Thank you very much. The radical changes that we see - albeit not enough - are because of the efforts of the ANC-led government and its majority in this Parliament.
The youth of our country, in general, are not, and should never be, regarded as "born free". The concept of being born free in our context is ideologically fraudulent and is littered with inconsistencies. It essentially suggests that the struggle ended in 1994 and, for us, it is aluta continua! [the struggle continues!] [Applause.]
We will only be born free if the hospitals we are born in have facilities of the same, or better quality; if the crches we go to have the same or better quality; if our schools have libraries, computer laboratories and science laboratories; if we all have equal chances of graduating from Grade 12 with skills and equal access to further and higher education and training; and if we live in an equal society and have fully achieved the transition to a democratic dispensation, then we will be free in the true sense of what Hector Pieterson, Tsietsi Mashinini and others went into the streets for.
There are no born-frees. There are only the children of Mandela, who are committed and prepared to take forward the struggle initiated by Langalibalele Dube, Bitini, Walter Sisulu, Chris Hani, Oliver Tambo, and many others. [Applause.]
This administration has committed itself, as part of a radical economic transformation, to use its access to and leverage of state power, authority and resources to change the lives of millions of our people so they may free themselves. The lives of young people, such as Hector Pieterson, Tsietsi Mashinini, Hastings Ndlovu, were amongst the many that paid dearly for 1994 to happen. Therefore, we must never be patronised by the thinking that there will be a Messiah born, in whatever uniform, to come and liberate young people, because the youth of this country are their own liberators. [Applause.]
What happened in Marikana on that fateful day of 16 August 2012 remains inexcusable and has forced the Police Service to ensure that it equips itself with tactical training to defuse such situations. We can never, ever compare Soweto 1976 or the Sharpeville murder of our people with what happened in Marikana. [Interjections.] This government is taking action to ensure that those who were responsible for that tragedy are held liable for their actions. The Farlam Commission has been set up to investigate the circumstances of August 16 and give answers to the families of those who lost their lives before, during, and after that tragic afternoon.
We will never, ever compete with our former comrades in the EFF in their endeavour to break every parliamentary law or Rule that has been set, or undermine judicial processes set up to bring closure for these families who lost their loved ones - because none of us will win against what, essentially, has become their profession. Never should we compete with them in kicking down doors - some of them even kicking open doors - as they have been doing since they arrived in Parliament with their red workers' uniforms.