Speech delivered by Minister of Communications, Ms Faith Muthambi, at the fundrasing launch of the Healing Centre Christian Church, Sundani village, Limpopo
Khosi Vho-Sundani and the Traditional Council
Khosi L. Matsila
The Mayor of Lim 345 Local Municipality, Cllr. Joyce Bila,
Cllr. F.D. Mutavhatsindi
Pastor N.D. Mathukha
Leadership of the Healing Centre Christian Church and Doroka Ministries
Pastor K.M. Munarini
Pastor N. Muluvhu
Chairperson of the National Lotteries Commission, Prof. A. Nevhutanda
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning!
Programme Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the leadership of Doroka Ministries Initiative which is the brain-child of the Healing Centre Christian Church, for launching this outstanding fundraising campaign. As you move around these deep rural remote areas, you can see faces of children, young mothers, child headed household youths and the unemployed who desperately need our help.
I am mindful of where we come from as a nation. We all know that South Africa is a developing Nation. The Apartheid regime caused great uneven economic development with poor parched areas designated for habitation by poor African communities.
These so-called Bantustans or homelands were the breeding grounds of cheap black labour force and a dumping ground for those whose labour is no longer needed in ”White South Africa”. When their energy has been sucked to exhaustion, the so-called “Self-Governing States” became the dumping ground of those already abused and exploited who became the burden to their families in terms of ill health and many other factors. They came back from the cities empty handed and the meagre earnings were not enough to initiate developmental projects in these areas where commerce never spread a sail.
It is on this score that we must always remember that in order to analyse the current socio-economic ills engulfing the country, it is important to first study its unfortunate history and as well as to acknowledge the role played by the religious institutions.
We also need to praise the ANC-led Government for our Liberation and Democracy. It is also about reporting frankly on the challenges we face against the backdrop of our remarkable achievements since the dawn of democracy.
Government is trying to redress the imbalances of the past with the little at its disposal. The State President, His Excellency Jacob Zuma on the 20th September 2016 during the General Assembly of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said:
” In South Africa we have put in place a National Development Plan which is aligned to the AU Agenda 2063, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. At the core of our development plan is the focus on poverty eradication and the upliftment of the standard of living of our people. Our National Development Plan is also in line with the drive for industrialization of Africa”.
He went further to say that:
“We committed ourselves to an ambitious and transformative global development programme that seeks to address the triple challenge of this century, which is Poverty, Unemployment and Inequality”.
For an effective combat of the ills bedevilling our country, we have to partner with Government because “Unity is Strength”. I know that in order to achieve these great noble goals, the Healing Centre Christian Church, has organised this fundraising event. I am not their spokesperson but I grew up in poverty stricken rural areas and I understand their plight. This Ministry has six branches with the Head Office here at Ha-Sundani, and other branches at Ha-Davhana, Vuwani, Vyeboom, Nkuri and Malonga. With a membership of just over two hundred across the branches, the initiatives of the Doroka Ministries is a great vision to address the plight of the poor rural residents.
It is encouraging that even if you had started small, you alredy have thirty (30) destitute families under the care of the Doroka Ministries. Children touch our hearts in a special way. It is therefore encouraging to find your Ministry already engaged in helping sixteen learners from Grade R to Grade 12 pursuing formal education as an escape route from poverty. I know that there are child-headed families because of the HIV/Aids scourge.
Social challenges such as alcohol, drug abuse and teenage pregnancies should be a concern for all of us. If children represent our future, then it is upon every one of us to support their journey into adulthood.
Programme Directors, we are all responsible for the future of Ha-Sundani and surrounding villages as well. I am made to understand that this Fundraising Project has a three year history.
The Department of Communications is engaged in changing the way it transmit Digital Terrestrial Television by moving from analogue to digital. This is part of a strategy to promote a society that has effective access to information in order to fully exercise and protect their rights. This programme will enable the citizens to make informed decisions about their lives. The ANC led Government will give these Set Top Boxes to five million deserving poor households at no cost.
We are therefore encouraging you to go to your nearest post office to apply for the Set Top Boxes.
There are benefits accompanying the migration from analogue to digital. Some of these are as follows:
- You will get free access to more channels – SABC will now have up to 18 channels.
- New free-to-air broadcasters will be licensed, adding to viewer choice.
- More choice and diversity as a result of more channels
- Better picture and sound quality (not necessarily HD).
- An electronic TV guide (also known as an electronic programming guide or EPG) that enables you to plan what to watch at a touch of a button.
- Multi-language tracks, descriptive video for visually impaired and blind people, and closed captioning facilities for deaf and hard of hearing people.
- To listen to radio via your television set.
The viewers will be exposed to educational and developmental issues taking place in other parts of the country or the globe. It is part of a motivation especially when some positive role models are directly flighted in your living rooms. Sport and other recreational programmes will relief some youth from boredom and deviant behaviours.
How do you apply for the Set Top Boxes?
Applicants need to bring the following documents in order to be assessed:
- South African Identity Document
- Proof of Residence
- Proof of possessing a TV set
- Proof of household income below R3 200 per month.
Programme Directors, let us appreciate the efforts by the Doroka Ministry Initiatives for their sterling work within the communities they serve. I appeal to donors to feel good about your giving and hopefully dig even deeper in your pockets. Some of you can offer educational scholarships to learners with potentials or you can adopt a child or a family to help them in any way possible.
We must invite private companies to come and invest in these poor areas as part of poverty alleviation and job creation strategy. We can achieve a lot if we put our hearts and minds together and act as a unit. Government will not be able to address the triple challenges on its own. Together we can make things happen.
If you will be on the road, please obey the traffic rules, don’t text messages while driving, don’t drink and drive and if you are tired take a break and rest. “Arrive Alive”
I wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. May the God Almighty continue to bless this Ministry to change the lives of our needy communities.
I thank you.
Aaaaaaa!!!
