MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION ADDRESS ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE AFRICA DAY CELEBRATIONS UNDER THE THEME: COVID-19 AND AFRICA’S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

This year we celebrate Africa Day during a time when our continent and the world wages a battle against the novel corona virus. Projections of the potential effects of this virus on our healthcare systems, our economies and the very social fabric of our communities, look grim. 2 Overburdened healthcare systems, insufficient and reliable data, threats to economic growth as well as reduced access to education for learners and vulnerable youth, are just some of the knock-on effects that will be experienced at the hands of this virus. In spite of the current and future challenges we are likely to witness, Africa Day reminds us that we are a continent and a people that are resilient. Our fight and victory over slavery, colonial and racial oppression, stand as a reminder that we shall indeed overcome the coronavirus. COVID-19 stands as a reminder on this Africa Day, that Africa’s unity is the primary instrument, for a continent-wide renaissance through which we will achieve the Africa We Want. Even at the height of colonial oppression we never carried ourselves as helpless victims, but instead we stood up to fight to change our situation. That is the same spirit and determination we need now to confront Covid 19!

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