Your Excellency, The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr Joseph Kabila Kabange and Madame Olive Lembe Kabila

The President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honourable AubinMinaku

The President of the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honourable Léon Kengo wa Dondo

Your Excellency, The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon

Honourable Ministers from both the government of the Republic of South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Honourable Members of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

Let me begin by extending my deepest gratitude, that of my wife and indeed of the entire South African delegation, for the invitation to undertake this important State Visit to your beautiful country.

We have been truly touched by the warm welcome and hospitality that we have received from your Government and the wonderful people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

 

I must also convey how deeply honoured we are by the historical significance of this State Visit, which is the first State Visit from the Republic of South Africa to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

 

We are certain we will further solidify the close ties between our two great nations and peoples.

It also gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to address here today, a joint seating of this great parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

South Africa will forever be proud of the humble role we were able to play in assisting you, our brothers and sisters of the DRC, to achieve the democracy you enjoy today.

 

Indeed, it was on this very day, the 29th of October, in 2006, that the second round of the first democratic elections ever held in the DRC took place, which saw Your Excellency elected as President of this great nation.

 

Since then, great strides have been made in strengthening and consolidating your young and vibrant democracy.

 

Indeed, it was with great vision and courageous leadership, Your Excellency, that you initiated the recently-concluded process of national consultations, in pursuit of the goal of fostering a greater sense of national unity and cohesion amongst the Congolese people.

 

I further wish to commend the Government of the DRC, on the promulgation of laws which will establish both a Constitutional Court and a Human Rights Commission.

 

As you will know, these are institutions which South Africa places great value in, as both have played pivotal roles in the shaping of South Africa’s democracy and in championing our steadfast commitment to human rights.

As always, Your Excellency, South Africa stands ready to share from our experiences and lend of our expertise where possible, in assisting your great nation to further strengthen and deepen your democracy as well as to further entrench your impressive commitment to human rights.

 

Indeed, it is in this same spirit of the well-established cooperation between our two great nations, that we accepted your gracious invitation to undertake this historic State Visit.

 

Our experience has taught us that together we can do more and we therefore look forward to extending and deepening the close relations between our two great nations.

 

We can do this across the many areas of shared interest, and in pursuit of a better future for our two great nations and peoples.

In the spirit of “Ubuntu”, which means “I am because we are” and which is a core principle underpinning the work of the South African Government, we will continue to stand side by side with the DRC.

We will work together in seeing this great nation assume its rightful place as a fellow powerhouse of the African continent.

 

In this quest, Your Excellency, we are forever inspired and driven by the struggles of our brothers and sisters who have come before us, many of whom lost their lives in laying the foundation for the freedom and self-determination we enjoy today.

 

As South Africans, we will forever be grateful for the solidarity we received from the Congolese people during our liberation struggle.

 

Indeed, it is this proud history of struggle and of overcoming adversity, even in the most daunting of circumstances, shared by our two great nations, which shall continue to inspire our joint efforts going forward.

This instills in us the confidence that we shall succeed.

 

We are reminded however, that while our proud nations have broken free from the shackles of colonialism and Apartheid, that our struggles are not over and that we must never rest.

 

Indeed, our proud nations, like many others on our continent and throughout the world, are still confronted by amongst others, the paramount challenge of over coming poverty and providing our peoples with the dignified quality of life and the opportunities which they deserve.

 

In overcoming this shared struggle, we are driven by the words of one of the greatest sons of the DRC and indeed of the African continent, Former Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, who challenged us “to ensure that the lands of our fatherland truly profits its children.”

 

So too, are we driven by the words of South Africa’s father of the nation and beloved world icon, Former President, Nelson Mandela.

 

Here minded us that “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice!”

It is this outstanding caliber of wisdom and leadership which will continue to guide our combined efforts going forward and which will continue to shape the relations between our two great nations, long into the future.

In this spirit, it is with great pleasure that an important Treaty on the Grand Inga Hydropower Project has been signed this morning.

 

The signing of this Treaty is a major step towards the realization of the long cherished dream of the people of this great nation.

This long talked about Project has got the potential to change the economic prospects of the DRC, the region and the Continent.

 

Your Excellency, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I must convey how particularly pleased and excited I am by the progress taking place towards the realisation of the Grand Inga Hydropower Project.

This incredible feat of human ingenuity, when completed, will have the capacity to power Africa and indeed to export electricity beyond the continent.

South Africa is extremely proud to be working so closely with the DRC, in realising this accomplishment.

This represents one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken on the African continent, and one which will long be a resounding symbol of the rise of Africa and her people.

 

Your Excellency,

 

The agreements that we will enter into on this occasion, will further complement those which already exist between our two great nations.

These we have regularly reviewed in our annual Bi-National Commission, the last meeting of which took place in Pretoria in October 2012.

 

Allow me to express again, Your Excellency, the high regard with which South Africa views the opportunity which this annual High-Level forum affords our two nations to frankly review our progress in meeting our cooperation commitments.

 

In this regard, let me also express how very much we are all looking forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of our Bi-National Commission next year, herein the DRC.

Indeed, this occasion will have further cause for celebration, as next year also marks the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy.

This is a democracy which, while young in age, has weathered many storms and continues to grow in maturity and strength.

 

Your Excellency, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

It has always been South Africa’s firm belief, that in order to overcome poverty and to achieve the prosperity through development, which both our great nations seek, it is imperative that the essential preconditions of peace, security, and stability must first be in place.

 

I must therefore express that South Africa remains deeply concerned by the enduring conflict in eastern DRC, perpetrated by local and externally supported armed groups on innocent Congolese civilians.

We deplore the devastating loss of life, the human suffering, the displacement of more than a million civilians and the damage to property which this intolerable situation has resulted in.

 

I extend the deepest sympathy of the people of South Africa to the Congolese people for the hardship they continue to endure as a result of this conflict.

 

South Africa, which not too long ago, itself endured the heavy toll of conflict and which emerged united and stronger than ever, again stands in solidarity with the DRC, in overcoming this serious challenge.

Indeed, as I address you here today, proud sons and daughters of South Africa, serving under the banner of the United Nations Intervention Brigade, stand shoulder to shoulder with their Congolese compatriots, united in the goal of restoring peace and security to eastern DRC.

 

Your Excellency,

 

As you will well know, the decision to call upon the sons and daughters of the nation’s defence forces to serve in the face of eminent danger, is always a difficult one.

 

Nevertheless, my decision to do precisely this, in support of the international community’s efforts to restore peace to eastern DRC, is one which I firmly believe in.

 

While it remains South Africa’s strongly held position that conflict should be resolved through negotiated, political solutions and indeed we commend the Government of the DRC on its efforts in the Kampala talks, it is nevertheless the case that this optimal strategy cannot take place indefinitely and at all costs.

 

Indeed, this was the message that the international community conveyed, when it was resolved through United Nations Security Council Resolution 2098 to establish an Intervention Brigade which has been deployed in eastern DRC, with an unprecedented intervention mandate.

 

Together, we united in sending the message that for too long have the people of the DRC endured the incalculable suffering as a result of recurrent cycles of conflict.

Enough is enough, the time for peace is now and to those who would challenge this for their own self-interests, we stand firm in the message that your time is now up, lay down your arms, as no longer will the misery you inflict be tolerated

 

Your Excellency,

 

Through the presence of the Intervention Brigade and indeed through the parallel international forums focused on restoring peace to eastern DRC and the Great Lakes Region, I am encouraged that now, perhaps more so than at any other time in history, the eventual resolution of the DRC’s eastern security problem is finally in sight.

 

Allow me to take this opportunity to salute Your Excellency for the high level of commitment which the DRC continues to demonstrate in the implementation of its national and regional commitments interms of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region as supported by the UN, the AU, the SADC and the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region.

We trust that all the parties to the Framework will follow this example, in particular as far as the regional commitments to the non-interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring states, the refusal of any assistance to armed groups and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states are concerned.

 

Excellency,

 

The people of the DRC can have confidence that much as so many of them stood by South Africa in our struggle for liberation that sotoo will South Africa remain firmly committed to assisting the DRC to achieve peace.

As South Africans we know that our future is inextricably linked with that of the people of the DRC, the region and the continent.

 

The hardship of the Congolese people is our hardship and equally, your prosperity is ours.

On that note, Your Excellency, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to renew to the people of the DRC, the warm regards of their brothers and sisters in South Africa.

Allow me to convey again the spirit of comradeship and cooperation that underpins our visit to your beautiful country and which shall drive us as we go forward in unison.

 

I thank you.