Words of welcome by the honourable BM Skosana MP

Centurion: 31 May 2007 

The President of the IFP, Honourable Members of Parliament, Honourable Members of Provincial Legislatures, Councillors, Participants, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen -

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to this IFP Forum which, as you all know, is not a political meeting, but a sincere initiative to deal with a very serious matter, namely, the huge loss of valuable and much needed skills. Welcome not only our impressive panel of presenters, but also our evenly impressive number of VIP guests, who are from all walks of life.

I also wish to thank our friends from Solidarity with whom the IFP enjoys an excellent relationship since we signed an Accord on Affirmative Action in March 2004. They have assisted us in facilitating this Forum and we are grateful to them. In particular we wish to congratulate Mr Dirk Herman, Deputy Executive Head of Solidarity, who was awarded a doctorate last Friday on his thesis of Affirmative Action. May I then be the first, Mr Herman, to address you publicly as DOCTOR HERMAN!

I trust that you will all enjoy the discussions and that when we leave after lunch, we will all have a deeper understanding of the subject matter. That will obviously enable us to consider what steps are to be taken to protect South Africa’s highly needed skills.

RAPPORT recently alerted the public that according to the South African Institute of Race Relations a million whites have emigrated. This obviously came as a shock to all South Africans, but particularly to the President of the IFP. As the former Minister of Home Affairs, he understands better than most others the dire consequences of skill losses through emigration.

Prince Mangosuthu directed that a Forum be held to address this matter in depth and that three particular issues be covered. ¬Firstly, to identify the reasons why South Africa suffers this very unfortunate brain drain. Secondly, what steps could be taken to bring those back who have already emigrated. Thirdly, what steps should be taken to halt the brain drain. For that initiative we thank you, Prince Mangosuthu.

Ladies and gentlemen, you all have the Programme and other documents in your Forum Bag that tells you who the panel of presenters are. I dare say we are fortunate to have been able to put together such an impressive panel of specialists.

I therefore suggest the sooner we start with this exciting discussion, the better. Dr Van Zyl Slabbert will be leading the discussions and he will arrive shortly.

I now call on Mr Koos van der Merwe MP, Chief Whip of the IFP, to introduce Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to deliver the opening address. Mr Van der Merwe.