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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

“Read a textbook. It will tell you. These are the things for instance on the African continent that will contribute to immune deficiency, various tropical diseases because of poor infrastructure, general levels of poverty don’t get treated. Syphilis untreated or not properly treated, which as it happens is a big problem as I hear, gets treated, the symptoms disappear but in fact… it … that impacts on the immune system. You’ve got to deal with these things.”

“The problem is not a lack of understanding of what we are saying and doing; the problem is difference of opinion about what to do.”

Problem Understanding Differences Opinion Lack Of Understanding Differences Of Opinion Saying And Doing

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“The matter of people being attracted to other countries is a permanent problem in my view, it doesn't only face South Africa. A whole lot of countries in the world are faced with this problem.”

People World Country Matter Whole Problem Faces Views South Permanent South Africa Other Countries

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“It's a big problem in South Africa up to this day: many people want to open factories, they want to invest, but then they discover that they don't have the skilled people to employ.”

People Want Problem Bigs South This Day Factories South Africa Big Problems

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“South Africa has faced many problems in the past. You would understand those problems if you understood the history of the struggle to get rid of Apartheid and the struggle to establish democracy.”

Ifs Problem Past Struggle Democracy Understood South South Africa Apartheid

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“There are lots of problems in Transnet, which we are trying to sort out, but we are quite confident we will. We can't avoid the increase in the capacity of Spoornet. So, whatever problems there are in Spoornet, they must be solved. The same goes for the harbours. And the same goes for the airlines.”

Trying Problem Capacity Increase Airline Harbour

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“You can see that there is an increase in the volume of freight that moves by air. And so, we have got to solve the problem by making sure that that is done properly.”

Done Problem Moving Air Increase Solve Volume

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“The problems that are arising at Johannesburg International Airport are because of the growth of volume, not because of inefficiencies at the Airport. But, the growth in movement of goods by air means that cargo capacity needs to be improved. And I am quite certain that we will do it.”

Needs Mean Problem Certain Growth Air Movement Capacity International Goods Volume Airports Inefficiency Cargo Johannesburg

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“The matters I am talking about regarding the ports. That matter has been discussed with the unions, and agreed, and therefore there is no particular reason why there should be a problem about it. We will continue to move like that. We need the engagement of the unions in these processes.”

Needs Should Has Beens Matter Reason Problem Moving Process Talking Particular Unions Reason Why Engagement Port

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“What we are saying is that we need to consolidate the capacity to lend support. Because, one of the problems that's mentioned with regard to the Black Empowerment process in the case of small and medium business, is shortage of credit or difficulties of accessing credit.”

Needs Problem Process Black Cases Support Capacity Empowerment Difficulty Regard Credit Mediums Shortage

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“I think that part of the problem that arose with that legislation, is that there probably wasn't sufficient information - probably there was misinformation. I am not sure that they have looked at the legislation.”

Thinking Problem Information Not Sure Sufficient Legislation Misinformation

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“The problem is not unique; the challenge is not unique to South Africa. Other African countries have faced it. But in our case, we have got to solve the problem. You have got an institutional traditional leadership, which functions in a particular way, in for instance, your communal areas.”

Way Country Problem Challenges Cases Particular Unique Areas Function South Solve Traditional Instance South Africa

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“We are quite convinced, and we say this to the Palestinians, that violence is not going to solve the problem of Israel and the Middle East. We say that to the Israelis. We say it to the Palestinians.”

Problem Violence Middle Israel Solve East Convinced Middle East Palestinian

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“There is a land problem in Zimbabwe, there is a need land for redistribution but it must be handled different, without violence, without conflict, within the context of the law, bearing in mind the interests of all Zimbabweans both black and white. It's necessary that the Zimbabwean government to respond positively to those sorts of messages.”

Needs Mind Different Problem Government Law Black Interest White Violence Land Conflict Messages Black And White Positively Zimbabwe

Author:Thabo Mbeki

“I have absolutely no problem with the press criticising policies and the things that we do, the things that we say.”

Problem Policy Presses No Problem

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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