The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Mr. Senzo Mchunu,

The Minister of Human Settlements Ms Connie September;

Executive Mayor of eThekwini Councillor James Nxumalo;

Ministers, MECs, Mayors and Councillors;

Chairpersons and CEOs of State Owned Enterprises;

Traditional Leaders;

Religious Leaders; 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Sanibonani.

Siyajabula ukuba nani lapha endaweni yase Ottawa, sizovula lemizi nendawo enhle kangaka eyakhiwe uhulumeni wenu.

Nonyaka sigubha iminyaka engamashumi amabili selokhu sathola inkululeko saphuma engcindezini yobandlululo.

Sigubha ukuthi sesiphila ezweni eliphethwe uhulumeni wentando yeningi, sikhululekile kuyo yonke imikhakha.

Lomcimbi wanamhlanje ukhombisa imisebenzi eyenziwa uhulumeni ukuze imivuzo yenkululeko ibonakale igqame kubantu baseNingizimu Africa, ikakhulukazi abamnyama ababekade behleli kabuhlungu iminyaka eminingi.

We are happy to be with you today, where government joins the private sector in celebrating development and progress.

It is befitting that this official opening takes place during Freedom Month.

On 27 April 2014, it will exactly be 20 years to the day since millions of our fellow citizens queued in those memorable and winding lines that saw the country’s citizens, most for the first time in their lives, voting for a government of their choice.

Today we also look back at a sad moment in our history.

On the 6th of April 1979, Solomon “Kalushi” Mahlangu, a Mkhonto Wesizwe freedom fighter, was hanged by the apartheid government in Pretoria at the prime of his life, the age of only 23.

That is the South Africa we have emerged from, where the state had the right to kill and destroy the lives of many including young people.

We salute Solomon Mahlangu for his sacrifice and bravery and indeed many others who laid down their lives for the attainment of freedom, democracy, justice, equality and human rights in our country.

South Africa is a different country now, a thriving constitutional democracy that respects the right to live, the right to human dignity, and the right of all to have a better life.

The Constitution of the Republic also enshrines socio-economic rights which are basically the rights to basic services such as water, housing, electricity, social security, health and education.

The launch of this prestigious project today demonstrates that  our Government continues to fulfill this Constitutional mandate of providing housing to the citizens of our country.

And this democratic government does not just build houses, we also look at achieving other goals, such as building united, nonracial settlements, to reverse the apartheid legacy of divisions.

The building of integrated settlements, where people from different racial groups can live together, marks a significant shift in South Africa.

We want to effectively move away from the segregated settlements which were created by apartheid to house people on the basis of their race and sometimes even on the basis of clan as it happened in what is now Gauteng.

With projects such as Cornubia, the ANC Government and all its related agencies and partners seek to show our people that we have indeed left the days of racial segregation behind us.

If apartheid policy was to divide, then ours is to unite the people across racial and class lines through sustainable human settlements.

The entire Cornubia development has an estimated construction value of 25 billion rand over a period of approximately 25 years.

The project will include the provision of 28 000 homes catering for a wide range of income levels.

A total of 15 000 of these will be subsidised or low income houses.

The settlement will also include substantial provisions for schools, clinics and amenities such as state of the art public transport infrastructure.

I have been informed that two Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) routes linking Cornubia, Umhlanga and the nearby township of Phoenix are planned.

The BRT routes will also link the area to the Dube Trade Port and the King Shaka International Airport about 7km north.

The private sector is also catered for as there will be over 100 hectares of land that is set aside for business especially office spaces.

As this is going to stretch over a period of years, at least two decades, it will also help to provide more employment opportunities in this area.

Indeed, when looking back on the road travelled since 1994, we are proud to say that we have a good story to tell. This settlement confirms that South Africa is a much better place to live in now than it was before 1994.

This is due to the hard work by all South Africans.

This project in particular, has succeeded due to the collaboration by all spheres of government, national, provincial and local government. Also important, is the involvement of the private sector, in the form of an important strategic partner, such as Tongaat-Hullet.

We appreciate the support of the private sector in building a better South Africa.

Ladies and gentlemen

Last month, Government released the 20-year Review, which documents all the work that has been done to rebuild South Africa since 1994.

The Review also supports Government’s view that since 1994, millions of our people have seen change in their lives for the better as part of concerted and combined efforts to end poverty and ensure that indeed, every South African enjoys A Better Life.

Over 12 million South Africans have benefited from the 3, 6 million houses and serviced sites provided by the democratic government since 1994.

It will not end there, as we are still building more houses nationally.

Because of our approach to provide integrated services, citizens of this country have also been provided with clean running water, health and education services and other basics such as viable roads such as the ones we see being built all around Cornubia.

As we mark the 20 years of freedom and democracy, let us also commit ourselves to continue to build South Africa and transform it into a living democracy whose citizens’ basic human rights are respected.

I am hopeful that with integrated human settlement projects, we will be able to effectively eradicate a significant number of the informal settlements across various areas in eThekwini and across South Africa.

Siyanibongela kakhulu mphakathi walendawo. Siyathemba nizohlala kamnandi ninethezeke ezindlini ezinhle ezintsha.

Lezizindlu ziyakhombisa ukuthi impela iNingizimu Africa yamanje ingcono kakhulu kuneNingizimu Africa esasiphila kuyo ngesikhathi sobandlululo. Impilo isingcono kakhulu impela.

Uma sibheka kwezemfundo, izingane ezingu 8 million zifunda mahhala ezikoleni. Izingane ezingu-9million eziphuma emakhaya ampofu zidla mahhala ezikoleni.

Kanti uhulumeni uyabanakekela futhi abampofu nabadingayo.

Abantu abangu- 16 million bathola izibonelelo, phecelezi ama-social grants, okubandakanya kakhulu izingane eziswele, abakhubazekile kanye nabadala ogogo nomkhulu.

Siyanibonga kakhulu ngokubambisana nathi njengohulumeni ukuze zonke izidingo zifezeke kahle.

Ladies and gentlemen

Government is working hard on similar projects around the country and in all nine provinces as part of improving the quality of life of all.

We congratulate the community on gaining this wonderful development.

As we celebrate Freedom Day and also commemorate occasions such as the passing of Solomon Mahlangu, let us remember that our freedom was not free.

It came about through the blood, sweat and tears of many of our people.

We must therefore appreciate the freedom we enjoy, knowing full well how hard we fought for it.

We must also work together, to move our country forward, building on the successes of the past 20 years of freedom and democracy.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my honour and pleasure to declare the Cornubia Integrated Settlement open.

I thank you.