REUEL J KHOZA
CHAIRMAN &
20 May 1999
People of 2023, | salute you! You are the recipients of our hopes and
dreams for the future of our beloved country, South Africa. As we write
this message before the turn of the century, we look forward with
anticipation to the Africa of the future.
Our beloved continent, our home land, Africa, is the most ancient of
continents, the cradle of mankind. During its long history it has seen
periods of hardship, travail and suffering. It has seen wars, famine,
pestilence and tragedy. On its fertile earth have trodden feet shod for
war, men bent on forcing others into slavery. Man’s inhumanity to man
has certainly found ample expression in the land of your forefathers!
But the spirit of Africa is not cowed. The strength and resilience of the
African is thrusting itself to the fore, shaking off the injustices of the past.
We are gearing ourselves up for a new millennium, for the century of
Africa. In our mind’s eye we see ourselves standing on the threshold of
an age of progress, of success and achievement, when Africa takes its
rightful place in the panoply of nations.
We see before us an age of advancement in many fields of human
endeavour — the arts, the sciences, business, economics, the humanities.
We believe that the 21st century — your century — must reflect the
blossoming of the African Renaissance, the African dream, the unfolding
of the continent's vision.
ESKOM ELECTRICITY COUNCIL
Megawatt Parks PO Box 1091 Johannesburg 2000+ Telephone 800-2030 Fax 00-2636This should be a time when all the exemplary qualities embodied in our
philosophy of Ubuntu reach their fulfillment. Qualities such as honesty,
caring, compassion, integrity, hard work, respect for human dignity and
the worth of the human personality, hospitality and generosity.
The challenges facing us must surely have been met and overcome by
the time you read this - challenges such as crime, poverty,
unemployment, illiteracy and disease. It is our fond hope that the time
needed to eradicate the fundamental causes of these painful conditions
has worked its healing, and you have put them behind you. May it be so!
Our industry, the electricity supply industry, has a long tradition of service
to society. Our product has advanced standards of living, education,
health care and recreation. We have enabled commerce and industry to
Progress and enhance efficiencies. | trust that you have taken up this
noble calling and carried on the glorious task of illuminating and
energising this continent. And that you are proud to be Africans.
Kind regards
Bigs
RIKMLFLUCas