Hon Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces and President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Mr Mninwa Mahlangu,

Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Mr Kamalesh Sharma,

Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Dr William F Shija,

The Speaker of the South African National Assembly, Mr Max Sisulu,

Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association,

Distinguished Delegates and

Honoured Guests,

 

It is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all delegates to this 59thCommonwealth Parliamentary Conference here in Johannesburg.

We are very honoured to have hosted the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference a few times already in South Africa, through the South African Parliament.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is one of the oldest Common wealth organisations and remains a vital cog in our world-wide Commonwealth community.

We support the mission of the Association to promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy and to build an informed parliamentary community. This in turns works to deepen democracy in the Commonwealth.

Avital part of the Commonwealth’s commitment to democracy is to strengthen the co-operation among Parliaments and Legislatures within the Commonwealth. This Conference is a perfect example of such cooperation and the sharing of ideas and best practices to the advantage of all our peoples.

Excellencies

Honoured guests

We have good reason to be happy to host you as South Africa.

We do not take democracy, and the protection and promotion thereof,  lightly in South Africa. Our country went through three centuries of colonial rule and the vicious system of apartheid. 

When we obtained our freedom in 1994, we vowed that we would never go back to any system of government that would suppress human rights and freedoms we had fought so hard to obtain.

Our global icon and founding President, Excellency Nelson Mandela, stated on our behalf as follows in his inauguration address in 1994;

“Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement!”

Indeed, we shall never let the sun set on our glorious achievement.

We are thus always ready to protect, promote and defend our democracy and all institutions of democracy including parliament.

We value the progress we have made, we value the achievements we have scored in only 20 years. South Africa is a much better place now than it was before 1994.

Allow me therefore to thank the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association again for the solidarity and support during the struggle for liberation, as we move towards celebrating 20 years of freedom and democracy next year. We would not have achieved many of our goals without international solidarity.

We are, and remain therefore, committed to parliamentary democracy and fully support the goal of strengthening democracy in the world, so that many peoples, especially those were oppressed like ourselves, can enjoy the benefits of freedom as we are.

Excellencies,

Honoured guests,

The promotion of democracy was a central message in the 2011 Perth Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) Communiqué. It called upon members to: “actively promote, uphold, preserve and defend the fundamental values, principles and aspirations of the Commonwealth.

Heads of state and government agreed to do this by considering the reform recommendations of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) and the constituting of a “Charter of the Commonwealth”.

The Commonwealth Charter, as you are aware, was formally adopted on 19 December2012, and was signed by HM Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth, on Commonwealth Day, 11 March 2013.

The Charter addresses a number of values and principles that the CPA holds dear and promotes as part of its mission, including democracy, the separation of powers, good governance and gender equality.

We are pleased that this conference will deliberate on the Charter. It is important that Parliamentarians utilise the Charter to ensure that their governments adhere to the values and principles enshrined in the document.

Excellencies, Honoured Guests,

As in the past, the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and their meetings form part of this Conference agenda.  This has resonance with South African as our country’s Constitution recognises women as equal citizens, with equal rights and responsibilities. Women’s rights are Human Rights.

South African women led by the African National Congress earned this right through participating actively in the struggle for liberation. We fully support the promotion of women’s rights and access to opportunities across the Common wealth.

Excellencies, Honoured Guests,

You have chosen an appropriate theme for this conference given the approaching deadline of the Millennium Development Goals. 

The theme “Effective Solutions for Commonwealth Developmental Challenges ”talks to the serious challenges facing developing nations within the Common wealth in particular.

We are all aware of the rapidly approaching deadline for the Millennium Development Goals and the global development agenda beyond 2015. We expect fruitful discussions of this issue at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting later this year in Sri Lanka.

Due attention must be paid to the eradication of poverty and hunger, sustainable development, as well ascombating inequality at all levels. This is essential to create a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.

 

Thus the Commonwealth needs to focus on both the need to meet the Millennium Development Goals targets and what needs to happen beyond 2015, and also the need for the financing of the MDGs.

Financing discussions are important. Deliberations on the development goals should bear in mind that countries have different starting points, national priorities and regional circumstances. 

 

Therefore, the post-2015development agenda should reaffirm the Rio Principles, especially the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities”, along with “Equity and the Right to Development”.

Thus it is important to ensure financial assistance through continued Official Development Assistance and other mechanisms and sources of funding.

 

Also important is the need for the transfer of environmentally sound technologies as well as capacity building to ensure self-reliance.

Only this will enable developing countries to meet their domestic development challenges.

 

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,

Let me reiterate the need for parliaments to promote the deepening and strengthening of democracy. In this regard, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has an important role to play in the promotion of democracy.

We should also bear in mind that democratic governance and its institutions such as Parliaments and Legislatures, are vital for good governance, human rights and the rule of law.

Another role we see for parliaments and legislatures around the world is the promotion of peace and security. As parliamentarians you play an oversight role and are able to scrutinize the work done by the executive in your respective countries, including matters of war and peace.

Thus, we urge you to promote peace in the world at all times, for it is only through peace that we can have sustainable development and prosperity especially in the developing world which is beset by many challenges.

At this juncture we cast our eyes towards the Syrian Arab Republic which is the centre of world attention at this point.

We trust that the United Nations will be respected as the only authority that can intervene militarily in any country, and only if all other avenues have been exhausted.

We trust that there shall be no violation of international law or the abuse of the United Nations Security Council to fulfill the agenda of other nation states.

We also call for peace in our own continent, in Egypt and also closer to home in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Peace and democracy must reign in every part of Africa and all over the world.

Thus, we urge you as parliamentarians to continue playing your role in promoting democracy, accountability and good governance and also in promoting peace and stability around the world.

Excellencies

Distinguished delegates,

Let me reiterate once again how happy we are to host the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

I am also honoured to be the Vice-Patron of this august conference.  

Let me again welcome you all to South Africa. 

May your deliberations be fruitful and provide much to take forward.

I thank you!