24 May 2006
Celebrating Africa Day, observing Candlelight Provincial Memorial Day while
joining in the "Take a Girl Child to Work Campaignâ were all in a day's work
for the North West province.
A few public servants gathered at the Mafikeng Botanical Gardens to observe
the three activities. The dayâs proceedings were preceded by visits to 10
households from 10 villages around the capital as a community outreach
programme.
The visit by Premier Edna Molewa and government officials targeted the
chronically ill, orphans and child headed families. It gave the delegation a
chance to observe the work of home caregivers, to distribute food parcels, and
vegetable seeds to the families.
The day continued on a good celebratory mood as traditional dancers, singers
and drummers, poets and praise singers took the audience back to their roots
with African song and play. The crowd listened interestingly as the History of
Africa Day was told. They also got to hear about the Socio Economic and
Cultural Significance of Africa Day.
It was not over until Premier Edna Molewa introduced the Premier of the Day,
the 18 year old Jessica Bakang Sedupane, a grade twelve learner from Sol
Plaatje Secondary School in Mafikeng.
This was to mark the Cell C "Take a Girl Child to Work" Campaign that runs
nationally today. Sedupane, a self-confessed science lover and an ardent
reader, will represent the country at the International European Science Expo
to be held in Spain in July 2006.
Addressing the audience Molewa said the province was excited to be part of
the African village and has already begun to determine its future within the
context of the African village.
"For us to succeed in our quest to overcome all the present and historical
challenges of our continent, we must continue to act together in solidarity,
under the auspices of the African Union (AU) using our combined strength to
make Africa a better continent, she said.
On today's Outreach Programme on HIV and AIDS Molewa said it was not only
done in remembrance of all those in the province, country and the continent who
have succumbed to the deadly disease but also to "recommit ourselves to fight
the pandemic in all fronts, including through our ABC principles as well as the
continued implementation of our comprehensive care, management and treatment of
HIV and AIDS.
"We have every reason to celebrate Africa Day today because we continue to
ensure that the most vulnerable in our society, the women, the children, the
elderly and people with disabilities get the necessary protection and support
from the democratic state and from all the other organs of our society.â
She said to succeed in the quest to overcome all present and historical
challenges of the continent there is a need to continue to act together in
solidarity, under the auspices of the AU, using combined strength to make
Africa a better continent.
"On this, the Africa Day we hereby renew our solemn commitment to serve the
people of Africa and build a continent based on the principles of democracy,
equality, human dignity, growth, development and prosperity".
Enquiries:
Russel Mamabolo
Media Relations Manager
Tel: (018) 387 3103
Cell: 082 900 6610
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
24 May 2006
