Thovhele Midiyavhathu Kennedy Tshivhase
Traditional Leaders
Mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality
Mayor of the Thulamele Local Municipality
Acting Chief Executive Officer - SAFCOL
Management of the Muledane Life Care Centre
Bishop TS Tshabuse of Hope Nation Ministries
SAFCOL and Komatiland Forests Employees
Officials of the Department of Public Enterprises
Parents
Children
Ladies and gentlemen
As a member of the South African Cabinet, it is indeed a privilege and pleasure to be with you here today to hand over the facilities built at Muledani Life Care Centre by the South African Forestry Company Limited (SAFCOL) through its operating subsidiary Komatiland Forest (KLF).
Chapter 2 of the South African Constitution, enjoins us to amongst others:
recognise that the “Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.”, and further directs that the state must respect, protect, promote and fulfill the rights in the Bill of Rights.
It is in this spirit that government has defined its Programme of Action (PoA) to ensure that we care and provide dignity to those less fortunate. With the fourth democratic elections in our country, a new electoral mandate for the country defined the strategic objectives and targets for government for the period from 2009 to 2014. Government has prioritised rural development, food security, land reform and education, amongst others, as key priority areas that give effect to Government’s strategic objectives.
Like all State Owned Companies (SOC), SAFCOL has the responsibility to deliver on government’s developmental mandate. SAFCOL is required to ensure business viability, sustainable forest management and enhanced development contribution. However, notwithstanding this mandate, the new vision of the Department of Public Enterprises, which is the shareholder department responsible for SAFCOL, is to ensure that SOC such as SAFCOL prioritise developmental agenda of the State, which have a socio-economic impact on the communities in which State Owned Companies operate.
We gather here today to witness part of the fruits of SAFCOL socio-economic development programme, as it bears testimony to the enhanced developmental contribution.
SAFCOL is a unique SOC that operates within the rural communities, where there is high prevalence of poverty and under development. It is within this context that the Department’s new vision sees SAFCOL playing a key role in development and socio-economic upliftment of communities in which SAFCOL operates.
Rural development is considered particularly important, in light of the many challenges that are faced by our rural communities on a daily basis. We need to empower rural communities, so that the fruits of our democracy can be shared equally amongst us.
Children, you are the future of our country – you each have a unique role to play in building and shaping South Africa. Like a tree that grows from a seedling, how you grow is shaped by many things – the history of our country, the natural abilities and qualities you were born with, your home life, your friends, community and your school life. The facilities we see today are but a humble contribution to part of this picture. I call on all of you to look after this facility and to take part in contributing to a culture of learning and development in your community.
As far as possible, SAFCOL is committed to support government’s New Growth Path, which seeks to expand our economy and increase job creation. With regards to this, I am pleased to announce that SAFCOL has continued to make a contribution to rural development, even during the current challenging economic climate
The structure which we have come to open today demonstrates this commitment.
The timber framed structure which SAFCOL has built today, will give dignity to the children of this centre, whom many have not experienced “a better life for all,” which Government promised to all citizens during the dawn of Democracy in 1994.
Komatiland Forest has built a dormitory with beds, study desks and cupboards, resulting in a fully fletched centre for the orphaned children of this area to live and play peacefully.
Timber framed structures are widely used in countries around the world, but are not prevalent in South Africa, possibly as a result of the lack of widespread suitable indigenous timber. However, with the current improved forestry and sawmilling techniques, a much higher quality of locally grown structural timber has made this construction method, not only feasible but also attractive from an aesthetic and financial perspective.
The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) looks to the future, to determine how the timber frame structure can assist government’s social infrastructure programme, and see how it can be replicated in the country.
Komatiland Forests has long been involved with community development projects, and has already built a school, Early Childhood Development centres, computer centres and other community projects, using the timber frame structure, which the Department of Public Enterprises is looking at establishing such structures in the future for the benefit of the rural and semi-urban community development projects.
The building of the new dormitory is a result of various community concerns of the standard of living conditions of the orphaned children in the area led by the vho Thovhele Tshivhase and Bishop Tshabuse and local municipality.
The DPE and SAFCOL wish to thank Thovhele Tshivhase and the local municipality, for engaging with the department and SAFCOL so that we change the living conditions of our children.
We welcome the participation of other private companies in projects of this nature. The growth of our rural economy and improving of social facilities such as schools, clinics and other community centres, will greatly improve if we all act in partnership with one another.
With the support of the Department of Public Enterprises, other government departments and key stakeholders, SAFCOL will drive and promote the timber frame structure initiative to reduce the infrastructure backlog of social facilities such as schools, clinics and other community centres.
We are quite certain that this is the start of something that will grow from strength to strength! As the Department of Public Enterprises, we will continue to assist SAFCOL in ensuring that this initiative is taken up on a wider platform.
With the opening of this facility today, we are saying as government, we are committed to restoring the dignity of our people and reversing centuries of under development within our communities.
It has been an honour to address you here today. Well done to all those involved – and to the team effort it is has taken to ensure results.
I thank you.
Deputy Minister Dikobe Ben Martins hands over Muledane Life Care Centre, Thohoyandou
