BY
HON MB GWALA MPL, KZN LEGISLATURE
Somlomo,
Angisiboni isidingo sokuthi ngilokhu ngilanda umlando owaziwayo ukuthi inkulukelo kulelizwe yazuzwa kanjani ngoba akekho ongazi. Kepha okubalulekile eQenjini leNkatha ukuthi kugxilwe kakhulu ezinkingeni zanamuhla ezikhungethe lelizwe.
Today, yet another debate ensues to mark Freedom Day. Unfortunately, rhetoric rather than commitment to action will win the day again.
Okokuqala nje kulonyaka awukho umdlandla wokugubha lolusuku njengoba uKhongolose usemshikashikeni wokwephuca amakhosi nabantu baKwaZulu umhlaba unikwe abantu abaphatha iminyaka emihlanu baphume abanye baphuma ingakapheli bexoshwa amaqembu abo.
Okwesibili, abantu bakuleli kulonyaka asikho isidingo sokuthi bagubhe usuku lweNkululeko njengoba bebulawa uhulumeni kaKhongolose ngokuthi wenyuse intela ngakolunye uhlangothi kubuye kuchithwe imali edliwa budlabha ngakolunye.
We heard from Eskom that we have to prepare for blackouts, during winter after the state utility admitted last week that it was facing major coal supply shortages at seven power plants in Mpumalanga. Major coal supply shortages and an estimated R1.3 trillion over expenditure on capital projects mean the utility is running at less than 75% efficiency. Experts have warned that Eskom has 10 days to get its house in order or South Africans will face a cold, dark winter. Ngakhoke yini okumele abantu bayijabulele uma bezoqhuqhwa amakhaza ugesi ungekho? Konke lokhu kungenxa kaKhongolose ofaka abantu babo ezinkampanini zikahululumeni abahluleka ukwenza umsebenzi ngendlela efanele.
The government, has proclaimed itself to be pro-poor but it has dismally failed. The very poor it feigns to represent seem to be nothing more than voting fodder.
When our government hosts so-called Freedom Day Celebrations, we see the hypocrisy of these events that turn out to be just song, dance and empty political rhetoric that fall on the noisy gathered masses like infertile seeds on open fields.
One is tempted to ask the question: Are we really free when our people remain poor and unemployed and display unwarranted violence due to poor service delivery? On Freedom Day, we remind ourselves to defend our Constitution.
We need to ensure that all our people enjoy the fruit of these freedoms, not merely as theoretical rights but as part of the daily life experience of all South Africans. Freedom should mean emancipation from poverty, unemployment, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination, but poverty continues to exist for many black people, women, children, the disabled and the elderly.
Amavila, abasebenzi abadelelayo sinxusa nezinyunyana ukuthi zingenelele kuloludaba. Bavimbelani nezikhundla abantu bebebehluleka ukwenza umsebenzi?
Our children are forced to use disease-ridden pit toilets in school yards, do not have textbooks and are fed like animals from buckets at our public schools. Rampant unemployment, disastrous housing policies and indirect taxes make this country a far cry from the land of milk and honey which it could and should be.
The IFP stands here today to urge to the conscience of the ruling party, demanding a responsible and accountable government for the benefit of those whom they serve.
Abantu abangaphansi komasipala abaphethwe uKhongolose asikho isidingo sokuthi bagubhe usuku lweNkululeko ngoba izidingo zentuthuko abazitholi. Ngisho labo abahlala ngaphansi kukaMasipala uMsunduzi ohlezi uvela ngezinsolo ezimbi ezithinta inkohlakalo kodwa iqembu likaKhongolose lithule du. Ukube umasipala weQembu leNkatha ngabe abaholi bakaKhongolose sebekhulume baze bakhihliza amagwebu bethi awufakwe ngaphansi kwesandla somlawuli. Lento yenza sikholwe ukuthi ngoba kusadla abanye kulindwe ukuthi basuthe kuqala bese kufakwa abanye ngoba kudliwa ngokudedelana kwaKhongolose.
Acceleration of radical economic transformation requires amongst others very trusted and dedicated leadership which is not in the deep pockets of the upper class. Freedom means nothing to youth who are without work and the chance for a successful life.
We need to tackle this problem by empowering young people with the skills they need to become employed, while also growing the number of job opportunities available to them. Every year our government focuses on matric pass rates while ignoring the quality of education they provide. Unemployment and inferior education go hand in hand and must be tackled together.
On the most basic level we need to ramp up investment in well-equipped schools with adequate learning materials, textbooks and dedicated teachers that can prepare children for their life after school.
As we celebrate Freedom Day, which distinguishes us from other nations of the world and guarantees all South Africans freedom from the repression and hatred that characterised our past, we have a responsibility to ensure that our democracy and freedom is maintained and strengthened for future generations.
Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika
I thank you
