Those who are today great peacetime heroes need only look at their history. It is not a consistent history. It is this struggle that led to a more hopeful line in our history, also passing through Sharpeville. It is here that former President Nelson Mandela signed the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 14 years ago, on 10 December 1996.
This Constitution represents the antithesis of everything that the Union of South Africa and the Sharpeville massacre represent. It bears testimony to the fact that the liberation struggle by the oppressed communities, even in the midst of bitter confrontation, developed moral values of human compassion and solidarity far beyond the narrow confines of its opposition to the apartheid system. It represented something good, not just something better than apartheid. It asserted the humanness of the human spirit and the search for societies at peace within and among themselves.
Unfortunately, there is a lot more that I would like to say, but the time is running out. [Interjections.] Therefore, I would like to read an extract from the poem "Die kind wat dood geskiet is deur soldate by Nyanga", by Ingrid Jonker, which was quoted by former President Mandela during his first state of the nation address:
Die kind is nie dood nie ng by Langa ng by Nyanga ng by Orlando ng by Sharpeville ng by die polisiestasie in Philippi waar hy l met ? koel deur sy kop
Die kind is die skaduwee van die soldate op wag met gewere sarasene en knuppels die kind is teenwoordig by alle vergaderings en wetgewings die kind loer deur die vensters van huise en in die harte van moeders die kind wat net wou speel in die son by Nyanga is orals die kind wat ? man geword het trek deur die ganse Afrika die kind wat ? reus geword het reis deur die hele wreld
Sonder ? pas
Let us on this occasion, collectively, as the elected representatives of our people, rededicate ourselves to work together with everyone in our society to ensure that the Constitution, the child that we collectively gave birth to and collectively are responsible for nurturing, continues to grow into a giant that will live in Nyanga, Sharpeville, Philippi and all corners of our nation and continue to inspire people around the world. [Time expired.] I thank you. [Applause.]