Address by honourable MEC Makoma Makhurupetje on the occasion of the tabling of Budget Vote 11 of the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, Lebowakgomo Legislative Chambers
Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Honourable Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha
Chief whip and Deputy Chief whip of the Majority Party
Colleagues in the Executive Council
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Honourable Members of Parliament and NCOP
Your Worship, Executive Mayors and Mayors of our municipalities
Speakers, Chief whips, Chairpersons of MPAC's of our municipalities
The Leadership of SALGA in the Province
Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson the Entire Executive Committee of Limpopo
House of Traditional Leaders
Provincial Leadership of CONTRALESA
Our esteemed Majesties, Kings, Queen and Royal Highnesses present
Leadership of the IEC and other Chapter N~ and Ten Institutions present
The leadership of the Ruling Party, the African National Congress and Alliance Partners
Stalwarts and Veterans of our struggle
Leaders of Opposition Parties
Chairperson and Members of the Housing Advisory Panel
Chairperson and Members of Rental Housing Tribunal
Leadership of various Religious Denominations
Representatives of ESKOM, NHBRC and HOA
CoGHSTA Staff led by the Head of Department; Ms Ngaka Mosehana
Members of the Media
Invited Guests and Stakeholders of the Departments
Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning, Thobela, Avuxenl, Ndi mataheloni, Goeie more
Re a kwatama, rea lotsha, naase ke bo lena bahene beao, e dhoba motshakhatla wa mabhoko aka khethlakene khaheeso K.ha kg oro ya mebuao tlrisano budulo Ia merero ya magoal (CoGHSTA)
Madam speaker,
I am indeed honored and privileged to present to the people of Limpopo Province, the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Budget Vote 11 for the 201712018 financial year.
This year's budget vote is presented in the year which government has declared the year of OR Tambo. It is indeed fitting that we gather here precisely one week after Human Rights Day, which afforded us the opportunity to once again celebrate South Africa's unique constitution, which gives equal rights to all. OR Tambo was himself a fierce and passionate protector of human rights.
I am reminded of the words of OR Tambo during his address to a group of white liberans in Lusaka in 1989: ·It is indeed our collective responsibility to rid our country of the cause of conflict, deprivation and disunity which has earned it the cfiStaste of the rest of humanity. We are not an accursed people, singularly incapable of raising ourselves from the quagmire of racism and human degradation. Ours Is a gifted and industrious society, with
as yet untapped potential to offer humankind a towering example of non-racial unity based on the recognition of the rich tapestry of cultures that make up South Africa. We can and must do it".
This words still resonate with the kind of South Africa we live in today. We are a country that has been free and democratic for almost 23 years now. We have made significant advances in building social cohesion amongst our people, united in their diversity.
However, the unfortunate reality is that racism still persists in certain quarters. Tambo was a beacon of hope, freedom and non-racialism. He espoused the values of integrity, passion, humility and patriotism. He dreamed of a South Africa, characterized by a gi11ed and industrious society with the potential to offer hope to humanity. He saw an untapped potential all of us to offer humankind a toweling example of how black and while, male and female, Tsonga and Venda, Pedi and Ndebele could live together in love and harmony.
This is what Tambo dreamed and believed ln. In pursuit of his dream, he and others of his generation refused to carry on their shoulders and neck, the colonial yoke of oppression. Theirs was a dream to see a society where every person is judged by the
content of their character and not by the circumstances of their birth. The challenge for every one of us is to fulfill this dream. We dare not fail. Full Speech [PDF]
