17 September 2007
GREETINGS
BUONA SERA
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs - Bruna Sentineli;
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs - Sue van Der Merwe;
Italian Ambassador - Allesandro Cevese and his wife;
Ambassadors and High Commissioners present here;
The Governor of the Reserve Bank Tito Mboweni;
Leadership of the Italian Community;
Leadership of the Hellenic Italian Portuguese Alliance (HIP);
My mother, Aunt, son, niece, first cousins;
My partner and his brother, sister and my step children;
Friends;
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am humbled and honoured by this award given to me by the Italian Government. I would like to thank the Deputy Minister for her present and I am privileged to be decorated by her. May I request the Deputy Minister to express my gratitude to the President of Italy Mr. Georgio Napolitana. This award is usually given to people who have made a difference in the lives Italians after Second World War since the, that is it is called Ordine Stella Solidarieta Italiana (OSSI). Thank the Ambassador Mr. Cevese for hosting this function. Thank Dr Sandali for initiating this award and wish him well in his new deployment in Georgia as Italian Ambassador. Thank the Italian Community for accepting me and embracing me as one of your own.
Thank the ANC, National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) for bestowing the responsibility on me to co-ordinate sectors.
Through this work we were doing HIP Alliance was established. These communities had no relations with Government or ANC at all. Their understanding was based on the propaganda, fear of the unknown. Our first interaction with these communities was not easy and we had to change the negative perceptions they had about the ANC and Government. This above situation has changed for the better but we still have to do lot of work in this regard.
I have met most of the Italian delegation at Regional and National levels who came to SA for different reasons- including the Deputy Minister of Transport Andrea Anunziata. The regional delegation who came here to look at the Federalism as a system of government.
Municipality of Moderna - working with the ruling party looking at the cooperatives movement in the agricultural industry.
I have enjoyed interacting with them all in all aspects of life.
This has been made possible by Mr. Maurizio Mariano- who has become a brother, a friend and comrade. Maurizio is passionate about everything but most importantly that he is a South African of Italian origin.
I have been a judge for three successive years in the Miss Italia competition and I found that these girls are very patriotic about our beautiful country and given the opportunity they can be good ambassadors with positive messages without glossing over our challenges.
My visit to Italy in September 2006 was illuminating. We met with Deputy Minister Franco Danieli in Rome and we talked about HIP Alliance and challenges facing many nations in the 21st century, including crime, poverty and underdevelopment.
Preamble of our Constitution quote:
'"We, the people of South Africa, Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity" These words can be made possible by the individual and collective actions we take every single. Let us make this possible!
Appeal to adults} Allow children to grow without being told that SA is the worst in the world for this and that!
This Award has contributed to the laying of a solid foundation to build this diverse nation.
I call you all to join us in continuing the building process until we have realized the construction of a house which accommodates all of us, across race, gender, class and creed. This award places us on the right course towards the achievement of a better life for all in a united, no sexist non-racial and prosperous South Africa.
I thank all for your continued support and love from my family and my partner Johnny Sexwale.
DAL PROFONDO DEL MIO CUORE VI RINGRAZIO TUTTI.
BUON PROSEGUIMENTO GRAZIE!!!!!!