SPEECH BY LN SISULU MINISTER OF HOUSING AT THE OPENING OF THE IBSA WORKSHOP ON MOBILISING RESOURCES FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES 

Read by Mr. Amos Masondo Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg

Master of Ceremonies, 

Centuries ago, the famous economist Adam Smith wrote in one his acclaimed books, The Theory of the Moral Sentiments, the following: 

“How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it. Of this kind is pity or compassion, the emotion which we feel for the misery of others, when we either see it, or are made to conceive it in a very lively manner. That we often derive sorrow from the sorrow of others, is a matter of fact too obvious to require any instances to prove it; for this sentiment, like all the other original passions of human nature, is by no means confined to the virtuous and humane, though they perhaps may feel it with the most exquisite sensibility. The greatest ruffian, the most hardened violator of the laws of society, is not altogether without it.” 

We have occasion today to recall some of Smith’s famous words having gathered and been mobilised in pursuit of the inspiration that we ourselves had collectively given to substantially improve by 2020 the lives of our countries slum dwellers. Being inspired too by our collective determination to represent the interests of our people in the category of the countries we represent we register herewith through this workshop the intent to pursue the collective vision of seeking international partnership and the co-operation of the international community in helping us better the lives of all our people.  

Having been concerned himself at the time with matters of the creation of wealth and having recognised that each one of us had a contribution to make Smith had during his time recognised the need to imbue the citizens of any country with an ability to appear ‘in public without shame’. Regardless, however, of the impact that his theory on wealth creation has had to many and which to date defines in effect the nature of our economies 72 percent of urban populations who are slum dwellers in Africa and 78.2 percent in developing countries in general are without that same ability. Though the blame may not necessarily reside with him it certainly however can be attributable to the manner in which we have tended to eskew the kind of co-operation that will bring peace and prosperity in favour of what clearly are trajectories that have not brought sustainability, and worse, stability anywhere in the world.  

Indeed, Chairperson, the recognition that is being given within the assemblies of our multilateral institutions about the threat of weak and failed states carries images of squalid conditions that find adequate representation in the slums of developing countries. It is in these places that difficulties associated with the absence of health care infrastructure and social services connected with water and sanitation – conditions in other words that shame – that we can in fact recognize the failing link in our current civilization. 

In South Africa despite the delivery of 1,7 million houses since 1994 to better the lives of our people we still remain with the challenge of approximately 2,4 million households that reside in slums. We now have a new strategy and model of delivery which puts emphasis on fast-tracking delivery to enable us to eradicate existing slums by 2014. But even with the strategy we recognise that much of our efforts will fail without assistance from the international community.  

This we have come to understand in our assessment of the progress we have made since 1994. And it is for this reason that the workshop is important to us. And I want to thank the Earth Institute of Colombia University for having organised it.  

          I thank you, Chairperson.