Honourable Speaker, Thandi Shongwe
Honourable Premier, DD Mabuza
Members of the Legislature
Members of the Executive Council
Distinguished guests
Representatives from the Media
Members of the Community in the gallery and all our citizens who are following us from various media platforms, I hereby extend special greetings to you all
Sanibonani,
First and foremost, let me take this opportunity to extend my greatest appreciation and gratitude towards our Honourable Madam Speaker for granting the department an opportunity to table the 2016/17 Policy and Budget Speech a day after our country and its people celebrated Freedom Day.
The American prolific writer, poet and activist, Maya Angelou, once said, “One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”
As the Department of Education, we continue to tread the path of teaching, education, growth and development. It is in this course that we have fulfilled the words of Maya Angelou by transferring skills, knowledge, values and attitudes to our learners bringing them closer to the virtue of good citizenry.
Let me say that, as a department we are proud of that and we accept that there is still a long way to go.
Madam Speaker, to vouch for this statement and commitment to the mandate of skilling and educating, I am accompanied to this august house by Maudas Banda an exceptional 18 year old grade 12 learner from Hoërskool Bergvlam who is also an athlete that has recorded outstanding achievements in long jump.
He broke the record for long jump two years in a row in the school inter-house Athletics, took position one in the Mpumalanga championships and further added another gold medal to his collection at the Athletics South Africa Junior School’s Championships in Bloemfontein.
Maudas represented South Africa in the African Youth Games in Mauritius where he was placed fourth in Africa. He was honored by being selected to represent South Africa at the World Youth Championships in Colombia.
He was crowned as the South African Junior Long Jump Athlete of 2016 at the Nationals in Tshwane (Pretoria) early this year.
Maudas has a wonderful career in athletics lying ahead of him. He is a product of our school sport programme.
Indeed Madam Speaker, this is practical evidence that it is possible for our learners to reach their full potential if they are correctly focused and mentored.
I only hope that all our learners will emulate Maudas. I request that Maudas stands up so that this house can wish him well.
It is for this reason, Madam Speaker that in partnership with the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation, we agreed to intensify the coordination of school league games in 18 codes.
Moreover, we have prioritised three sporting codes which are rugby, netball and soccer to constitute the Mpumalanga School Sports League.
Over and above this, the coordination of Mpumalanga Sports Association for Intellectually Impaired Summer Games, Cross Country and All Ages games for 320 athletes.
The department will also continue to coordinate and host the South African School Choral Eisteddfod and Cultural Activities to unearth and expose the talent that is so rich and in abundance in our province.
The constitutional imperatives
The constitutional imperatives of our country dictates that we must do everything possible to deliver a public value service that will play a greater role in building an inclusive society, providing equal opportunities and helping all South Africans to realise their full potential, in particular those who live below the breadline and people with disabilities.
This imperative is also profoundly articulated in our country’s National Development Plan (NDP) which dictates targets to be achieved at the level of Grade 12 results by 2030.
This is the mandate we have to uphold at all times working side by side with all our stakeholders.
Throughput rate
Madam Speaker, It is our quest to ensure that we are able to account for every learner who enters, stays within the system and those who exit at appropriate levels.
The department therefore remains obliged to create a conducive environment for every learner to benefit from our teaching and learning process.
It is for this reason that the department has commissioned the University of Witwatersrand (WITS) to conduct an in-depth study to establish the factual basis and the causal factors of learner drop-out and to develop an implementation plan to insulate challenges identified to be in congruent with the dictates of the National Development Plan’s throughput rate of 80% and above.
Equally, the department will work collaboratively with UNICEF through the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning programme to pilot a system that will help to proactively identify learners who are at the risk of dropping out and also to prevent them from dropping out of school.
The achievement of the 80% throughput will require a solid foundation phase, receptive and favourable learning environment in the true sense of the word for learners to value schools as their only haven for prosperity.
Early Childhood Development
Madam Speaker, Early Childhood Development is the backbone and the back rock for the improvement and provisioning of quality education.
The department is encouraged by the extent to which the Integrated Early Childhood Development Strategy is being implemented and I wish to take this opportunity to thank our sister departments (i.e. Health and Social Development) for the role they are playing in ensuring that the objectives of the strategy are attained.
The department is satisfied that the Early Childhood Development Institute came to fruition and is in full gear to implement its mandate and to equip 0-4 practitioners with skills and knowledge in Child Care; to train unqualified and under-qualified ECD practitioners on fundamentals which are Communication and Mathematics and to facilitate Active Learning.
Furthermore, our pre-occupation is to accelerate the training programme for ECD Practitioners so that in the near future they are translated into ECD educators at REQV 13 level in order for them to enjoy service benefits like all our mainstream teachers.
This process commenced in 2015, is on-going and will be closely monitored towards full success. To date 170 practitioners have been translated to be ECD educators.
The department will also strengthen the monitoring of curriculum delivery, utilisation of Grade R readers, workbooks and methodology application. In this regard, 650 schools and 150 ECD community centres will be monitored and supported in order to establish compliance to norms and standards.
To ensure that Early Childhood Development programmes are delivered successfully, the department has set aside R318 million towards the programme which is 25% more compared to R239 Million disbursed in the 2015/16 financial year.
Improvement of literacy and numeracy
Madam Speaker, we share a view that literacy and numeracy forms a critical and fundamental measure for improving the delivery of quality education and learner performance.
Our efforts to ensure that learners are assessed at appropriate levels are being looked at by the Department of Basic Education working side by side with teacher unions and we remain optimistic that a clear blue print will come to fruition in due course.
Out of this, the country will be able to conduct the same grade-specific Language and Mathematics assessments for lower grades, in particular Grades 1 to 6 and Grade 9 especially in Languages and Mathematics.
To achieve this, the department has set aside an allocation of R4 Million.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders who continue to support the department in its quest to deliver and improve the provisioning of literacy and numeracy in our schools.
Further Education and Training
Madam Speaker, the Province continues to make a pleasant mark in relation to the qualitative improvement of results of grade 12 learners.
For this reason, we should not stop saluting our teachers for the able manner in which they came to the party. They have proven that against all odds they can rise to the occasion, achieve above the expected norms to position Mpumalanga Province at a good pedestal appreciated by all. Siyabonga Kakhulu Kubothisha Bethu Bonke.
We attribute the 78.6 percent obtained in 2015 to the hard work, dedication and commitment of our teachers, school management teams and to the support of parents through their school governing bodies.
Be that as it may, we are not satisfied by the overall outcome of the 2015 Grade 12 results because it meant that 21.4% of our children could not make the mark.
I have therefore instructed the leadership of the department to leave no stone unturned but to implement the intervention programmes in an intensified manner. This must be done consistently because it has proven to be a good recipe for our improvement.
To this effect, the department will in 2016 conduct holiday classes, radio lessons and the Dial a Tutor programme without fail. These are critical as they do not replace the classroom activity but complement it. It is still expected that effective teaching and learning must take place within the 7 hours in all our schools and principals must ensure that this happens at times.
The good thing is that there is a solid base since all the department’s four districts and 10 out of 68 of our circuits are performing above the 70% pass rate bracket. I have signed a pledge with all circuit managers that there will be no circuit that will perform below the 80% in Grade 12 in 2016.
With this baseline and the intervention programmes in effect, it is clear that a target of 10% improvement this year is a realistic one and it will be achieved.
We will intensify our work collaborating with the Provincial Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign Structures as well as labour and learner formations to ensure that this time around we achieve the set targets.
Over the years I have and I still request the Religious Community through the Moral Regeneration Movement under the ambit of Rev. Nthali to visit our schools and work with them to instil the acceptable value systems to our youth and to every school community. In doing so, we strongly believe that our schools can be freed from whatever social and moral decay that is troubling and obstructing them to obtain the expected outcomes.
The department has set aside R12 Million towards the implementation of the intervention programmes for 2016 which started in earnest in January 2016.
Maths, Science and Technology
Madam Speaker, we live in a world where the demands to achieve academic and career success have become end goals of life. Improving learner performance can never be over emphasised as it enables learners to access a variety of opportunities which in the end better their lives.
In light of this, the department continues to prioritise Mathematics, Science and Technology as the subjects of choice which are a gate way to better career prospects and economic development.
To ensure that Mpumalanga becomes competitive nationally and internationally, the Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy has been operationalised as a lever to improve the performance of learners in these subjects.
In this regard, 1 000 Mathematics and Physical Sciences teachers will receive training on subject content and pedagogical content knowledge as well as facilitation skills using e-resources through the MST Academy. At the same time 200 teachers teaching Mathematics and Science for the first time will also be capacitated on subject content.
292 Teachers from MSTA secondary feeder primary schools will be capacitated on the use of ICT resources to enhance teaching and learning.
The four sub-hubs which are linked to the Academy will be resourced to serve as support centres to the MSTA schools and their feeder schools.
In promoting blended learning and ensuring that learners enjoy a 21st century learning environment; lessons will be broadcast from the main and also in clusters linked to the sub hubs.
The ANA diagnostic report has pointed out weaknesses in the performance of learners especially in Mathematics, in this regard; the department has fully embraced the 1+4 concept of training teachers which we began implementing in 2015 as a support mechanism for teachers wherein teachers are trained on Mondays on the content to be taught for the week. To this end, 500 grades 8 and 9 Mathematics teachers will undergo training utilising this model.
Moreover, the department has received a Conditional Grant to the value of R42 Million to focus on the following:
- Provision of ICT resources, laboratory apparatus and consumables to 136 schools and workshop equipment, machinery and tools to 15 Technical Secondary Schools
- Conducting study camps, road shows and Mathematics, Science and Technology competitions to stimulate learner interest in these subjects targeting 20 000 learners in the province.
- Training of 88 teachers on the introduction of CAPS for technical subjects and the training of 1200 teachers on pedagogical content knowledge
Teacher development
Madam Speaker, we are mindful that the greatest resource of all is our teachers; therefore to invest in our teachers is to invest in the bright future for our country and province in particular.
The department’s drive to capacitate teachers and subject advisors on subject content through Higher Education Institutions on formal qualification is on course and is yielding the desired results.
1400 foundation phase teachers, 600 in the Intermediate Phase, 1200 in the Senior and FET Phases teachers will undertake an Advanced Certificate in Teaching (ACT), 420 undergraduate teachers are registered for Bachelor degree in education this financial year to ensure a satisfactory inflow of teaching personnel supply in the system over the coming years.
38 Subject Advisors and 2000 teachers in the foundation phase will be capacitated on Languages, Mathematics, Life Skills and Curriculum Differentiation.
38 Subject Advisors and 87 teachers from 10 pilot schools are being capacitated for ANA Mathematics Data Analysis.
375 teachers will be trained on inclusion and 750 teachers and subject advisors will receive capacitation on assessor, moderator, material development, facilitation of learning, mentoring and coaching.
2 400 teachers will be capacitated on the use of ICT in education using the District Teacher Development Centres and Schools and 400 teachers will receive training on the Introduction of African Languages into Schools.
The department will conduct quarterly content workshops for 500 teachers in order to address under performance in content subjects performing at 60% and below especially Accounting, Economics and MST Subjects.
Our teachers will be trained in preparation of the implementation of the vocational curriculum stream in selected schools in the province.
The department line SETA (ETDP SETA) injected R20,9 million through discretionary grants to capacitate teachers in various programmes and public service staff in the province.
The department has set aside R89 Million under programme 2 for teacher development in this financial year.
Resignation of teachers
Our great concern though is the high rate of resignations of teachers from the system.
I am again making a humble plea to our teachers to stay until their retirements are due and I request teacher unions, the church and civil society to join us in making this appeal.
The department through its wellness unit and in collaboration with Standard Bank is piloting a financial wellness programme for teachers in ten schools and following the results of that pilot the programme will be expanded to all deserving schools. This is expected to empower our teachers about financial literacy and to help free them from debts, related stress and pressures. The department is of the view that financial stressors constitute one of the major causes of the high rate of teacher resignations and underperformance in some of our schools.
The department is more than willing to work collaboratively with any institution that may help in curbing the premature resignation scourge of our valued teachers. We will do this because we fully understand the adverse implications of these resignations.
Transversal HRD overview
Madam Speaker, the department is encouraged by the stewardship and foresight of the Honourable Premier as it relates to the improvement of the Human Resource Capacity of the Province.
To this end, in his 2016 State of the Province Address, the Honourable Premier said;
“The province made a positive contribution to this promising trend by awarding 730 bursaries to youths completing Grade 12 in 2015, and to those already in institutions of higher learning whose studies were coming under threat due to financial challenges.
In 2016/17 we plan to scale up our contributions in this regard by making available R200 million to increase access to post school funding for critical and scarce skills that are vital for our key economic sectors. These funds will also be directed at operationalising training and skills development learning exchange initiatives with our partners in China, Italy and Russia.”
Madam Speaker, the department has done everything practically possible to realise the injunction from the Honourable Premier and we are happy that more students from Mpumalanga have been catered for and are studying without having to worry about a bill from the institution.
I have already appointed members who are to serve on the Mpumalanga Human Resource Development Council following a delegation of that responsibility by the Honourable Premier.
This council is mandated to accelerate the implementation of the Human Resource Development Agenda of the Province. It will be a vehicle to strengthen strategic partnerships in co-ordinating and facilitating the placement of learners, interns and artisans in various departments and industries.
Madam Speaker, the department intends to increase access to post school funding in critical and scarce skills as defined in the HRDS by awarding bursaries to 1 557 domestic students and 100 students to study internationally preferably in China, Russia and Italy.
Madam Speaker, the department has developed a programme to visit Universities where our students are enrolled. Through these visits we provide guidance, motivate them to focus on their studies and then provide a platform to listen to their challenges so that we can improve our support to them.
We have in our midst the first black President of the University of Johannesburg Convocation, Mr Mbali Mkhonto whom we will involve amongst others to improve the support base for our students in Universities. Mr Mkhonto is from the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.
University of Mpumalanga
The department is satisfied with the good relationship that it enjoys with the leadership of the University of Mpumalanga.
Equally, we wish to use this opportunity to appreciate the progress made at this University and to further appreciate the installation of the Deputy President, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa as the first Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga which took place on 02 April 2016.
At this occasion the Deputy President said:
“The University of Mpumalanga exists to create opportunities.
It serves many students from impoverished backgrounds.
It serves the children of farm workers, mine workers, factory workers and the many others who have struggle throughout their lives to overcome our awful apartheid inheritance.
It serves students who come to this university under-prepared.
This places a great responsibility on the university to ready these young people for study – to bridge the divide between what is and what should be.
It places a responsibility on the university to pay close attention to the material circumstances of its students, and to do everything possible to ensure that every student has the means to study, to live and to succeed.
This university must join its fellow institutions to work with government to ensure that no person is denied access to higher education because they are poor.
We need to work together to develop funding mechanisms that are sustainable and ensure a high quality of education.”
This is a clear injunction, it is our collective quest and we will work harder and smarter to realise the attainment of the above sentiments in our lifetime and influence the curriculum design of the University of Mpumalanga to take into cognisance the growth and developmental needs of the province.
The department is equally satisfied with the way the construction of this University is progressing.
I wish to use this time to appreciate and to acknowledge the presence of the leadership of the University of Mpumalanga and congratulate them on the first graduation ceremony to be held on the 14th of May 2016.
Career guidance
Madam Speaker, one of the resolutions of the Youth Summit that was held in 2013 was that programmes for career guidance needs to be intensified on an ongoing basis.
To this end, I am happy to report that in 2015 the province conducted two successful career guidance exhibitions, one in Mbombela Local Municipality and the Techno X that was hosted for the first time in Mpumalanga in collaboration with SASOL. To suggest that these were successful will be an understatement. I wish to thank SASOL for the abled and professional manner in which they conducted the Techno X.
The departmental career guidance programmes focuses on Grade 7-12, prioritising career exploration and awareness on subject choice, study skills and career exhibitions.
At the end of it all we intend to ensure that learners are exposed to a variety of career prospects from an early age so that they in turn can be in a position to make informed decisions on careers that will at a later stage respond to the growth and economic needs of our province.
MRTT
Madam Speaker, the Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust (MRTT) is another vehicle that we use to capacitate and empower the youth, industry workers and government employees in disadvantaged communities in order for them to participate in the broader economic sphere of the province.
MRTT is well positioned to create a system-wide partnership between TVET colleges, SETAs and industry to assist graduates to obtain workplace training.
In the 2016/17 financial year, the MRTT will increase the intake of out-of-school youth into skills programmes, particularly in the hospitality, tourism, technical and entrepreneurial fields.
To increase opportunities for post school youth by offering learnerships in identified skills programmes, the department will escalate the capacity of MRTT so as to expand artisan development programmes with more focus on CRDP municipalities by providing mobile training services in technical skills.
Madam Speaker, please allow me to express our profound and sincere gratitude to Mr Davis Moropane, the former CEO of MRTT who has since retired from the institution. We really appreciate the good work, commitment and dedication he has invested in MRTT. At the same time we welcome the appointment of the new board and Mr Riaan Oosthuizen as the new CEO.
MRTT is allocated R228 Million to facilitate its programmes.
Artisan Development Programme
Our mission following the pronouncement by the Honourable Premier in his State of the Province Address was to develop 5000 artisans by 2019.
We are happy to indicate that there is progress to this effect; students have been enrolled to this programme that is coordinated by MRTT and facilitated by Hydra Arch in Secunda.
So far, there are 1173 students that have been enrolled, I visited the workshops and convened subsequent meetings to ensure that everything is done to realise this and to improve the study conditions at the sites.
I will come back to this house during the course of the year to present the progress report in this regard.
The department has committed R130 Million towards this programme to continue with the training of 1 173 students registered in 2015/16 and commence with training for 1000 new students this financial year.
Infrastructure development
Madam Speaker, the department working with its implementing agent, the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport are making inroads to improve systems and business processes to mitigate the delayed projects which were to be started in 2015.
To adhere to the National School Infrastructure Norms and Standards (December 2016 compliance target) on basic services, the department will this year prioritise the implementation of 374 basic services projects (i.e. provisioning of water, electricity and sanitation).
Madam Speaker, in his State of the Province Address, the Honourable Premier said;
“We cannot underestimate the importance of sound infrastructure as a cornerstone of effective teaching and learning. Many of our schools require our urgent attention as they are in a bad state.
We have allocated R200 million towards the eradication of unsafe structures in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. Our investment will target six schools in the 2016/17 financial year. These schools are:
- Aplose Chiloane school in Newline village
- Mapalane primary school in Acornhoek
- Matlolane primary school in Motibidi
- Relane primary school in gaRelane
- Sekhukhusa secondary school in Shatale, and
- Serisha secondary school in Shatate.”
The department has forged ahead to construct state of the art schools. Furthermore, the department is making a commitment that these projects will see the light of the day in this financial year.
Furthermore, the completed projects are being handed over to communities in an effort to instill a sense of ownership and to ensure that they take pride in these facilities by safeguarding them against any form of vandalism and theft of school property.
We have recently handed over Mathibela Secondary School in Bohlabela District, Ubuhlebuzile Secondary School at Mkhondo Local Municipality and last Friday we handed over Portia Shabangu Secondary School at Thekwane South in the Mbombela Local Municipality.
I am delighted that the mother and daughter of Portia Shabangu have graced this occasion. I request that we acknowledge them with an applause. Siyabonga Mama Wethu.
The 2016/17 school infrastructure budget is R1, 030 billion.
The life skills HIV and AIDS grant
Madam Speaker, the Life Skills, HIV and AIDS conditional grant is geared at ensuring the training of 1495 Teachers to implement Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and TB programmes for learners to be able to protect themselves from HIV and TB including alcohol and drug abuse is conducted without fail.
The grant will also assist in the implementation of co-curricular activities such as peer education on SRH and to capacitate the School Management Teams to be able to address risk behaviour and to instil decision-making skills among learners.
The department will also support the implementation of the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) in schools through the training of 900 Life Skills coordinators and provide in–service training to 1512 teachers on care and support for teaching and learning, ISHP, and recruitment of 80 learner support agents (LSAs). An amount of R19 Million has been set aside for the programme.
Madam Speaker, I am very delighted by the support we are getting from non-governmental organisation and big business that continue to work with the department to free our schools from all forms of social ills.
To this end, I wish to single out Imbumba Foundation that is working collaboratively with the department in a programme called “Caring4Girls” now known as “keeping the girl child in school”. Through this programme we have been able to donate sanitary towels to a number of schools therefore reducing the rate of absenteeism from girls who had to stay home because of the lack of these necessities.
I am personally making preparations to join the 2016 Annual Trek4Mandela to summit the highest Mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro on the 18th of July 2016 (Mandela Day) to support this course and to personally mobilise our community to act against teenage pregnancy.
This endeavour is supported by a long list of stakeholders including the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, we will this year intensify our Reading Campaign and promote the MEC’s Book Club to ensure that reading is promoted in our province to an extent that no one may go to sleep without having read a chapter or two of any book.
School governance
Madam Speaker, we are motivated by the support and co-operation that we from time to time receive from the associations of school governing bodies (i.e. NASGB, FEDSAS and SANASE).
Through this cordial working relationship we have been able to monitor, support and train the school governing bodies on their roles and responsibilities and this training will continue this financial year.
The training conducted in the main focusing on school governance, policy development and implementation to improve school functionality.
This year, the training will focus on the Integrated School Safety Strategy, capacitation of school safety committees on their roles and responsibilities and the monitoring of the implementation of the school safety policy in schools.
The department will provide 250 schools with drug testing devices and metal detectors.
I request to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison under the stewardship of MEC Shongwe for the way they have been conducting their programme of Search and Seizure in our schools.
In the past few days, I received disturbing reports from some schools which require us to triple our efforts to ensure that our schools are free of drugs, gangsterism and weapons.
Inclusive education and Special schools
Madam Speaker, the constitution of this country and its people demand the Department of Education to provide compulsory education in special schools in accordance to the dictates of White Paper 6 on Inclusive Education, Child Justice Act No 75 of 2008 and Children’s Act No 38 of 2005.
The department has developed programmes to take care of learners who require moderate to high levels of support within a better controlled environment. I am to a greater extent satisfied that the programme is adhered to in keeping to the mandate given.
The provisioning of specialised LTSM and assistive devices will be provided to 18 Special Schools in the 2016/17 financial year.
Training will be offered to 30 teachers on Braille, 60 teachers on oppositional defiance and conduct disorder, 18 Special Schools on Guidelines of Special Schools as Resource Centres and 20 homes will be monitored and supported on registration and curriculum delivery for Home Education.
In this regard, the department plans to capacitate 1 260 teachers and subject advisors on the new policy on Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS); the South African Sign Language CAPS, Curriculum Differentiation as well as Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
420 School Based Support Team and 120 District Based Support Team members will be capacitated in schools in order to coordinate preventive and intervention strategies to ensure equal education opportunities for all learners with special educational needs.
Onsite training on guidelines for Full-Service Schools will be conducted in 140 schools in the Province while 840 teachers will be capacitated on hearing and visual impairment.
The imperative of availing resources to special schools remains a priority for the department. In this regard, the procurement of assistive devices for learners with special educational needs in 47 full service schools is on course and will be complimented with the training of 100 educators on integration of environmental concepts/topics into CAPS.
The department has allocated R 248 Million towards this programme.
Request approval
I wish to take this opportunity to request the house to grant approval for the Department of Education to utilise the 17 billion 916 million and 783 Thousand Rands allocated in 2016/17 financial year to fulfil all the programmes that have been mentioned above and to move the delivery of quality education services in Mpumalanga forward.
Conclusion
I also wish to use this opportunity to appreciate all the people of Mpumalanga, emakhosi, bafundisi, malunga etinhlangano tebasebenti, tintsatseli, bothishela batali, bosomabhizinisi, nebasebenti be litiko letemfundvo ngekuchasa nekusebenta ngekutikhandla kutsi tonke tinhlelo telitiko letemfudvo tiphumelele.
In particular, I wish to single out the Honorable Premier DD Mabuza for entrusting and supporting us with this patriotic responsibility. He believed in us when nobody did and today we are better off because of his confidence in our ability to steer this ship.
Let me also acknowledge the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Honourable Mashilo and members of the portfolio committee for their stewardship and guidance which has been fruitful all the time. Their constructive criticism has helped to sharpen our ways of doing things. We are rising because we are standing on your firm shoulders.
I will be failing in my responsibility if I do not acknowledge the motherly mentorship that this department is receiving from the Ministry of Basic Education under the leadership of Minister Angie Motshekga. She does everything possible to ensure that Mpumalanga Province succeeds in all its quests.
I wish to thank the Head of department, Mrs MOC Mhlabane for the dedication, focus and her ability to spend every second thinking about the welfare of this department. Indeed there are a very few people who have your kind of courage, my dear. Thank you and your entire staff. I also thank the African National Congress for bringing me into your sphere control and influence.
I wish to thank the business community, celebrities that rally side by side with us like Pretty Yende who is with us today, academics, and principals of schools who continue to obtain 100% are with us today and all of you who support our call. Siyatibongela Kakhulu.
Lastly, let me thank my family, the African National Congress, Umbutho webantfu bonke which liberated us from the doldrums of helplessness to the vantage point where we have worked ourselves to be today. Our forebears will be proud one day that indeed we managed to steer the ship against all odds.
Let me also thank my husband, mother and children for the love, support and understanding that you have given to me. I love you all.
Madam Speaker, indeed, the delivery of education is our mandate, it is everything to us, it is a course we are prepared to pioneer and fulfil.
Yes, for as long as there is a person who sleeps without food, who is unemployed, who is not certain about what the following day will bring to the fore, we will not rest but soldier on.
Thank you for the opportunity, thank you to the people of the “Place of the Rising Sun” for working with us to fulfil our mandate.
Let freedom reign, God bless Mpumalanga, our Country South Africa and Africa.
Ngiyabonga.
