work programme during Africa Day
24 May 2006
Premier Dipuo Peters will participate in the Africa Day celebrations
tomorrow by taking two young girls to work. Her participation is not only to
expose young children to a working environment but also to give them hope and
aspiration for a better life.
Premier is pleased that through this initiative she will be motivating young
girls who are exposed to temptations and various forms of unwholesome and
dishonest activities. A large number of young girls drop out of school and lead
unproductive lives, some fall victim to teenage pregnancies, contract HIV or
STDs at a tender age and many other disturbing circumstances.
It is therefore appropriate and befitting for Premier Peters as a woman and
a mother of girls to motivate young girls to endeavour for greater achievements
in life as future leaders and visionaries. It is our hopes that these
programmes will in-turn inspire the two girls to motivate their peers at school
and in the broader communities.
Young girls are often enticed by older men to forsake their homes and become
premature adults who are in most cases pregnant with no education or skill to
fend for themselves. This creates a cycle and defeats the efforts of women's
emancipation programmes as they then rely entirely on their abusers for
survival and support, or increase the number of children who solely rely on the
state grant for survival.
We are also mindful of the fact that some young girls are drawn into these
situations through tragic situations. As orphans young girls are forced to
abandon their schooling and stay at home taking over the parental role, while
others are in abusive conditions from a relative or a neighbour.
Premier feels that this scenario is mainly painted amongst the African
community portraying Africans as people who have no moral values and lead
chaotic lives with no sense of family discipline and responsibility.
It is the Premier's objective to use Africa Day i.e. 25 May 2006, to
encourage young girls and the public at large not to accept the perception that
the only contribution that can be made by our African continent towards human
development is chaos, anarchy, internecine wars, barbarity, as well as the
projection of Africa as nothing but the object of pity and forever dependent on
the mercy of others.
The two young girls will accompany Premier to meetings and be part of her
day programme and gain first hand experience on how politicians tackle
challenges relating to human/social development in our communities. Should you
wish to get a photo or an interview with Premier or the young girls on the
above, kindly call me on my cell as this can be arranged.
Enquires:
Zodwa Thebeyapelo
Cell: 083 255 8849
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
24 May 2006
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government (www.northern-cape.gov.za)
