Honourable Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature
Honourable Premier of the North West Province
Honourable Members of the Executive Council
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Executive Mayors of District Municipalities in the province
Mayors of Local Municipalities
Speakers of the all municipalities
Batlotlegi Dikgosi tsa rona
Leaders of political parties
Leaders of the labour movement
Business leaders, Religious leaders
Representatives of various Non Profit Organisations present
Head of the Department
Departmental managers
Distinguished guests
Comrades and Friends
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
Baagi botlhe ba Profense ya Bokone Bophirima le Afrika Borwa ka bophara
It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to stand before this august house to table the Budget vote 2013/14 for the Department of Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities in my capacity as the Executive Authority of the department.
With the wise leadership of the North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise, the unwavering support of Honourable Members in this august house and all key strategic partners, we are better positioned to win the battle against the scourge of poverty, unemployment and further increase social inclusion.
Since its configuration towards the end of 2010, the department has continued to provide social welfare services and devised programmes aimed at assisting the vulnerable groups, poor and destitute in various communities in the province.
Honourable Speaker, despite the negative reportage that we have experienced in recent times, we have delivered on our mandate through our main programmes. To us, this remains critical to the existence of the department.
To this effect, our heartfelt appreciation goes out to Premier Thandi Modise, my colleagues in the Executive Council, Members of the Legislature, management and staff of the department as well as the people of the North West for their unwavering support and continued confidence in the work that the department is doing.
Honourable Members, I have over the past few months noted and noticed a very disturbing trend that entails the brutal rape, physical and psychological abuse of women and children, as well as the elderly in our province. We want to state forthright that we condemn this behaviour and call upon all in society to come together in eradicating this scourge that has manifested itself into the fabric of our daily lives.
