Mudzulatshidulo, Nn?u i ?honifheaho na vhueni hashu vhu re ngei kha vhugalatenga, ndi masiari. [Chairperson, hon members and our visitors sitting in the gallery, good afternoon.]
Through the colonial and apartheid years ...
... vhathu vhashu vho pfiswa u vhavha lune vho vha vha sa ?ivhi zwauri musi hu tshi pfi u muthu, ho vha hu tshi vha ho vhonwa mini kha iwe. Hezwo zwithu zwo?he zwo ?o ri sia ri songo tsha vha vha mashudu nga tshenetsho tshifhinga. Vhuthu hashu a ri ngo kona u vhu sumbedza, sa zwine ra khou zwi vhona ?amusi. Muvhuso wa tshi?alula na makoloni e a vha e hone, vho ri tambudza zwi vhavhaho vhukuma.
Fhedzi-ha, u ?a ha demokirasi ya Afurika Tshipembe, zwo sia ri tshi vho kona u vha na zwiimiswa zwine ra vho vhonala ngazwo. Izwo zwo sumbedza ?ivhazwakale, n?ila ya u ?honifha na vhufa ha vhadzulapo vho?he. Ri nga bveledza vhukoni hashu ho?he u itela uri ri sa tsha thivheliwa kha zwine ra tea u tshilisa zwone.
?ivhazwakale ya vhathu vhashu, yo sumbedza n?ila i si yone. Vho vha vha tshi nyadziwa na u dzhiiwa vha si vha ndeme. Ngauri zwa zwino shango ?ashu ?o vhofholowa, ?i vho ?ivha-vho zwauri musi hu tshi pfi Muven?a hu khou ambiwa mini. Ri vho zwi ?ivha zwauri musi hu tshi pfi muthu u amba Tshitshangana kana TshiXhosa, u tea u ambara nga n?ila-?e. Mvelele yawe i tea u ?honifhiwa. Hezwo zwithu zwo?he zwo ?isa phambano. Mbofholowo yo ?ela u ri ?u?uwedza uri ri ite ngauralo.
Vhukoni vhune ra vha naho, ho ?iswa nga mbofholowo. Hu na ?hanziela dza uri vho zwi gudelaho vha kone u zwi vhona zwauri muthu arali a tshi tshila e kha zwa hawe, u a lelutshelwa nga zwithu zwo?he. Ifa ?ene?o ?e ra ?i ?ewa, ?ine vha?we na u ?i vhona a vha ?i vhoni, ?i bva kha vhomakhulukuku vhashu, u itela uri ri sale ri tshi ya phan?a na vhutshilo. Vho ri ifa i?o, ?i bvele phan?a u bva kha mirafho u ya kha mi?we, u itela uri ri vhe na vhu?ikukumusi kha zwithu zwo?he.
Zwine ra zwi ?ivha ndi zwauri, musi ri tshi kha ?i aluwa, ho vha hu na zwine vhathu vhashu vha zwi ?ivha sa ifa ?a u tshila, ?ine ?a ?a na maitele a matshilisano, ane a vha dzi ... (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.)
[... our people had to endure a system that deprived them of their sense of identity and continuity. This deprived us of our worthiness at that time. We never expressed our sense of being in the way we do today. The apartheid regime and the colonists treated us very badly.
However, the dawn of democracy in South Africa gave birth to institutions that display our identity, that showed the history, a way of respect and the legacy of all citizens. We can develop all our potential so that nothing can hinder us from living a better life.
The history of our people had shown the wrong path. They were disrespected and undermined. Now that our country has been liberated, it recognises a black person. We now know that if a person speaks Xitsonga or isiXhosa, which traditional attire they should wear. Their culture must be respected. All these things brought diversity. Freedom has come to encourage us to do likewise.
The ability we have was brought about by liberation. There is confirmation from the experts that if a person lives according to his culture all things become easier. This legacy was given by our forefathers for us to continue with life. They said this legacy must pass on from one generation to another so that we may have pride in everything. When we were growing up, there were things that our people knew as the legacy of life that prescribe the way of living, which are ...]
... worship rights, rights of passage, birth rights, wedding and funeral rituals, oaths of allegiance, traditional legal systems and ritual kinship ceremonies.
Zwo?he zwo vha zwi si nga si vhonale arali hu songo vha na mbofholowo ye ra fhira khayo. Ri na mvelele dzine dza tea u sumbedza n?ivho dzine ra vha nadzo. Ndi musi ri tshi kona u amba nga luambo lwashu, u fana na zwino ndi tshi khou amba. Tshifhingani tsha kale nyambo nnzhi dzo vha dzi sa pfali. Wo vha u tshi ri u amba Tshiven?a, Tshitshangana kana TshiZulu, wa vhonala sa tshi?aela tshi sa koni u amba luambo. U vha tshi?aela nga n?ila-?e u tshi khou amba luambo lwau lwa ?amuni?
Ro vhuya ra gudiswa na u amba tshivhuru. Hu tshi pfi ... (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.)
[All these things would have never happened were it not because of the liberation that we achieved. We have cultures that reflect our knowledge; for instance, when we speak our mother tongue, like I am doing right now. In the past most languages were unknown. If you spoke Tshivenda, Xitsonga or isiZulu, you looked like a fool who did not know how to speak the language. How could one be stupid when one speaks one's own mother tongue?
We were even taught to speak Afrikaans. They said ...]
... jy lieg soos 'n koerant. Nou lyk dit asof die koerant nie meer lieg nie ... [... you are lying like a newspaper. Now it seems as if the newspaper is not lying anymore ...]
... ngauri i sokou amba zwe ya sa vhudziswe.
Hu na n?ivho ine musi ri tshi khou tshila, ra tea u i tsireledza. (Translation of Tshivenda sentences follows.)
[... because it just says things which were never asked.
There is some knowledge that we should protect in life.]
We also have traditional craftsmanship and herbal medicine ...
... hune ra wana hu na miri ya tshirema, ine ya tea u sumbedziwa u itela uri ni kone u alafhiwa nga tshirema. Vhathu vhashu vha ?ivha vhu?anga ha mishonga yo raloho. Hezwo zwithu zwo vha zwo dzidzivhala, ri tshi vho tshila zwi si tsheho, ngauri n?ivho yashu yo vha yo bwelwa fhasi, nahone vhathu vhashu vha si tsha ?ivha zwine vha khou ita zwone.
Arali ri sa koni u lwa nndwa ya u ?ivhofholola, ?amusi ro vha ri tshi ?o pfi vho nnyi? Ro vha ri tshi ?o vha ri sa ?ivhei. U fhambana ha mvelele hu tea u dzhielwa n?ha ngauri hu ita uri ri gude khadzo. Zwithu zwine ra zwi ita, ri a kona u alusana ngazwo. Zwa zwino ri vho kona u tshilisana sa vhathu vha Afurika Tshipembe ngauri ri khou shumisa yenei?a n?ivho ye ra i ?ewa nga vhomakhulukuku washu. Vho ri rathisela n?ivho ya vhufa, u itela uri ri kone u tshila sa vhathu vha ?ikukumusaho nga zwine vha vha nazwo.
Kha guvhangano ?a vhu 52, ANC yo ?ivhofha na u ?u?uwedza vhathu vha Afurika Tshipembe uri vha farane, hu sa vhe na tshi?alula nga muvhala, nga mbeu na zwo?he zwine ra nga ?alulana ngazwo. ANC yo ombedzela uri hezwo zwithu zwo?he, zwi songo vha hone. Rine ro dzula ra zwi vhona zwauri ndi ngoho ri khou tea u vha vhathu vhathihi vha tshilisanaho. Mvelele dzashu dzi tea u sumbedzisa uri ndi zwifhio zwine ra fana ngazwo ngauri dzi a ?angana vhukati. Hezwi zwi sia ri tshi kona u tshila sa vhathu, ri tshi humbula zwe vhomakhulukuku vhashu vha ri siela zwone uri ri zwi shumise na matshelo.
Ngauri hei?a n?ivho yo shumiswaho mulovha, ri khou tea u i shumisa ?amusi, matshelo, na kha tshakha dzi ?aho, u itela uri hune ra dzula hone hu vhofholowe. Ri tea u kona u amba nyambo dzashu na u tevhedzela vhurereli hashu ri sa tsha imiwa phan?a. Makoloni na tshi?alula zwo ?a zwa ri fhambanya, ngeno ri vhadzulapo vha Afurika Tshipembe ro?he. [U vhanda zwan?a.]
Ri songo tenda u lu?anywa nga ?ifhedzi. Ri?e ri a zwi ?ivha zwauri musi ri tshi tshila sa vhathu vhathihi, ri vha na mulalo nahone ri a kona u ?ha?ulana mihwalo kha zwithu zwinzhi. Hezwo zwithu ro zwi gudiswa nga vhomakhulukuku washu. Ri tea u dzula ri tshi funana ngauri mulalo ndi ifa. U nga balelwa u tshila nga mulalo arali wo gudiswa u tshila ngawo? Arali wo fun?edzwa u funa muhura wau u nga balewa, ngeno Bivhili yo ?i tou zwi amba? (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.) [... where we find indigenous plants which we must preserve for traditional healing and medicines. Our people have knowledge of these traditional healing practices. These practices had faded and we were living without them because our knowledge was buried and our people didn't know what they were doing.
If we did not fight to liberate ourselves, where would we be today? We would be unknown to the world. Diverse cultures need to be taken very seriously because we learn from them. Things which we do provide common ground for the promotion of mutual understanding and enriching one another. We are now able to live together as people of South Africa because we are using the same knowledge which we inherited from our forefathers. They have passed the knowledge of heritage to us so that we are able to live with pride and embrace what we have.
At its 52nd National Conference, the ANC committed itself and encouraged the people of South Africa to unite, and not to discriminate on the basis of colour, gender and other things which we may use to discriminate against each other. The ANC emphasised that all these should not happen. We have realised the need to unite and to live together. Our cultures must display their commonality since they have similarities. This makes us to live as a people, remembering the heritage which our forefathers left behind for us to embrace even in future.
The knowledge used by our forefathers should be used now, in future and by future generations to ensure freedom. We should be able to speak our languages and to observe our religions freely. The colonialists and apartheid systems have separated us, while we are all citizens of South Africa. [Applause.]
Let us not allow anyone to stir up enmity and discord among us for nothing. We know that when we live together as one, we have peace and we are able to carry each other's burdens. We have learned this from our forefathers. We must always love one another because peace is a legacy. How can you fail to live in peace if you have been taught to do so? If you have been taught to love your neighbour, how can you fail, when even the Bible said so?]
The Bible says:
Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Hezwo zwithu ro zwi gudiswa nga vhomakhulukuku washu. Vho ri vhudza uri ri tea u tshila nga yeneyo n?ila. Ro zwi pfa a si kale, musi Minisi?a Vho Lulu Xingwana vha tshi ri vhudza uri bola yashu, ine ya kha ?i tou bva u vha hone zwenezwino, yo ri ?anganya. Arali i ngoho zwauri mvelele i ya kona u ?anganya vhathu, ri khou kona u zwi vhona ngauri ro vha ro vhuisa ?ifhasi ?o?he fhano. Afurika a i ngo vhuya naa? ?ifhasi a ?i ngo vhuya? ?o vhuiswa ngauri ro vha ri tshi khou kovhekana dzimvelele. Zwithu zwo vha mvumvusaho, zwo vha zwithu zwa mvelele. Na zwino vha ri vha funa u vhuya ngauri Afurika Tshipembe ndi shango ?avhu?i ?i tshileaho kha?o. Vha ri fhano hu a ?ifha nahone vhathu vha hone vha na vhuthu.
Hu na phungo yo iswaho nga vho ria?ivha musi vha tshi vho sokou amba zwithu zwi sa itwi nga vhathu vha fhano Afurika Tshipembe. Vha tshimbila vha tshi amba uri hu ?o vha na vhavhambadza-mivhili vha swikaho mi?ioni mbili vhane vha ?o ?a fhano.
O vha a si mazwifhi ayo? Izwo zwithu zwi sumbedza tshumisano? Ri?e a ri ngo vhuya ra vha vhona ngauri ro gudiswa uri ri vhe na vhuthu, ri hulisane na u ?honifhana. Vha kha ?i ?o vhuya kha ?ino shango ngauri vho zwi vhona uri mvelele ya fhano Afurika Tshipembe ndi ya matshilisano avhu?i.
Kha zwa vhubindudzi, musi vhathu vha tshi ita zwithu zwavho, ri?e ri ?i ?ongisa nga dzi satellite dish dzashu. Khedzi vha tshi khou dzi vhona. [Maseo.] [U vhanda zwan?a.] Hezwo zwithu zwi sumbedza mvelele. Vhakalaha na vhakegulu khevhala vho ambara vho tou ?itama. A vha tamisi? U tou vhona makhulu wau vho fara zwone-zwone zwine rine ra tea u fara khazwo.
Ndo ita na u vhudza vha?we uri ndi kale Vhaven?a vha tshi ?ivha thekino?odzhi. Satellite dish dzi tshi ?a, ri?e ro vha ro no vha nadzo. [Maseo.] Hezwo zwo vha zwi tshi khou sumbedza zwauri vhudavhidzani na ma?we mashango zwo vha zwi hone ngauri ri na vhuthu nahone ri a kona u tshila na vha?we vhathu.
Nga aneo maipfi, ndi khou livhuwa u kovhekana, u kunguwedza na u pembelela vhufa ha mvelele vhune ra khou ?itongisa ngaho ?amusi. Ndi a livhuwa. [U vhanda zwan?a.] (Translation of Tshivenda paragraphs follows.)
[We have learned this from our forefathers. They taught us to live this way. We heard Minister Lulu Xingwana telling us about how our Soccer World Cup that took place not long ago united us. It is true that culture unites people, we can see that we brought the whole world here. Was Africa not united? Was the world not united? It was united because we were sharing our cultures. They were entertained by cultural activities. They said they want to come back because South Africa is a beautiful country to live in. They said it is nice here and people have humanity.
There was some rumour by some journalist saying bad things about South Africa. They spread the rumour that there would be more than two million prostitutes coming to this country.
Was that not a lie? Does this show co-operation? We did not see them because we were taught humanity, honour and respect. They will come back to this country because they saw that South African cultures are good.
In business, when people do their things, we are proud of our "satellite dish", mapala beads - thick strands of cotton with beadwork, worn around the neck by girls/women. Here they are. [Laughter.] [Applause.] These things display culture. Old people are dressed nicely in their traditional attire. Are they not admirable? To see you grandparent preserve culture like this, as we are suppose to.
I even told others that the Vhavenda people know technology. When satellite dishes were introduced, we already had them. [Laughter.] These indicated that we had communication with other countries.
With these words, I am grateful to share, to encourage and to celebrate the heritage of culture, which we are all proud of today. I thank you. [Applause.]]