Programme director
Representatives of Tiger Brands
Volunteers and members of unite against hunger
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning, Molweni, Sanibonani, Dumelang bagolo. Le tsogile jang?
I am pleased to join you here today at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown a historic site synonymous with our struggle for freedom. Most of you know this place as Freedom Square, the place where thousands of ordinary South Africans from all walks of life signed the Freedom Charter, more than 50 years ago. This place bears the illustrious name of Walter Sisulu, one of the gallant freedom fighters and architects of our democracy.
It is fitting that we meet here because one of the key tenets of the Freedom Charter is that government should play a meaningful role in protecting vulnerable members of our society. Fifty five years later, I am proud of what we as a nation have achieved. I believe we have made a significant progress in combating poverty and while we still have far to go, the turn-around has started and will accelerate in years to come.
I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the Department of Social Development, to the management of Tiger Brands, for responding to our call for public private partnerships in dealing with the socio-economic challenges facing our country. This is evidence that the social responsibility of the business sector does not only concern the relationships of a company with its clients, suppliers and employees, but also with the needs, values and goals of the society in which it operates.
As government, we welcome Tiger Brand’s concept of winter warmer kitchens, a key element in our government’s war on poverty campaign. Although short term, this project comes at the most appropriate time-amid the growing financial crisis, rising food and fuel prices and at the beginning of the winter season. I have no doubt it will bring much needed relief to many poor households who will be receiving meals and food parcels.
Social Development is government’s frontline department in the fight against poverty and we are continually responding to alleviate the suffering of the poor. Government has consistently increased its budgetary allocation to social security grants from which the majority of vulnerable households draw their livelihood. We have the largest social security distribution system in Southern Africa, if not Africa. To date over 13 million people access various types of social grants. Of this number over 8 million is children.
Equally important, the government has greatly increased allocation to programmes such as Early Childhood Development (ECD) and school nutrition programme to end child poverty in our country. Taken together, all these measures are aimed at ensuring that no child goes to bed hungry. As government our belief is that all children, regardless of race, religion or family background, deserve the best start in life, and grow up free from the affliction of poverty, abuse and neglect.
Our government is attending to the issue of food security in the country. This includes the provision of agricultural starter packs, food relief, promotion of sustainable livelihoods and community-based income generating activities, food gardens as well as creation of employment opportunities. Home and community gardens strengthen livelihoods of poor rural and urban households. Our belief is that government should also act as a catalyst to help communities help themselves.
So instead of only providing relief to people, we help them tackle poverty through food production initiatives. In addition, great progress have been made in ensuring that the previously disadvantaged communities have access to basic services including access to safe water and sanitation, housing, electricity and education.
There is no doubt that we still have a long way to go, but working together we are making progress. The subject of poverty must, therefore, be addressed in the widest possible development terms. Indeed, tackling the problem of poverty requires broad based partnerships between government, non-governmental organizations, business and development partners. Such partnerships are a prerequisite for democracy to bring its material fruits to all, particularly the poor, marginalized and vulnerable.
For this reason we will continue support unite against hunger campaign because tackling child and adult poverty is a key towards achieving both the broad objectives of 2014 and the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving poverty by 2015. We remain convinced that, with concerted action, this is achievable. Our consistent efforts to improve the lives of ordinary people in our society, especially the rural poor, speak for it. It is therefore encouraging to note that like our government, unite against hunger is striving towards these goals, and is increasingly extending its operations to the rural areas of our country, where people are in dire need of services.
Once more I would like to express my gratitude to Tiger Brands for their generous contribution to this project. I would also like to thank the volunteers and celebrities who have joined this campaign. We look forward to sharing this fruitful collaboration for many years to come, in our drive to give a better life to poor people in our country.
Ke a leboga
Issued by: Department of Social Development
19 June 2009
