Speech by his excellency Deputy High Commissioner Cyril Ndaba at the Homecoming Revolution London Event on Saturday 20 MARCH, 11.55AM  

Professor Nick Binedell

Professor Cheryl de la Ray

Ms Martine Schaeffer

Distinguished guests and delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, our Government and the people of South Africa, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to today’s Homecoming Revolution Event.

His Excellency High Commissioner Dr Zola Skweyiya has asked me to convey his apologies for not being able to attend today’s programme.  He is currently in South Africa on official business and sends his very best wishes to us all for a successful event.

The phenomenon of skilled South Africans migrating to other countries, as well as the phenomenon of them returning home to South Africa, is certainly a very topical and emotive issue.  

Skills retention is vital to South Africa’s growing economy and also long-term prosperity, and that is why we fully support the Homecoming Revolution, an organisation that actively lobbies South Africans who are resident in the UK on the many benefits of returning home – where one’s skills and one’s contribution are not only sorely needed, but deeply appreciated.  

I would therefore like to thank Homecoming Revolution for the great work they doing to help make South Africans in the UK aware of the many possibilities and bright future that awaits them in our beautiful country.  Yes, we still have many challenges to overcome but look at what has already been accomplished.

As a proud South African, and, as anyone who has visited South Africa recently will attest, great things have been achieved for such a young democracy. Since that first moment of freedom in April 1994, the South African Government has strived to address the shocking imbalances of the past.  Now we are looking forward to another economic growth spurt with the 2010 FIFA World Cup only months away!  

After sixteen years the culture of democracy is firmly rooted and flourishing in the South African soil, among our people, among our institutions and throughout our nation.  

Of course there are problems, we have been battling crime and an energy crises due to the rapid growth of the grid, but these are things that we are striving to, and will overcome!  I can assure you these are priority issues for the South African government.

Many of you here today are in the UK to work or study. But the fact that you are here with us today means that you are not only still linked with South Africa – in that you have friends and family and take holidays there – but that you still deeply connect with South Africa, in the active sense. 

As you know, the South African Government has launched a concerted drive to attract skills back to the country and help accelerate the growth necessary for real economic development – not just an economy with positive indicators, but one that is job-creating and skill-sustaining. 

Initiatives such as the Homecoming Revolution are doing a great job in putting you in touch with each other, and with opportunities back home. But in the end it is up to you!  Only you can make the decision, but be assured that your country needs you!

I am certain that there is much we can learn from today’s  talks regarding the current trends relating to the quality of life in South Africa.   It therefore just remains for me to wish you an enlightening programme – I hope that today you will find the information and encouragement you are seeking to help you make your future plans. 

I thank you.