Ek wil by hierdie geleentheid my dank teenoor Adjunkpresident Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka betuig vir haar inspirerende leierskap in die inwerkingstelling van die Inisiatief vir Versnelde en Gedeelde Groei vir Suid-Afrika (AsgiSA), haar samewerking met ministers en premiers wat die taakspan verteenwoordig, en die konkrete wyse waarop sy baie spesifieke kwessies wat uitgevoer moes word om ´n hoër koers van belegging en indiensstelling te bewerkstellig, asook kwessies met betrekking tot vaardigheidsontwikkeling en die doeltreffendheid van die Staatsdiens, hanteer het. Ons het hoë waardering vir die bydrae wat alle lede van die uitvoerende gesag en ons staatsdiensbestuurders, oor al drie regeringsvlakke heen, gelewer het om leiding aan hierdie proses te gee en die regeringsprogram in sy geheel in werking te stel. Dit staan sentraal in ons pogings om alle lelike en weersinwekkende dinge in ons samelewing uit te wis sodat ons die vryheid en geluk wat bevryding meebring, kan ervaar.
I would like to take advantage of this occasion to express my gratitude to Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka for the inspiring leadership she has given to the implementation of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative (AsgiSA), working with the Ministers and Premiers who constitute the Task Team, concretely addressing very specific issues that need to be done to ensure higher rates of investment and labour-absorption, as well as matters pertaining to skills development and the efficiency of the state system. We highly appreciate the contribution of all Members of the Executive and our public service managers, across the three spheres of government, in leading this process and in implementing the government programme as a whole. This is central to our efforts to erase that which is ugly and repulsive in our society so that we can speak of freedom and the happiness that comes with liberty.