Programme Directors,
Honourable President of the Republic of South Africa,
Former President Thabo Mbeki,
Former President Kgalema Motlanthe,
Premier Panyaza Lesufi,
Mma Sophy De Bruyn,
Audrey Coleman,
Cde Smangaliso Mkatshwa - Remaining Patron of the UDF,
Cde Solly Mapaila - General Secretary,
Cde Zingiswa Losi - President of COSATU
Members of the UDF 40 National Steering Committee,
Veterans of the UDF and our Liberation Struggle,
Traditional Leaders,
Religious Leaders,
Leaders of various organisations, comrades and friends.

On this day, Forty Years ago, the freedom-loving South Africans, black and white, rural and urban, young and old, working class and business, art workers and professionals from all sectors, determined that they shall not continue to carry the yoke of oppression and exploitation, came from all corners of our country and converged at the Rocklands Civic Centre Mitchells Plain. United by a common purpose to defeat the so-called constitutional reforms of the Apartheid Government that sought to consign Africans to the backyards of apartheid called Homelands and turn Coloured and Indian compatriots into junior partners in the Tri-Cameral Parliament controlled by whites. They were guided by the vision of a United, Non-Racial, Non-Sexist, Democratic South Africa in which all will be equal before the law.

Full Speech Attached