Hon Chair, I am who I am because of each one of you. Today, as we focus on Africa Human Rights Day, let us put the spotlight on the importance of the humanity of each of us so as not to diminish our own humanity or reduce our own ability to enjoy unfettered fundamental human rights. How often, as human beings, have we trampled on our fellow beings on account of race, religion, gender, economic competition or blind pursuit of political power? Umntu ngumntu ngabantu. [No man is an island.]
The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights underscores the point that every human being shall be entitled to respect for his life and the integrity of his person, and that no one may be arbitrarily deprived of this right. Albert Einstein bemoaned the fact that unfortunately our technology has exceeded our humanity. Thus today we can oppress and kill brutally on a massive scale, and despoil our environment to the extent of endangering all human life.
Speaking of technology, geneticists tell us that we are the descendents of one mitochondrial Eve who lived in Southern Africa. Our skin colours may be different, but our mitochondrial genes are the same. Under the skin, we are the children of one common mother. This is an astounding revelation with major implications for the cohesiveness of humanity. That is why Cope advocates the realisation of one common national identity to overcome all manner of prejudices, bigotry and discrimination. Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. [No man is an island.]
On this Africa Human Rights Day, let us also recognise South Africa as the cradle of humanity. This places on us a great responsibility for ensuring that human rights flourish everywhere in Africa and the world. Thus we will pay fitting homage to that great ancestral mother who gave life to all of us.
We have a steep challenge. After the exciting years of Mandela and then of former President Mbeki, who famously pronounced on what being an African meant, we demeaned ourselves through pockets of infamous xenophobic attacks and intolerance. These took away the gloss of that historic declaration, "I am an African", and stigmatised us after the first years of our early democracy. It also took much from the credibility of our struggle.
On this day we humbly apologise for the loss of life and for the harm that befell the victims. It was then that we failed as South Africans to be our brothers' keepers. We say, "Motho ke motho ka batho." [No man is an island.]
Just last week Cope's president, Mosiuoa Lekota, was prevented from addressing a party meeting in Humansdorp, which was his constitutional right. How would our struggle heroes have reacted to this? The gain of the mob was short-lived, but the loss to the country is incalculable. Does government condone this?
On this Africa Human Rights Day, we must also share the anguish of our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. When we were in chains, they were enjoying their new-found liberty. Today we are free, whilst they are languishing. Let us give them encouragement and support so that they can reclaim their lost rights and freedom. The need to extend the frontiers of human freedom is always a task that we must take on collectively as fellow Africans.
On account of practising ubuntu, leaders such as Nyerere, Lumumba, Mandela, Nkrumah and Machel, among others, strode over Africa like giants sowing seeds of humanity. 'n Mens is 'n mens deur ander mense. [No man is an island.]
For ubuntu to manifest in every walk of life, we need to see an activist state with an agenda supporting citizen democracy. From this honourable podium we say, muthu ndimuthu nghavhato. [No man is an island.] [Time expired.] [Applause.]