Chairperson, hon members, good afternoon. As we meet on this special day, we rededicate ourselves to the common desire and aspirations that inspired African leaders to commit themselves to work. Today I will speak about specific work for the continent - work towards the total liberation of our continent and the tireless struggle for equality, justice and progress for all.
Today we also remember the efforts that went into transforming our continent. Like my hon colleague, I have also travelled the continent, and many members in this House can testify to the great pleasure it is to travel the great continent of Africa. Therefore, my next career will involve travelling around the continent.
We cannot but remember the great leaders of Africa such as Julius Nyerere, and I was also very happy to see him speaking in this Parliament. We also remember Nelson Mandela, as well as a former member of Parliament, the late Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert, and many others who dedicated their lives to save the lives of so many other people on this continent.
It is also of critical importance to ask ourselves what it is that we are doing in the Western Cape to create a better life for people in the Western Cape. We are committed to living the dream of an open society as contained in the preamble to the Constitution of South Africa. Page one of the Constitution of South Africa commits us to an open society. That society, we believe, is one in which people have choices, take personal responsibility and can excel.
So, colleagues ...
... dit is ook 'n bekende feit dat die provinsiale regering poog om alles in werking te stel om die provinsie 'n wreldklas provinsie te maak. Dit, op sigself, stel geweldige ho eise, veral ten opsigte van die ontwikkeling van dienslewering oor die hele spektrum van die administrasie, deur gemotiveerde en gewillige amptenary. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[... it is also a known fact that the provincial government is trying to put everything into action to make this province a world-class province. That, on its own, demands extremely high standards, especially in regard to cultivating service delivery over the whole spectrum of the administration, by motivated and willing public servants.]
Hon members of this House, I believe deeply in a modern, African public service. A modern, African public service is one in which we give content and meaning to the spirit of Batho Pele. Batho Pele means "we share, we care and we belong". But people must experience this when they go to Home Affairs, Sassa or any of the other government departments. This is a great challenge. We are not there yet.
We are also proud of what we have done and achieved in the Western Cape in the areas of HIV/Aids, malaria and TB. We are also proud to have a world- class hospital - the Red Cross Children's Hospital - not only for the Western Cape, but for the continent of Africa.
Agb lede, met sy ryk verskeidenheid van intellektuele dryfkrag, gee di provinsie die toon aan waarby die land en Afrika groot baat kan vind. Ook op die pad van die tegnologie het die Wes-Kaap reeds sy bydrae gemaak. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Hon members, with its rich variety of intellectual driving forces, this province takes the lead from which the country and Africa can greatly benefit. Even in the field of technology the Western Cape has already made its contribution.]
I believe in the people of Africa. I have travelled the continent and I also led a Commonwealth delegation of east and southern African countries 18 years ago. It is because of my love for Africa that I co-edited a book on public and development management for Africa. But my love for Africa does not blind me to the challenges we face.
I'm equally not shy to boast about our rights and our historical, cultural and community value systems. Whenever I meet foreigners, I take the liberty to explain why we, despite all the obstacles and shortcomings, are a nation proud of our history and our culture. I am proud when I tell them about the first African who paid US$20 million to fly into space.
I am also proud of the many organisations in South Africa that are excelling in their work. Last week, Dr Rhoda Kadalie, at an awards ceremony, presented certificates to people who, despite all the odds, delivered excellence. The people who took part in this certificate ceremony were not only from across the Western Cape but were in fact from different parts of the country's different provinces. Although we have pockets of excellence, we believe we have to fast-track a culture of rewarding excellence. I am deeply worried that at times we get the impression that we reward mediocrity.
Therefore, Africa also needs to take serious stock of why development aid has not worked. We don't have the time to go into why development aid is not helping Africa. But there is a great book - Architects of Poverty - that helps us understand why development aid is not working in Africa.
There is another great book - Dead Aid, by Dambisa Moyo - that explains in great detail why development aid is not working in Africa. Moyo, who is from Lusaka, believes - and I share this view - that if we stop development aid in Africa, a new spirit of entrepreneurship will be ignited.
My plea is therefore that we must create opportunities in and for Africa. We must not put Africa on sale to China, to India or to America. We must find African solutions to African problems; we must celebrate what we have already achieved in the 2010 Fifa World Cup. We must invest more in the protection of our children and women on the African continent; and we must recognise and reward our many social entrepreneurs. Now, I want to ask this House to take the lead in convincing the African Union and the Pan-African Parliament to start a new project to give Africa life - the manufacturing of a car, a motor vehicle. One could start with North Africa and arrange a competition to encourage the North African students to design the car. Then one could go to West Africa and get the West African students to design the interior of the car for competition purposes. Then one could have a competition in East Africa for the design of the electrical parts of the car. And one could come to South Africa, where the engine of the car could be manufactured.
In this way, can we have a car for Africa. We can export things. Millions of people can buy cars. Africa, thus, doesn't have to import cars; we can export cars. If you want to be a great continent, Africa, come alive! Manufacture a car. The technology is so simple. You can take the brain power in this room and manufacture a car in your backyard! Africa, come alive! I greet Africa. I dream of a day when I can drive in an African car.
Malaysia is now manufacturing a car called Proton. The Chinese are manufacturing a car called Chana. I dream of a day when I no longer drive a car from Germany but a car from the great continent of Africa. I believe that, if you give my passion for Africa, the content that hon Tim Harris has spoken of, we can make Africa come alive. I thank you.