Address by executive mayor councillor Zintle Peter at the unveiling of the statue of multicultural man at heroes' park on Friday 15 December 2006 at 14h00

• Honourable Premier of the Province of the Eastern Cape Mrs. Nosimo Balindlela
• Honourable Italian Ambassador to South Africa Mr Alessandro Cevese
• The Consul-General and other members of the Italian diplomatic corps in South Africa
• Honourable MEC for Economic Affairs Mr Mbulelo Sogoni
• Honourable Mayor of Nereto Mr Sergio Moroni
• Maestro Francesco Perilli and Mrs Gabriella Perilli
• Our guests from Italy and members of the Italian community in South Africa
• Members of the Board of Heroes' Park
• Honoured guests
• Ladies and gentlemen

It is my privilege to welcome you all this afternoon on behalf of the municipal Council and the community of Buffalo City.

Today we are witnessing another significant chapter in the important relationship between Italy and South Africa, and between the town of Nereto and Buffalo City, a relationship that is growing stronger with every day that passes.

To us it is a moment of historic significance, a month after I was in Italy to receive the Freedom of Nereto on behalf of Dr Nelson Mandela, that the Mayor of Nereto, Mayor Sergio Moroni, is here in Buffalo City today to present this statue to the people of Africa as a symbol of the multiculturalism that typifies the nations of the African continent.

Allow me, Mr Ambassador, to express the gratitude of the local community to the people of Italy on the excellent choice for the location of this statue. It is indeed a great honour for the Council and the people of Buffalo City to be considered worthy of being custodians of this symbol, on behalf of the whole African continent.

Buffalo City is itself a multi-cultural society. And today I am proud to report to you, Mr Ambassador, that the Italian community forms an integral part in Buffalo City of what one of South Africa's greatest sons, Nobel prize-winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has called a rainbow nation.

Many Italians have been here for decades and even generations. They are part of the social fabric of this city. Many of them, though they may be expatriates of Italy, have taken South African citizenship and have voted earlier in 2006 to create the Council that governs this city.

Being a Rainbow Nation does not mean, of course, that we have discovered the recipe for a multicultural Utopia that even some European countries are struggling with today. We have seen that intolerance of ethnic, cultural or religious differences can threaten even the rich and stable democracies of the First World.

But we know that we are on the right road to reach our goal of a country – and a city – that is inclusive, people-centred, safe, healthy and is able to provide for the basic needs of all of its citizens. This is our vision, but it is not a present reality. The development of this monument as a tribute to our heroes of all races is an important step on this road.

And so today, as we stand ready to unveil this beacon of multiculturalism, Buffalo City is saying to the local Italian community, and Italians throughout Southern Africa: while you choose to put down roots here, and work with us to build a new South Africa, no-one should dispute that this is your home.

As we prepare to acknowledge this material symbol of universal mankind on the beautiful shores of Buffalo City, as the Executive Mayor of Buffalo City I would like to extend a warm invitation to the broader Italian community throughout Southern Africa to claim a share in our annual calendar of ceremonial events. Gather in Buffalo City once a year to celebrate any of your patronal festivals. We would love to see more of your families, relatives and friends.

I also want to invite our guests from Italy to feel free to look around Buffalo City and see what the city can offer them by way of social, business and industrial investment and establishment.

Talk to your local countrymen, municipal officials, the Buffalo City Development Agency and our Industrial Development Zone to establish the kind of opportunities that are readily available for you to come and partner with us in our ongoing programme of economic and infrastructural development.

The town of Nereto has visibly demonstrated its friendly disposition towards Africa. And we as the Municipality aim to affirm this friendship by establishing formal links of co-operation between the people of Buffalo City and the people of Nereto.

In conclusion I would like to promise you, Madame Premier, Mr Ambassador, the people of Italy and the nations that populate Africa: we, the government and community of Buffalo City, will honour and protect this statue and what it stands for.

It is doubly appropriate, as we welcome to Africa this symbol of a united humanity, to remind ourselves that genetic studies have now shown us that our continent is in fact the cradle of modern humanity. All modern humans descend from a common ancestor who lived in Africa, and are united by an African gene.

As our President Thabo Mbeki commented when researchers confirmed this fact: “Today it feels good to be an African".

We will therefore teach our children to respect its significance, to uphold the values that are symbolized by it, and to appreciate the lessons to be learnt from mutual respect for other people's cultures.

I wish everybody gathered here today a safe and peaceful Christmas season and a prosperous New Year.

I thank you.

N.C. Peter EXECUTIVE MAYOR

Email this article to a friend