launch of the Bothakga Jwa Bomme co-operatives, Rustenburg
15 September 2006
Programme Director, Mme Cynthia Chisimba
Executive Mayor, Cllr R Motsepe
Mayors and councillors
Xstrata Manager, Mr Thabo Moseki
Members of the business community present
Distinguished guests
Bomme Dumelang!
I am most delighted to speak on this occasion of the launch of Bothakga Jwa
Bomme co-operatives here in the Rustenburg Municipality of the Bojanala
Platinum Districts.
One of the most amazing things to marvel about South Africa continues to be
the incredible capacity of its people to rise every day to defeat despair and
steadfastly refuse to be passive recipients of government services.
After enduring many decades of untold humiliation, deprivation and indignity
as well as many seasons of poverty and underdevelopment, our people continue to
create new ways of bringing a better life to themselves and their fellow
citizens.
I believe the Bothakga Jwa Bomme co-operatives that we are launching today
are a magnificent example of this zeal and energy in our people to work with
government and other sectors of society to create the better life that they
deserve. In launching these co-operatives, we have entered with Bomme and
Xstrata into a durable partnership for reconstruction and development that our
Constitution enjoins each one of us to do.
At the beginning of this financial year when we tabled our Budget Vote for
the Office of the Premier at the Provincial Legislature, we promised our people
that we will continue to forge stronger co-operation with the private sector on
our rural development initiatives. We are happy that today this launch marks
one of many initiatives where we continue to deliver on our promises.
It is therefore fitting that I should extend a special word of gratitude to
Xstrata, represented here by Mr Thabo Moseki, for having come on board on this
co-operatives initiative.
As you might know Xstrata is our partner and sponsor of our co-operatives
initiatives particularly the Bothakga Jwa Bomme Glass Project that we are
launching today.
The primary aim of this Glass Project is to empower our women in the Second
Economy to contribute meaningfully to the sustainability of all women in this
Cooperative through collective efforts, resources and skills.
On Wednesday in Mafikeng, together with the Department of Economic
Development and Tourism, we had an opportunity to launch yet another
co-operative, in the car wash business, where the Mafikeng Local Municipality,
Umsobomvu Youth Fund and Small Enterprise Development (SEDA) came together to
convert this particular informal Car Wash Projects into well-organised business
that is a platform for aspiring and prospective young entrepreneurs to acquire
the essential business skills and experience under the guidance of qualified
mentors, trainers and consultants.
In particular, I mention this because this year as we celebrate the
Anniversaries of Youth Uprisings in 1976 and the Women's March to the Union
Buildings in 1956, we declared 2006 the Year of the Youth and Women and
undertook to intensify all our efforts aimed at the development and prosperity
of these important sections of our society.
Ladies and gentlemen, the most critical aspect of the North West Provincial
Government's Poverty Alleviation Strategy is to attack poverty from the bottom.
Practically, this means among other things getting into our rural areas and
establishing Cooperatives among especially our youth and women.
The North West province has been pioneering in terms of the support and
development of co-operatives in our various forums. I am certain that none
shall dare challenge me when I say we are the leading province in promoting and
supporting the development of co-operatives as a way of economically uplifting
those members of our community who are not accommodated in the first
economy.
This pioneering role has been well illustrated in our critical growth and
development programmes and events such as the Provincial Growth and Development
Strategy, the co-operative summit, the Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME)
Summit, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), conference and our
Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA).
In particular, the Office of the Premier has continued to vigorously
mobilise funding for the piloting of women co-operatives throughout the
province. I am sure you will believe me when I say some businesses already
anticipate my request by saying, "here comes Premier, she is going to ask us to
support her co-operatives!" Indeed, the Cooperatives have become my favourite
development crusade and I shall never rest until they begin to bear the fruits
of sustainable livelihoods for our youth and the women in particular.
In this regard, these co-operatives will be the focus beneficiaries in the
next six to eighteen months before proceeding in the roll out of the rest of
the province and all our economic sectors.
During this intense programme of development, we are going to vigorously
promote development of sustainable cooperatives enterprises in all sectors. We
are going to facilitate simpler registration process and management of
Cooperatives. We are going to ensure that cooperative development effectively
empowers the intended beneficiaries.
Furthermore, we will facilitate collaboration and policy integration in
cooperative support and development, as well as facilitate the involvement of
all stakeholders from provincial, local and national levels of government.
Indeed, as we launch these Bothakga Jwa Bomme co-operatives today, we can
say with confidence that we have reached the Age of Hope: Women in Action to
Advance the 1956 Agenda, which is the theme for today.
In the resilient spirit of the Women of 1956, I am particularly pleased that
the women in the Bothakga Jwa Bomme have shown considerable commitment and
perseverance even when they did not have any funding.
I have been further assured that because women are involved here, there has
not only been innovative and creative use of waste, but also that the Glass
Project has ensured it is 100% environmentally friendly.
It is therefore my pleasure today to launch the Bothakga Jwa Bomme Glass
Project Co-operative. I am certain that this is a critically important step in
our journey to achieve full economic emancipation and prosperity for our
women.
You have proved beyond doubt that you share our belief that development will
not happen to us but that instead we will make it happen.
As I said at the beginning, there is a unique and incredible capacity in all
South Africans to rise to defeat challenges and build a better future for
themselves and their fellow citizens.
The Women of Bothakga Jwa Bomme co-operatives have demonstrated this today
and I am most delighted to be associated with them as we officially launch this
Co-operative.
I would like to thank them and once again thank our partners Xstrata for
coming on board on this important initiative of a durable partnership for
reconstruction and development of our province and its people.
May your Glass Project continue to thrive and bear many fruits!
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
15 September 2006
