Identity area
Reference code
ZA COM MR-S-1160
Title
Speech by Nelson Mandela at the ANC International Solidarity Conference NASREC
Date(s)
- 1993-02-20 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
Transcription of speech made by Mr Mandela
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Migrated from the Nelson Mandela Speeches Database (Sep-2018).
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
ANC Archives, Office of the ANC President, Nelson Mandela Papers, University of Fort Hare
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
TRANSCRIPT
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Allow me to apologise for not being with you yesterday. However, it was fitting that our National Chairperson, Oliver Tambo, spoke in my place. He is the one who spearheaded international mobilisation for all those years, and to whom all South Africa is deeply indebted for making it possible for us to reach this stage in our struggle.
There are certain moments that capture the essence of life itself. Today is such a moment for me. For you are the friends from five continents who kept hope alive. You took the plight of our people, our hopes, our dreams and our struggle, to your hearts and made it your own. You have forged bonds of friendship that are unbreakable. You refused to let the world ignore the tragedy wreaked by apartheid.
And today you are here with us, many of you for the first time. While you are here you will see what I saw coming out of prison after 27 years:
- that our people are still the hewers of wood and the drawers of water;
- that our people know only hunger, disease, poverty and violence;
- that in the decades of apartheid rule, we were reduced to beggars in our own land.
You are here to help us transform all this, to help us move from anti-apartheid to democracy. We are on the eve of great changes, that place enormous responsibilities on all our shoulders.
These are complicated and difficult times, for which there are no pat answers. Before we have even attained our freedom we are experiencing an incipient counter-revolution. After so much sacrifice by so many, we have the obligation to prevent disintegration into a Yugoslavia.
And one of the ways to do this Is to hold free and fair elections, where every South African will vote, for the first time, for a government of their choice.
We know that you will march this last mile with us, will work with us to win a resounding victory in these elections. We know you will help us reconstruct South Africa in the vision of the Freedom Charter, as a country that belongs to ail its people, black and white.
We know you will go back to your countries and begin work on the enormous tasks that Tie ahead. Together we cannot fail.
My doctors have given me a clean bill of health. In order to prepare for the strenuous tasks that lie ahead, I will now begin my two weeks of complete rest. Your love sustained me throughout my prison years. Your concern for my well-being now overwhelms me.
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Allow me to apologise for not being with you yesterday. However, it was fitting that our National Chairperson, Oliver Tambo, spoke in my place. He is the one who spearheaded international mobilisation for all those years, and to whom all South Africa is deeply indebted for making it possible for us to reach this stage in our struggle.
There are certain moments that capture the essence of life itself. Today is such a moment for me. For you are the friends from five continents who kept hope alive. You took the plight of our people, our hopes, our dreams and our struggle, to your hearts and made it your own. You have forged bonds of friendship that are unbreakable. You refused to let the world ignore the tragedy wreaked by apartheid.
And today you are here with us, many of you for the first time. While you are here you will see what I saw coming out of prison after 27 years:
- that our people are still the hewers of wood and the drawers of water;
- that our people know only hunger, disease, poverty and violence;
- that in the decades of apartheid rule, we were reduced to beggars in our own land.
You are here to help us transform all this, to help us move from anti-apartheid to democracy. We are on the eve of great changes, that place enormous responsibilities on all our shoulders.
These are complicated and difficult times, for which there are no pat answers. Before we have even attained our freedom we are experiencing an incipient counter-revolution. After so much sacrifice by so many, we have the obligation to prevent disintegration into a Yugoslavia.
And one of the ways to do this Is to hold free and fair elections, where every South African will vote, for the first time, for a government of their choice.
We know that you will march this last mile with us, will work with us to win a resounding victory in these elections. We know you will help us reconstruct South Africa in the vision of the Freedom Charter, as a country that belongs to ail its people, black and white.
We know you will go back to your countries and begin work on the enormous tasks that Tie ahead. Together we cannot fail.
My doctors have given me a clean bill of health. In order to prepare for the strenuous tasks that lie ahead, I will now begin my two weeks of complete rest. Your love sustained me throughout my prison years. Your concern for my well-being now overwhelms me.
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Acquisition method: Hardcopy ; Source: ANC Archives, Office of the ANC President, Nelson Mandela Papers, University of Fort Hare. Accessioned on 18/01/2010 by Zintle Bambata