Speech by Mr TT Mboweni, Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, at the Friends of St Mark’s fundraising dinner, Rand Club Johannesburg, 28 July 2006 Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen I am honoured to be present here this evening and to be a part of this special annual dinner which has been turned into a very worthwhile cause. The Old Diocesan Union defines its objects as bringing together past students of the Diocesan College and the Diocesan Preparatory and Pre-Preparatory Schools, to keep them in touch with Bishops and the present students, to promote the interests and welfare of Bishops and to administer a fund to provide financial assistance for descendants of present and past members of the Union to be educated at Bishops. The formation of the Friends of St Mark’s and its activities over the years is glowing evidence, if any was required, that the role of Bishops has been redefined to shed its elitist image of the past. Situated in the midst of grinding poverty, in an area with unemployment rates at 80 per cent, the modest fees at the College are still beyond the reach of many locals. Fundraisers provide scholarships to disadvantaged pupils and help improve facilities at the school. Also, St Mark’s boasts a laudable community outreach programme that, among others, includes a Saturday school for children from disadvantaged state schools, a maths and science teachers’ support programme, availing the school’s science laboratories for use by other schools in the neighbourhood, and adult literacy classes. The Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu describes St Mark’s College as being like water in a desert – transforming rural hopelessness into an oasis where young people can bloom. “Without St Mark’s College the chances of even literacy for children in this area are slim. These children could become just another statistic in the cycle of poverty. Education is the key to unlocking their potential – and what potential!” the Archbishop Emeritus, the patron of St Mark’s, exclaims. In the same vein, a Chinese proverb says: “If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.” This is echoed in the motto of St Mark’s: “Thuto ke lesedi”, which, broadly translated, means: “Education is light”. To which I may add that education changes lives – it definitely changed mine! The Strength of St Mark’s is the alumni association of St Mark’s College in Jane Furse. Addressing their 20th anniversary fundraising dinner in December 2005, I was impressed by the effort and remarked that it was indeed rare for former pupils of a black school to honour their school and commit themselves to raising funds for the institution. While education remains primarily a responsibility of government, private financial commitment is indispensable. Strong alumni associations in the US, for example, contribute substantial sums of money to their institutions. In South Africa, especially among blacks, there seems to be little interest among alumni to look back and support their old institutions. I do, however, acknowledge the nascent pockets of alumni associations of former black schools that are emerging in some parts of the country. This is a culture that we should endeavour to nurture. The relationship with a school does not and should not end with matriculation. We must seek to inculcate in learners that when they proceed to higher education, join the world of work or business, they remain representatives of their former schools in the community, country and the world at large. It is therefore heartening to be part of this fundraising drive, particularly because the Friends of St Mark’ s have opened their hearts and wallets to deepen and widen an existing initiative by former pupils of St Mark’s who have taken it upon themselves never to allow their Alma Mater to die. These are alumni who are proud of, and seek to build an everlasting relationship with their Alma Mater – a relationship to be treasured, nurtured and cultivated. These are men and women who value so mu