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Thabo Mbeki Quotes

South African Politician

Thabo Mbeki is a prominent South African politician who served as the President of South Africa from 1999 to 2008. He dedicated his political career to promoting democracy and economic development in South Africa and actively participated in African continental political affairs.

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All People South South Africa Needs Matter Economy Government Ifs Country Should Capacity Particular Continents Problem Process Has Beens Instance Issues Said Black

Famous Thabo Mbeki Quotes

“The issue of racism and racial prejudice. It is very, very difficult to discuss. It is difficult to discuss the issue of apartheid. Many have made the observation that it is very difficult to find anyone in SA who ever supported apartheid because everyone was opposed, it was against our will and so on.”

People Made Difficult Issues Racism Prejudice South Observation South Africa Apartheid Racial Prejudice

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“We have a series of regular meetings with South African business. Big business. Black business. Agriculture. As well, of course, with the trade unions. A whole series of meetings like that which engage issues that these South African social partners need to address.”

Needs Wells Whole Bigs Courses Social Black Issues Trade Unions Meetings Series South Partners Addresses South Africa Agriculture Big Business Trade Unions

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“One of the issues that I have raised in that context is our transport system, road, rail and ports. We have raised this before, that the South African economy has grown at a rate that has overtaken the capacity of the transport system. And therefore, we have said that it is necessary to expand our capacity in the ports.”

Said Economy Issues Capacity South Raised Rate South Africa Transport Port Rail

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“If you don't understand history, you will not be able to deal with today's issues.”

Ifs Today Able Deals Issues

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“The Communal Land Rights Bill then said, since there would be those collectives set up in terms of the other legislation, there was no need for them to set up other structures to deal with the land issues.”

Needs Said Would Be Term Deals Issues Rights Land Bills Structure Collectives Legislation

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“Part of the issue around communal land, which became a matter of controversy, is that we are saying that this land must go back to communities. Not chiefs and traditional leaders.”

Matter Community Leader Issues Land Traditional Chiefs Controversy

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“This is community land that belongs to particular clans, and therefore, it must go back and its administration and the determination as to what to do, must rest in the hand of the communities. That is why you have these committees, among whose members, of course, they will be traditional leaders. You will have these collectives, which must then deal with the land, the issue of communal rights.”

Hands Courses Community Deals Leader Issues Rights Land Particular Members Determination Traditional Administration Collectives Committees Clans

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“If you look at government policy generally, what government tries to do in all instances is to make sure that we take care of all elements that might relate to a particular issue.”

Ifs Trying Looks Government Might Care Issues Policy Particular Elements Take Care Instance Relate Government Policy

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“It will be a comprehensive response. The ID issue is one of them. It will make sure that Home Affairs has the capacity to reach people and to make sure that the people themselves know that they have got to get these documents and where to go to get them.”

People Knows Home Issues Capacity Response Affair Documents Comprehensive

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“We have been at the matter of police pay for some time. Indeed, the Minister of Safety and Security and the National Commissioner of Police have raised this matter. Treasury has been looking at it and the Public Service and Administration Minister has been looking at it. It is a matter with which we are engaged, the salaries issue, as well as the resource question with regard to vehicles and, and all other matters, including the skills issues.”

“We have been engaging the Government of Swaziland for some time on this issue of the democratization of Swaziland. In particular, I had asked the Deputy President to engage the Government on this and, indeed, he has. We will continue to do this, because we do think that, as has been communicated to the Government of Swaziland, that Swaziland must go through this democratization process, a constitution-making process in which they have been engaged for some time, and really seek a national consensus about it.”

Thinking Has Beens Government Process President Issues Particular Constitution Engaged Engaging Consensus Deputies Democratization

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“We differ with the Israeli Government about a number of things, and they know that. In the past, I have discussed with Prime Minister [Ariel] Sharon these issues. The fact that we differ about something or the other shouldn't be a matter of strain.”

Knows Matter Facts Government Past Numbers Issues Ministers Prime Prime Minister Strain Israeli Ariel Sharon

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“We would take the same position as the majority of the world about this, including this issue where Prime Minister [Ariel] Sharon made a commitment to pull Israeli troops out of Gaza.”

World Made Issues Position Commitment Majority Including Ministers Prime Troops Prime Minister Israeli Gaza Ariel Sharon

Author:Thabo Mbeki

About the Author

Born: June 18, 1942
Known for: South African Politician
Quotes: 169

Books & Sources

Africa Define YourselfRelated source material

Africa: the time has come : selected speechesRelated source material

Speech of Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki, at the ANC National Constitutional Conference, March 31 to April 2, 1995, World Trade CentreRelated source material

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