Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the opening ceremony of the Women's World Cup of Golf, Sun
City
17 January 2007
Premier of the North West Province, Ms Edna Molewa,
Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Alec Erwin,
Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Gert Oosthuizen,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Sue van der Merwe,
Members of the Provincial Executive Committee (MECs),
Chief Executive Officer of Women's World Cup, Ms Tania Fourie,
Director of Operations, Lesley Coperman,
2006 Women's World Cup of Golf Holders, from Sweden,
Helen Alfredson and Carin Koch,
Commissioner for the Ladies Professional Golf Association,
Ms Carolyn Bivens,
Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour,
Ms Alexandra Armas,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the 2007 Women's World Cup of Golf. Welcome to South Africa, once
more. Welcome to an event that is destined to get even greater! As the Honorary
President of this prestigious event, I am filled with pride and happiness to be
able to stand before you and declare open another Women's World Cup of Golf,
which promises to be as successful as the one held last year and the previous
year.
We also thank you our women golfers and we admire you for being the pioneers
in a sport that has been predominantly a man's sport. In its short history,
this tournament has done what women throughout the ages have achieved in
various spheres of life, which means women can be anything they want to be.
It has set new benchmarks for the sporting success. For us in South Africa
it has become a source of tremendous national pride. And most importantly, it
has amazed the world in its ability to break new ground.
The revenue that the sport brings about is truly phenomenal which makes golf
a lucrative industry, though women still have to get the attraction and support
they deserve from sponsors.
In South Africa we have seen a growing number of women golf players and this
event contributes towards an awareness and love of the game.
In addition to organising this we appreciate the work that is done by the
Women's World Cup of Golf in South Africa, which draws young girls in poor
communities and provides them with an opportunity to be exposed to the game,
thus making the game not to be as exclusive as it has been. When on the golf
course, rich or poor, these young girls become equals.
We salute the role and contribution of Sally Little who is one of the three
women who nurtured the idea of bringing this tournament to South Africa and has
returned to South Africa from the United States of America to settle in her
land of birth and will be investing in the development of young talent in golf
and is involved in the development of a golf course. Her role in the
development of golf among women in the country advances the developmental
agenda of the Women's World Cup of Golf, Sally of course is a PRO.
In the same breath we also salute all other women sporting heroes who have
been a shining, outstanding example and inspiration to many women; we pay a
special tribute to Evelyn Mlambo an HIV positive women who is an outstanding
athlete, and Natalie du Toit an outstanding disabled swimmer and many others
who have made a sterling contribution in various sporting codes against many
odds. The message here is that sport is yet another field where women must
constantly teach the world on the stuff girls are made of and prove some myths
about girls and women wrong.
It takes determination and keeping eyes on the ball to get something like
this tournament from humble beginnings to what it has now grown out to be. Our
women who never took "NO" started this tournament with very little and were
able to attract and gain confidence of colleagues globally, especially the
Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
Women indeed do not always gain the recognition for their tenacity. We are
here to say we salute you Tania and Lesley for your efforts.
The lesson to take from this experience is also a need for us to celebrate
our women pathfinders and sing their praises. Just listen to this: do you
realise that Henry Ford may have perfected the motor vehicle, but it was a
woman by the name of Margaret Wilcox who decided it would be a good idea for a
car to have a heater in it. Where would we be every winter without her
invention?
And in 1903, Mary Anderson invented the first windscreen wipers. In
government we use return envelopes on a regular basis. We have Beulah Henry to
thank for this invention.
The drinking fountain device you see on golf courses all over the world �
well that was invented by a woman. And where would we be without the fire
escape invented by Anna Connelly in 1887? In a whole lot of trouble, that's
where. Globes and a life raft were both invented by women. It was women who
invented the dishwasher and the fridge.
So go on and make your dreams come true like these women, like Helen
Alfredson and Carin Koch. Today we are able to make the dream of many women
golfers also come true. The Women's World Cup of Golf is, first and foremost, a
golf tournament. But it is also a vehicle for women empowerment. I acknowledge
women golfers who have graced this tournament and the countries that have
emerged as winners since the inception of this tournament three years ago,
Japan and Sweden; their performances have all made us very proud and
inspired.
We also welcome the team from Kenya and the growth of the game of golf in
Africa, especially amongst women. In South Africa too we have seen this growth;
South African women golfers in 2006 partnered with my office to reach out to
needy women when we were celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Women's March.
This kind of reaching out I hope will be a permanent feature in the calendar of
Women Golfers in South Africa and will continue for more years to come. In 2007
we are planning a similar event. Please come in your numbers to the women's
golfer's high tea with an outreach to the needy.
As you know South Africa will be hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2010, we want
the build up to excite our communities about all sport and its value for social
cohesion and general development. We hope women golfers will be part of this
exciting build up and it offers an opportunity for local development and
mentoring.
Sport and Recreation is a medium to achieve developmental priorities
including building a winning nation. This year's tournament will empower rural
woman in this province, using them to provide the beautiful hanging baskets of
flowers you will see on the tee boxes this week. These women have now been
taught a skill that will earn them and their families a much-needed income.
A craft market has been set up in Sun City for local women to display their
wares which are uniquely South African to tourists, and those who will be
visiting our country during this tournament can sample them.
Because of this tournament, houses are being built in the North West
Province to house families struggling with HIV and AIDS. Everywhere you look,
this event is making an impact that far exceeds its status as merely a golf
tournament and it goes beyond the golf course. It is a vehicle and a catalyst
for change that is making a difference in our struggle to build a better life
for all our people.
The world's leading players are here and we will all marvel at their skills
this week, and I wish you all the best of luck as you go about achieving the
goals you have set for yourselves and your countries. All those working on the
tournament in different capacities are all stars.
Good luck to you all and may your drives split the fairways and your putts
find the holes. As your Honorary President, whose handicap is top secret, it is
my honour and privilege to now declare the 2007 Women's World Cup of Golf
officially open.
"Malibongwe!"
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
17 January 2007
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/)
