth and support to all fellow countrymen and women languishing in our jails.
Ubuntu has also been used throughout our history in gaining credibility for collective action in the form of stokvels, amalima [co-operative action], vukuzenzele [rise up and act], etc. It has enabled African nations to identify themselves with their roots by forming the Organisation of African Unity. Ubuntu has been used to bind families together through marriages and the payment of "lobola" as an act of ubuntu to extend thanks to the other family which consented to give away their daughter.
Ubuntu has been used extensively during times of sorrow and happiness as well as during times of danger and suffering, and has become a symbol of peace and gratification among the people of Africa. During the wars of liberation, the African frontline states amassed their armies under the command of MK, Zipra, Zanu, Fapla and Frelimo. These African armies fought for the love of their countries and tried to wrestle control of their land from western imperialism. Had there been no ubuntu among our armies, we could never have gained our independence.
Ubuntu is a tool used by indigenous African nations to build solid relations with other nations and is a foundation for family development. Ubuntu shown by the mother of a little child lingers forever in his memory and is regarded as an indelible attribute that cannot be faulted.
Sincere people all over the world demonstrate their ubuntu in various forms by giving the little they have and are rewarded by the cosmic forces in return. The laws of nature state that those who give voluntarily will be rewarded double the amount they contributed towards benefaction.
In the 21st century, the ubuntu ideology, which has been transmitted from one generation to the other throughout Africa, has now emerged as a binding force to help develop Third World countries, which are undergoing development and whose economies have been plundered by the Western occupying forces.
When most African states got their independence from colonial rule, the economies of these countries were in ruins since all profits had been repatriated during their occupation. When they left, they took away all the valuable and movable assets. In order to survive this ordeal, the nations of Africa started the rebirth or renewal of the sociopolitical and economic development aspects of the continent with one constant companion, ubuntu, as an ally, motivator and redeemer.
Ubuntu is a God-given attribute. He imbued the mothers of this African continent with power to transmit ubuntu through caring for and nurturing the young. The father extends ubuntu by looking after the goodwill of the family fortune, keeping peace and protecting the family from harm. God gives the government the power to make just laws and in the end the whole nation becomes blessed and protected from oppression by other nations. This is how we got our own independence. We did not invade other countries, occupy them, steal their land and possessions nor did we expatriate their assets.
Ubuntu is a foundation for moral regeneration and it encompasses and promotes the achievement of the following moral values: responsibility, honesty, respect, compassion, trustworthiness, justice, self-reliance, loyalty, truthfulness; and it arouses spiritual consciousness. Ubuntu is therefore a powerful tool that can be used effectively through the process of continuous meditation to achieve peace throughout the world.
Ubuntu forms the backbone of our new democratic society. It is a unifying value system in a society divided and ravaged by apartheid, having played a major role in the forging of national consciousness and in the process of nation-building. It underpins the cultural and spiritual orientation of our new nation. It has been embraced in different cultures and languages, as reflected in the phrase "Simunye - we are one" eulogised in word and song on television and in, other news media. It has turned the country from a nation cast out of the global village into one contributing to global peace. It is because of this contribution that we are sitting on the Security Council of the United Nations today.
In closing, hon members, it is my considered opinion that it is a collective responsibility for all South Africans to defend the values of ubuntu. It is the responsibility of all South Africans to nurture the profound virtue of ubuntu and also invite those who are outside the common fold of ubuntu to come forward and have their souls cleansed so that they can enjoy the spirit of liberation which is continuously exuded through ubuntu in our democratic South Africa.
Umntu ngumntu ngabanye abantu. Inxeba lendoda alihlekwa. [A person is a person through other people. Don't laugh at another person's misfortune.] Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]