[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[March 28, 1998]
[Page 465]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 465]]


Remarks at the Memorial to Hector Peterson in Soweto, South Africa
March 28, 1998

    Thank you very much. Premier Motshekga, Father, Foreign Minister 
Nzo, Ambassador Sonn, 
Ambassador Joseph, Mayor 
Mayathula, Mayor Mogase. I'd like to especially thank Walter Sisulu and Mrs. Sisulu for being 
here and Helen Suzman and Dorothy 
Molefe. Thank you all so much for coming.
    I thank the Soweto Heritage Trust for their work on this magnificent 
memorial. And I thank the people of Soweto for making Hillary and me 
feel welcome here.
    This solemn place commemorates forever the death of one young boy, a 
death that shocked the world into a new recognition of the vast evil of 
apartheid. Today, as South Africa enjoys what our President Lincoln 
called ``a new birth of freedom,'' we remember the historic events of 
this decade and we remember that none of them could have been possible 
without the bravery of the young men and women of the townships who took 
to the streets in protest, many of whom were cut down in struggle, more 
of whom were damaged by prison and torture. We remember generations 
divided by a system that denied them equality, justice, and the 
opportunity to make the most of what God gave them at birth.
    Here in the heart of Soweto, on behalf of all the American people, 
we also honor those who led the fight over so many decades to end 
apartheid. Some of their names are now well known all around the world: 
Biko, Tambo, Hani, Suzman. Many others have names that most of us who 
are not South African have never heard and now will never know, black, 
white, colored South Africans who answered the call of conscience. But 
all of them together, by their unyielding refusal to accept injustice, 
summoned men and women around this country, and indeed around the world, 
to raise their voices and work until change came to South Africa, people 
who gave themselves for the greater good of their country men and women, 
people who by their very example made our world a better place to live. 
For this, all men and women of good will in every nation on this Earth 
should be profoundly grateful.
    With the tree that Hillary and I just planted with the help of those 
wonderful young people, we remember all who fought, all who suffered, 
all who died. Let this tree, a symbol of new life, recall their 
sacrifices but also embody with every blooming the bright and hopeful 
new day they gave so much to bring to South Africa. And with every new 
day, let us be all the more grateful that they made it possible.
    Thank you very much, and God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 3:57 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Premier Mathole Motshekga of Guateng Province; Father Cornelius Mpahki, 
rector, Holy Cross Anglican Church, who gave the invocation; Minister of 
Foreign Affairs Alfred Nzo of South Africa; South African Ambassador to 
the U.S. Franklin Sonn; U.S. Ambassador to South Africa James A. Joseph; 
Mayors Nandi Mayathula-Khoza of Soweto and Isaac Mogase of Greater 
Johannesburg; retired head of the African National Congress Walter 
Sisulu and his wife, Albertina; Helen Suzman, former Member of 
Parliament; and Dorothy Molefe, mother of Hector Peterson.