Celebrating 10 Years of Majority Rule in Republic of South Africa
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF MAJORITY RULE IN REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA -- (House of Representatives - July 21, 2004)
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 436) celebrating 10 years of majority rule in the Republic of South Africa and recognizing the momentous social and economic achievements of South Africa since the institution of democracy in that country, as amended.
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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, like thousands of others across the world, I was involved actively in the efforts to free South Africa. I attended many rallies, participated in demonstrations, walked picket lines, raised money and was very pleased as a member of the Chicago City Council to introduce the anti-apartheid ordinance that we passed, which prohibited the city from doing business with the Government of South Africa until such time as their policies changed.
So I am pleased to rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 436, celebrating 10 years of majority rule in the Republic of South Africa and recognizing the momentous social and economic achievements of South Africa since the institution of democracy in that country.
Ten years ago the people of South Africa were given hope for the redresses of injustices in the past. When they held their first nonracial democratic elections to parliament in 1994, many South Africans were poor, hungry, sick and homeless. But today the people of South Africa and the world can say that progress has been made to improve the lives of South Africans and the conditions of the country.
Before 1994, 22 million South Africans did not have access to adequate sanitation. Now approximately 63 percent of the households do. Also, more than 70 percent of households in South Africa now have electricity compared to 60 percent before 1994. Since 1994, 9 million people in South Africa have gained access to clean water, 1.6 million houses have been built for the poor people of South Africa, secondary school enrollment increased from 70 percent to 85 percent, and students now learn in a racially integrated school system.
Furthermore, to help the poor and to improve the educational system of the country, the Government of South Africa established nutritional and educational programs to benefit the youngest and poorest individuals in the country. And while we cannot say that all of the problems have been solved or all of the needs have been met, we can say with assurance that the quality of life for people in South Africa, for the masses of people, has indeed changed and that is a tribute to democracy. It is also a tribute to all of the struggles of the people who helped to make it happen.
I commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his introduction of this resolution. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for yielding me time.