Statement by the City’s Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille
Mayor De Lille joins Prof. Van der Ross for book launch
Note to editors: the following is an extract from a speech that was delivered
by Mayor De Lille at the launch of Professor Richard van der Ross’s latest book
titled ‘In Our Own Skins – A Political History of the Coloured People’.
Good morning, goeie môre, molweni, as-salaam alaikum, shalom.
The father of our democracy, Nelson Mandela, once uttered the words that
come to my mind when thinking of Professor Richard van der Ross.
He said, and I quote:
‘For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that
respects and enhances the freedom of others’.
Today we are all honoured to gather in celebration of the latest
achievement by Professor Van der Ross – a man who dedicated most of his
life to the rights and freedom of his community.
Professor Van der Ross became a Freeman of the City of Cape Town on 8
September 1988.
This honour is awarded to individuals, organisations or military units that
distinguish themselves through their heroic service.
It is the highest honour the Council can bestow.
Professor Van der Ross’s outstanding service to the community in the field of
education made him a worthy recipient of this honour.
As a son of the soil, he spent his early years on the Cape Flats, experiencing
first-hand the pain and injustice caused by the Group Areas Act.
He was a victim of forced removals twice during his lifetime.
This ignited his deep-rooted passion for justice and led to decades of antiapartheid activism focused on education as the key to true empowerment
and freedom.
As a teacher and a principal, during his involvement in teachers’ unions, and
later as editor of the Cape Herald, he maintained the view that education
afforded us the greatest opportunity for change.
In 1975 he became the rector of the University of the Western Cape, and it
was his ideal that the tertiary institution should not become an ivory tower,
but that it should represent the aspirations of the community at large.
Through his life, he has taught us that education and freedom are
inextricably linked.
We are set free through education.
Free from the misconceptions we held about each other, but also about
ourselves.
Free from the snares of our past.
Free to reimagine the future we want to create.
In his latest book ‘In Our Own Skins’, Professor Van der Ross writes that
‘although this study concentrates on the history of the Coloured people, it
should not be forgotten that they are part of the total population of South
Africa, and that their destinies are intertwined with those of other population
groups’.
We realise daily that the key to building a truly inclusive city lies in each
resident feeling a sense of belonging.
That sense must be derived from the assurance that their heritage and
culture are not only tolerated, but celebrated.
It must be derived from each resident’s belief that our success as a city is
dependent upon their unique contribution.
Each and every one of us has a stake in the future and that future is
attainable if we work collectively towards it.
Today we thank Professor Van der Ross for his valued contribution towards
the complex and multifaceted tapestry which details our nation’s history.
I am confident that we all share in his determination not to forget the past,
but to build on it with the conviction that we will never make the same
mistakes again.
On behalf of the City of Cape Town, I would like to thank Professor Van der
Ross for sharing his teachings with us.
Your legacy continues to inspire us as we strive towards our shared future,
together.
I thank you.
God bless.