Honourable Premier, Mr Ace Magashule,
Members of the Executive Council,
Mayor, Speaker and Councillors of Nala local Municipality,
The facilitator of this Community Interaction, Mr Wally Mbhele,
Heads of Departments,
Esteemed members of the public.
It is indeed an honour and privilege to interact with people who matter most, ordinary members of our communities. This debate or interaction happens during August Month which is dedicated to all the women in our beloved country. Bomme, truly we love you. We are being called upon to honour and respect our mothers, grandmothers, sisters and girls who are future women.
Honourable Premier, this coming Thursday, my Department in conjunction with Police will be here at Kgotsong to celebrate Women’s Month.
However, this celebration happens in the backdrop of many challenges and nasty things which we need to address:
- Domestic violence
- Abuse of women and children
- Alcohol and drug abuse by our children
- Teenage pregnancies
- Gangsterism etc.
It is unfortunate that our kids are tempted, enticed and lured to join gangs that terrorise our communities. This bad influence at times comes from prisons. Some people who have served time behind bars come back not rehabilitated but hardened.
I have heard that gangsterism is rearing its ugly head here at Kgotsong just like in Botshabelo, Meloding, Bronville, Kutlwanong and Viljoenskroon. Let us not allow this to happen.
Honourable Premier, I want to assure this community that gangsterism is not going to flourish here. We shall never tolerate it. Police are working very hard to subdue this problem.
I want to commend the Police for taking an initiative to engage known and potential gangsters in positive activities like sport to divert the young ones from expending their energies in negative activities. We must support such initiatives.
The fight against gangsterism can only be won with the involvement of community members. I urge all parents to assume their role in the upbringing and discipline of their children.
As a parent you must know:
- Who are the friends of your child and how is their behaviour.
- What is your child doing out there?
- Where is your child at night?
- You must also check your child for tattoos which might indicate that he is part of gangs or is following Satanism.
- You must randomly check the schoolbags for possible dangerous weapons and or drugs.
In short, please know your child and take corrective measures such as consulting Social Workers or local Priests.
Part of the programme on Thursday will include sporting activities and prayer sessions for we do believe in the power of the prayer.
Infrastructure Development
Honourable Premier I am pleased to announce that as we speak, our graders are working on some gravel roads here at Kgotsong as a gesture to support Nala Municipality. Working together, we can do more.
I must also confirm that the Contractor is on site to rehabilitate the road between Bloemfontein and Bultfontein. This route is very important as an alternative route to R30 (RZ Mahabane) which has a Toll Gate.
The exciting news is that rehabilitation of the Weighbridge north of Bothaville has been completed. Traffic Officers are now able to direct trucks to the weigh bridge to determine the weight of their load. I must say overloading is one of the greatest destroyers of our roads infrastructure.
With the same breath the road between Bothaville and Leeudoornstad has been completed. This road is a strategic link between the Free State and North West. It shortens the route to Wolmaranstad. Motorists no longer go via Orkney which is much longer if one goes to Mahikeng.
The department has also deployed teams to do routine maintenance on all the surrounding roads. Road maintenance is very important to give roads a longer lifespan.
Working together we can do more!
