As part of the Social Development Month, the Minister of Social Development Mrs Edna Molewa and City of Tshwane Executive Mayor, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa will commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated every year on 17 October throughout the world. It was officially recognised by the United Nations in 1992, but the first commemoration of the event took place in 1987, when people around the world came together to commemorate the signing of the International Declaration of Human Rights and proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event as follows:
Date: 16 October 2010
Time: 9h00 to 13h30
Venue: University of Limpopo-Medunsa Campus (Ga-Rankuwa)
“Our government remains committed to its mission of caring for the poor and vulnerable through partnering with organisations and agencies in common commitment and action to overcome poverty in communities throughout the country.
This is important if our country is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The aim of the Department of Social Development is to provide protection against vulnerability and poverty and ensure the provision of comprehensive, integrated and sustainable social development services” said Minister Molewa.
To mark this day the Department of Social Development has partnered with the Anglican Women’s Forum. The aim of this partnership is to reach the poor and vulnerable households. As part of this commemoration the department will showcase various poverty eradication initiatives and community projects that contribute to the improvement of livelihoods for families and communities. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Home Affairs and other government departments will render services to the public, including residents from Hermanstad- an informal white settlement on the outskirts of Pretoria. This is in response to President Jacob Zuma‘s call that government must tackle white poverty.
For media RSVP contact:
Patrick Metoane
Cell: 079 092 9198
For media enquiries:
Mandla Mathebula
Cell: 083 282 6133
