28 November 2007
North West Premier Edna Molewa has urged children to embrace hard work as a
way of life from a young age for them to become better people that will make
South Africa competitive in the international community. Speaking to over 100
children at Rustenburg on Tuesday, Ms Molewa highlighted that children should
be raised in an environment that is free from abuse for them to focus their
minds on important things like education.
"Children today have many opportunities than children who grew up under the
apartheid era. Now you must use this to your advantage at this young age to
excel in your studies, focus on the future because it is you who can make South
Africa a better place for everyone to live in," said Ms Molewa. Ms Molewa said
it was important for children to known their rights for them not to become
perpetual victims of any form of abuse.
"You must know your rights so that those of you who are victims of abuse can
come out and speak about it. You must also know that the law of this country
protects you against abuse and therefore you should not be afraid to expose it
regardless of who the perpetrator is," she said. Children, the Premier
explained, have the potential of building a generation of future responsible
parents and leaders.
This could only be achieved if they started taking good responsibility of
their lives by refraining from negative things such as alcohol and drug abuse,
among others. "The issue of HIV and AIDS is a challenge to all of us. Since we
have not yet found a cure for this disease, you must be the ones to put a spot
to the spread of this disease. You must abstain, as children, from sexual
activities because this will also contribute towards the reduction of infection
rate of the disease," she said.
Ms Molewa added that children have the responsibility to say "No" to sexual
activities and to report sexual abuse to the police. "As children gathered here
today, please go out to your communities and spread this message," the Premier
said.
The children converged at the Olympia Stadium to participate in the "Walk
for the Rights of the Child," with the objective of creating awareness about
the importance of their rights. The walk, which is part of the provincial
government's activities for the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against
Women and Children, was led by Ms Gabatshwane Gumede.
Gabatshwane was elected the South African Ambassador for the Rights of the
Child under the United Nations Convention of Children's Rights. Addressing her
peers, she said although government was doing enough to fight and condemn the
abuse of children, it was equally the responsibility of children to expose such
activities.
The walk also aims to motivate children to appreciate education and
literacy, respect people and their cultures while instilling moral values and
principles that would make them responsible citizens. The walk started in
Rustenburg yesterday and will end in Mafikeng today. Along the road, the
walkers will interact with other children in Tlhabane, Zeerust, Ottosdal and
Mafikeng.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Tanana Monama
Spokesperson
Tel: 018 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
28 November 2007
