Speeches, 2009

I am deeply honoured to be at this historic occasion of the launch of South Africa's Millenium Events. In a few months we will join the world in celebrating the arrival of the year 2000. Much effort and hard work has gone into the preparations for the exciting events that lie ahead.

The excellent co-operation between the various sectors, government, civil society and business in bringing all of this together demonstrates what we can achieve if we are committed to a common vision. More importantly, ladies and gentlemen we are creating a window of opportunity in which South Africa's celebrations will be beamed to millions all over the world.

The millenium events will provide ordinary South Africans an opportunity to join our fellow Africans and other citizens of our global community to share in a rare and ecstatic experience of anticipation and anxiety, of nostalgia and hope, of a vision and longing for a better world.

There are as many definitions of what the millenium is as there are opinions of when it is and what it will signify for our human destiny. What defines us is that there is in every moment an opportunity, an opportunity that shapes our world. A footprint on the shores of time that tells our progeny that our has come and gone. The Millenium provides us a single moment in a thousand years to pause and reflect on the world that we have shaped; a time, a place, a legacy by which we will forever be remembered.

We now stand at such a moment in the life of our country, a moment in which we have choices to make. Choices as individuals, choices as a country and a choice as the continent of Africa. What does the Millenium signify for us? What destiny will we shape from it?

Few have contributed so significantly to defining what this moment means in the life of our country, in the life of Africa; The moment of renewal of our hopes and vision, the moment of our rennaisance; Few have painted as lucid a vision on our African canvas as the Honourable President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki. In the words of a poet:

There is a moment in every millenium,
A millenium of visions in every moment
For every grain of sand in the hour-glass there is a time,
A time that signals its destiny has come;
Behold the glowing grain of sand from Africa
Reflecting our radiant sun, the warmth of our land, the reflection of our sky
Behold our time has come,
Behold the African Millenium

Ladies and gentlemen, the President.