Speeches and Public Statements

Speech by President Nelson Mandela at the football banquet Pretoria, 1 March 1996

Master of Ceremonies; Guests of Honour; Ladies and gentlemen. South Africa had dared to expect much of the African ...

Speech by President Nelson Mandela on Women’s Day, Pretoria, 9 August 1996

Speech by President Nelson Mandela on Women’s Day, Pretoria, 9 August 1996

Chairperson; Ministers; Guests; Friends and compatriots. When the women of South Africa converged on these Union ...

Speech by Nelson Mandela at the Banquet help in honour of President Bakili Muluzi of Malawi Cape Town, 2 June 1998

President Muluzi;Excellencies;Ladies and Gentlemen. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you and your delegation to So...

Appeal For Funds For New Age, January 1956

As the Union Parliament prepares to assemble for its new session, the people of South Africa face the grim prospect of m...

”Presidential Address” by Dr. A. B. Xuma

”Presidential Address” by Dr. A. B. Xuma

Document 25a. "Presidential Address" by Dr. A.B. Xuma Fellow Countrymen, If you may ever need comfort, courage and in...

Statement Issued by Joint Meeting of African and Indian Leaders for Closer Co-operation, February 6, 1949

This historic joint meeting of the representatives of the national organisations of the African and Indian people, repre...

Statement by the National Executive Committee of the ANC - 20 September 2008

Over the past two days, the National Executive Committee of the ANC has deliberated on the Pietermaritzburg Court judgem...

Mandela, From a Freedom Fighter to an Icon of Reconciliation

Mandela, From a Freedom Fighter to an Icon of Reconciliation

When Nelson Mandela walked out of the Victor Verster  prison on 11 February 1960, after 10,053 days of incarceratio...

2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup is a tribute to Africa - ANC, 21 May 2010

With just 20 days left before South Africa hosts the worlds most prestigious tournament the FIFA Soccer World Cup t...

2017 - President Zuma, State of the Nation Address, 9 February 2017

2017 - President Zuma, State of the Nation Address, 9 February 2017

The Speaker of the National Assembly, The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces; Deputy Speaker of the Na...

"Racism, Apartheid and a New World Order": Speech in Acceptance of the Third World Prize on Behalf of Nelson and Winnie Mandela by O. R. Tambo, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, 5 May 1986

"Racism, Apartheid and a New World Order": Speech in Acceptance of the Third World Prize on Behalf of Nelson and Winnie Mandela by O. R. Tambo, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, 5 May 1986

    The most senior leaders of the oppressed people of South Africa have been in prison for almost a quarter o...

African Women`s Resistance to the Pass Laws in South Africa 1950-1960, by Elizabeth S. Schmidt

African Women`s Resistance to the Pass Laws in South Africa 1950-1960, by Elizabeth S. Schmidt

Introduction The decade of the 1950s was a decade of turmoil in South Africa. In the urban areas, a strong alliance wa...

Keynote Address at National General Council Meeting, by President Thabo Mbeki, 12 July 2000, Port Elizabeth

Keynote Address at National General Council Meeting, by President Thabo Mbeki, 12 July 2000, Port Elizabeth

Comrade Chairperson, Members of the NEC, Comrades delegates, Distinguished veterans, Your Excellencies, Membe...

United Nations Security Council Address on Arusha Peace Process, by Nelson Mandela, 29 September 2000, New York USA

United Nations Security Council Address on Arusha Peace Process, by Nelson Mandela, 29 September 2000, New York USA

Mr President, Honourable Members of the Security Council We are honoured by the opportunity of returning to the Securit...

The end of an era - A tribute to Cde Govan Mbeki, by Jacob Zuma, 8 September 2001, Port Elizabeth

The end of an era - A tribute to Cde Govan Mbeki, by Jacob Zuma, 8 September 2001, Port Elizabeth

During the past week, the entire country has been united in mourning the fall of a giant of our struggle. Messages of co...

Statement Celebrating Ten Years of Democracy, ANC Chief Whip Nkosinathi Nhleko, 10 May 2004, Parliament Cape Town South Africa

Statement Celebrating Ten Years of Democracy, ANC Chief Whip Nkosinathi Nhleko, 10 May 2004, Parliament Cape Town South Africa

Parliament is today taking part in celebrating the first decade of freedom and democracy in our country. And as we so, ...

Statement announcing retirement, Nelson Mandela, 1 June 2004

Statement announcing retirement, Nelson Mandela, 1 June 2004

Ladies and gentlemen Friends and colleagues and especially my good friends from the media. Thank you very much to all ...

ANC Statement on the death of Ray Alexander Simons, African National Congress, 12 September 2004

ANC Statement on the death of Ray Alexander Simons, African National Congress, 12 September 2004

It is with deep sadness and regret that the African National Congress has learnt of the death today (12 September 2004) ...

Opening Address of Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Commemoration Project, by Nelson Mandela, 21 September 2004, Johannesburg

Opening Address of Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Commemoration Project, by Nelson Mandela, 21 September 2004, Johannesburg

Ladies and Gentlemen Comrades and Friends Thank you for attending this function at the invitation of an old man. Wha...

Address at Commemoration of the lives of Yusuf Cachalia and Bram Fischer, by Nelson Mandela, 5 June 2005,

Address at Commemoration of the lives of Yusuf Cachalia and Bram Fischer, by Nelson Mandela, 5 June 2005,

Friends Comrades I have so often announced my retirement from public life that nobody believes me anymore - not even ...

Acceptance of Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award, by Nelson Mandela, 1 November 2006

Acceptance of Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award, by Nelson Mandela, 1 November 2006

I am pleased to be here today, to enjoy the warm company of friends like Nadine Gordimer, and to know that Seamus Heaney...

Address at 6th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture, by Nelson Mandela, 12 July 2008, Kliptown Soweto

Address at 6th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture, by Nelson Mandela, 12 July 2008, Kliptown Soweto

President Johnson-Sirleaf, distinguished guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen, We have for years remarked about people...

Address at 46664 Concert, by Nelson Mandela, 27 June 2008, London United Kingdom

Address at 46664 Concert, by Nelson Mandela, 27 June 2008, London United Kingdom

Friends, 20 years ago London hosted a historic concert which called for our freedom. Your voices carried across the wate...

Statement on Mbeki's recall, by Jacob Zuma on behalf of ANC NEC, 22 September

Statement on Mbeki's recall, by Jacob Zuma on behalf of ANC NEC, 22 September

The National Executive Committee of the ANC met over the weekend of the 19th to 21st September 2008, to deliberate on va...

Tribute to Anti-apartheid campaigner, Helen Suzman, by African National Congress, 1 January 2009

Tribute to Anti-apartheid campaigner, Helen Suzman, by African National Congress, 1 January 2009

The African National Congress (ANC) pays tribute to the late anti-apartheid campaigner Helen Suzman who has died at the ...

Eulogy at funeral of Dr Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang, by Jacob Zuma, 22 December 2009, The Cathedral of Sacred Heart, Pretoria

Eulogy at funeral of Dr Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang, by Jacob Zuma, 22 December 2009, The Cathedral of Sacred Heart, Pretoria

Comrade Mendi Msimang and the family and relatives, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Ministers, Premiers, Deputy ...

Opening Address at the Omar Badsha Photographic exhibition by Jakes Gerwel, September 2001

Opening Address at the Omar Badsha Photographic exhibition by Jakes Gerwel, September 2001

We are a few days away from the celebration of one of our national holidays, Heritage Day. The opening of this exhibitio...

Address on the Occasion of the 107th Anniversary of the ANC by Cyril Ramaphosa, Ohlange Institute, Ethkwini, 8 January 2019

Address on the Occasion of the 107th Anniversary of the ANC by Cyril Ramaphosa, Ohlange Institute, Ethkwini, 8 January 2019

Comrades and Friends, Fellow South Africans, We are gathered here today at this historic site to celebrate the 107th a...

Statement by President Mandela on receiving the report of the TRC Pretoria, 29 October 1998

Statement by President Mandela on receiving the report of the TRC Pretoria, 29 October 1998

Chairperson of the TRC, The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu Presiding Officers of our Houses of Parliament Ministers and ...

Address by Nelson Mandela on behalf of the ANC delegation to the Conference of the Pan-African Freedom Movement of East and Central Africa Addis Ababa, January 1962

Address by Nelson Mandela on behalf of the ANC delegation to the Conference of the Pan-African Freedom Movement of East and Central Africa Addis Ababa, January 1962

The delegation of the African National Congress, and I particularly, feel specially honoured by the invitation addressed...

Address to United Nations Security Council, by Nelson Mandela, 15 July 1992, New York United States

Address to United Nations Security Council, by Nelson Mandela, 15 July 1992, New York United States

Mr President, Distinguished Members of the Security Council, Your Excellency, Dr Boutrous Boutrous Ghali, Secretar...

Sixth Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture Address, by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 12 July 2008, Kliptown Soweto

Sixth Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture Address, by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 12 July 2008, Kliptown Soweto

Address at 90th brthday celebration, by Nelson Mandela, 25 June 2008, London United Kingdom

Address at 90th brthday celebration, by Nelson Mandela, 25 June 2008, London United Kingdom

Friends, thank you for joining us here this evening, and your support for our causes. It is a great privilege having be...

5th Steve Biko Memorial Lecture, by Nelson Mandela, 10 September 2004, University of Cape Town

5th Steve Biko Memorial Lecture, by Nelson Mandela, 10 September 2004, University of Cape Town

2010 - President Zuma, State of the Nation Address, 11 February 2010

2010 - President Zuma, State of the Nation Address, 11 February 2010

8 February 2018

State of the Nation Address By His Excellency JG Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, at the 11 Feb 2010 H...