Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Bojanala Platinum District Municipality
The Speaker of the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality
Executive Mayor of Rustenburg Local Municipality
The Speaker of the Rustenburg Local Municipality
Acting HOD
Executive Managers of the department
MMCs and other Councilors present this evening
Members of the governance structures
Community Leaders – our traditional leaders
Members of our various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Community-based organisations (CBOs)
Our community development workers
All competing projects for this evening’s awards ceremony
Members of the media
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Dumelang!
Ke ikutlwa ke le motlotlo go nna karolo ya moletlo ono wa dikabo tsa bagaka ba ba ineetseng go tlhabolola matshelo a batho ba rona.
Gape ke itumelela go nna teng ga lona lotlhe mo moletlong-mogolong ono wa dikwakwabidi tse di segileng motlhala mo thebolong ya ditirelo tse di kobiseditsweng go thusa le go tlhabolola maphelo a batho ba rona ka kakaretso.
Tonight I want to join-in celebrated those people who have dared, unashamedly and unapologetically, to go an extra mile in touching the many lives in their respective communities aimed at making a long-lasting difference in those lives.
You are our true heroes.
I take off my hat to you to salute your selflessness.
When we reward excellent performance, we are, of course recognising all those people being honored with awards in all the different categories.
But, in all honesty, it is the rest of us who are being honored by their presence and by their participation in tonight’s awards ceremony.
You really deserve a round of applause.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Community Builder of the Year awards is a nation-building initiative that was conceived in 1991 by the late former editor-in-chief of the Sowetan, Dr Aggrey Klaaste.
It was precisely to encourage the recognition and acknowledgement of men and women who unselfishly give their time and talent to improve the quality of life of others in their communities.
Moreover to that, this programme has put managed to put us in the right stead as government to stretch the scepter of honour to men and men, individuals and organised groups for their valuable contributions in uplifting the lives of their communities.
When the ANC-led government took over in 1994 we set the mandate to alleviate poverty and improve the living standards of our people.
We set these priorities to reverse the frontiers of poverty.
We have further devised programmes and drawn policies for the betterment of the lives of our people.
We have, for many years grappled with numerous challenges in our attempts to deliver according to the targets we have set for ourselves but for us to win the war against poverty; we continue to win the battles as they face us.
We dared not to weaver until we realised our goals and ensure that we all enjoy the fruits of freedom wherever we are, be it in the rural, urban or homestead settlement.
Addressing a crowd in 2005 at the Trafalgar Square in 2005, former President Nelson Mandela when reflecting on our efforts to eradicate poverty and enhance community building initiatives in post-apartheid South Africa said “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, is it an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and can be overcome and eradicated by actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. You can be that generation. Let your greatness blossom.”
Without fear or favour, I can say it, unapologetically, that all the awards nominees gathered here tonight belong to that select group; as envisaged by Madiba, that group that oozes greatness.
President Mandela went further to tell the same Trafalgar crowd that “While poverty persists, there is no true freedom. In this new century, millions of people in the world’s poorest countries remain imprisoned, enslaved, and in chains. They are trapped in the prison of poverty. It is time to set them free.”
Ladies and gentlemen, you are the true cuddles in our effort to improve the lives of the most marginalised in our society.
These awards that you will receive tonight are testament to your efforts that have been aimed, selflessly, at creating a better life for your fellow beings.
That is why today we are proud to witness many of our communities taking initiatives in improving their own lives through formations of social welfare organisations,co-operatives, community based organisations, faith based organisations - to mention a few.
Re le puso re lebogela tiro e e manontlhotlho ya lona e lo e dirang.
Ga se mongwe le mongwe yo o ka tsayang matsapa a lo a tsayang go thusa bagarona, lo sa lape le fa lo kopana le dikgwetlho di le dintsi.
The recipients of these awards have consciously applied themselves to achieving excellence by being motivated by innovations and a desire to find solutions to the challenges they encountered in their communities.
This clearly shows that government alone cannot succeed in changing the lives of the people without the involvement of communities.
History has shown that active community participation in government programmes has always yielded positive results.
Community based organisations have thus far served as an extended arm of government - delivering services to marginalised communities in our province.
In the spirit of the late Dr Aggrey Klaaste and the pursuit of the governing party’s long term to create a better life for all South Africans, let us intensify our undying resolve to continue to serve our communities with diligence.
We are on course in the right direction towards the realisation of a better life for all.
Let me take this opportunity to congratulate all those who will be receiving the awards today as well as all the other finalists.
Congratulations to you all and well done.
I thank you.
