the handover and official opening of Matlosana Secure Care Centre on Thursday,
26 April 2007
26 April 2007
Programme Director and Chief Whip of Matlosana Local Municipality,
Councillor B H Ntsangani
The Acting Executive Mayor of Matlosana Local Municipality, Councillor M
Mampane
MMC in the Office of the Executive Mayor for the southern district
municipality, Councillor M M Mojahi
Honourable Councillors
The Ward Councillor for Ward 15, Councillor M C Dithejane
Members of Ward Committees
Acting Head of Department of Social Development, Mr S Lerumo
Senior Government Officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Former President of the African National Congress, the late Oliver Tambo,
once said, "Any nation that does not value its youth does not have a future."
On the 4 October 2005, I together with my colleague the MEC for Social
Development, Mme Nikiwe Mangqo and the Executive Mayor for Matlosana Local
Municipality turned the sod on this site for the commencement of the
construction of a secure centre for youth in conflict with the law.
On the eve of the celebration of the 13th Anniversary of our liberation and
the restoration of the dignity of our people, today's delivery milestone should
also remind the people of Matlosana that tomorrow on the 13th Freedom Day they
too have reason to celebrate 13 years of freedom. The people of the Southern
District also have reason to be proud of the 13 years of progress towards the
birth of a new nation.
The Youth of Matlosana and communities in the Southern Region also have
reason to celebrate and to be proud because the delivery of Matlosana Secure
Care Centre also represents the cherry on the cake that we will be celebrating
tomorrow. In response to overcrowding of juveniles in prisons my department was
mandated by the Department of Social development to construct a residential
facility which ensures physical, behavioural and emotional containment of young
people who are charged with crimes and who are awaiting trial or sentence. Such
a facility according to specifications of the Department of Social Development
had to provide an environment, milieu and programme conducive to the care,
safety and health development of each young person while at the same time
ensuring the protection of communities.
The delivery of the first of the three secure care centres currently under
construction in our province signifies a determination by the provincial
government to ensure that young people are kept out of jails. In a month's time
we expect to complete the Mafikeng Secure Centre while construction of the
Rustenburg Secure Centre has commenced in earnest. While we are of the view
that the social exclusion of youth from the labour market coupled with youth
poverty, substance abuse, crime and violence all point to the need to address
how best we can improve the socio-economic condition of youth in society.
Although these problems are varied and complex, we also appreciate that
these challenges are not unique to South Africa but are also experienced by
many other developing countries. Globally one of the most promising initiatives
that have emerged is youth participation in community service and volunteerism.
In his State of the Nation Address delivered on the 9 February 2007, President
Thabo Mbeki announced the National Youth Service Programme. Provincially the
programme was launched by the Premier, Mme Edna Molewa on 25 March 2007 in
Mothotlung.
As a department we have committed to engage 500 youth for participation in
the programme. I will elaborate on the progress and our strategy to achieve the
target we have set for ourselves when I deliver the Department's Budget Policy
Statement on the 10 May 2007. The delivery of quality infrastructure to our
people like this facility is one of the cornerstones of the People's Contract
that the ANC-led government has entered with the masses of our people. This
facility was build at a cost of R20,9 million, i.e. R18,3 million being the
actual construction cost while the rest went towards professional fees. During
its construction, 250 people and two sub-contractors were employed on the
project throughout the 11 months of the construction period. 111 job
opportunities benefited local youth from Jouberton.
The "one-stop centre" has the maximum capacity to accommodate 60 children
between the ages 13 and 18 years who are in conflict with the law. The facility
consists of a Mini-Court, Mini-Police Station, Juvenile court, Social Worker
Department, In-House Clinic, In-House kitchen, cafeteria, woodwork, steelwork
and electrical workshops and recreational facilities. The complex also consists
of an administration block where the administration of the centre will take
place. This is made of offices, conference hall, courtyard, security rooms,
storerooms, strong rooms and bathrooms.
We are encouraged by the enthusiasm with which the community has shown its
preparedness to take ownership of the facility. I am informed that about thirty
Youth Volunteers from Ward 15 were in the spirit of Letsema involved in a
cleaning campaign on site throughout the whole day yesterday. To our youth we
wish to say, you are our future. Stay away from crime. Stay away from substance
abuse, crime and violence. We call on you as young people to contribute to the
further advance of your country. Community service and volunteerism are
effective mechanisms through which you can acquire skills, prepare for active
citizenship through civic engagement and a commitment to nation building.
We salute the community of Jouberton for its commitment to a partnership for
development and with the handover of this facility; we renew the ANC
government's pledge for a national partnership to build a better life for all.
We call on the faith based organisations, business sector, community
organisations, Youth and women structure and professionals to be involved with
the centre and support the Department of Social Development in its endeavour to
strengthen support systems and structures for youth.
In conclusion, it is my honour to hand over keys for the facility to the
Acting Executive Mayor for Matlosana Local Municipality, Councillor Morwesi
Mapane to officially open the Secure Care Centre on behalf of my colleague, the
Honourable MEC for Social Development, Mme N Mangqo.
Ke a leboga.
Issued by: Department of Public Works, North West Provincial
Government
26 April 2007
