Mathews Phosa receives prestigious award in Centurion

Dr Nakedi Mathews Phosa was honoured with the Fellow of STADIO award at the Centurion STADIO campus on Thursday, August 11.

Phosa, a lawyer and ANC member, played a central role in negotiating a peaceful transition to a fully democratic South Africa in 1994.

He is known for opening the first black law practice in Mbombela in 1981 and was later appointed the first premier of Mpumalanga before being elected treasurer general of the ANC in 2007.

Phosa previously accepted the Fellow of STADIO prize in Krugersdorp in May but was again presented with the award at the Centurion campus.

While accepting the prize from the private tertiary education institute on Thursday, Phosa said he believed South Africans could collectively conquer whatever comes their way.

“We have proved that repeatedly,” he said during the award ceremony.

“I know that [our Constitution] is more than a document or a leather-bound book on a bookshelf.

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“It is a timely reminder of what we can do when we set our differences aside and look at the bigger picture.”

Phosa said, while the Constitution clearly protects freedom of speech, there were “growing noises and actions that hinted that we should be cautious when we speak truth to power”.

“Our current government, in power for 28 years, has become hypersensitive to criticism.

“Any and all criticism is rejected whilst empty cadre-speak repeats itself in public and private platforms,” he said.

“This against the backdrop of being criminally weak on delivery but very energetic on non-cohesive policy statements.”

Phosa said the justice system had become “slow and politicised”.

“There seems to be several people in leadership positions who are untouchable, even in the face of damning findings by the Zondo Commission and other commissions and agencies.”

This while “the electorate is facing power cuts, potholes, lack of water, shacks for schools and a strained health system.”

He said he had little doubt that such a trend will continue following the upcoming 2024 elections.

“In politics, momentum counts and the governing party has not only lost the trust of the voters, but also its position as the moral leader of society.

“And yet, some in government and the party seem to mistakenly believe that the party will govern forever.

“Think for a moment what an effective government could have done with the billion or so rands spent on the Zondo Commission or the billions siphoned off by the Guptas and their luxury-loving local associates.

“Think about what our country could have done with functioning state-owned enterprises.

“Think what could have been if we had woken up earlier to the complementary power of renewable energy.”

Phosa urged those present at the ceremony not to “sell your voices, not to sell your souls, your votes or your alliances cheaply”.

“Treasure your freedom, birthed by the Constitution, and protect your right to a better life, served by an honest and competent government.”

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