Traditional Affairs Sam Kwelita during the launch of Tsolo Youth Project,
Tsolo
21 August 2007
Programme Director
The Executive Mayor
Councillors
Government departments
Stakeholders
Community members
And everyone present
I greet you all
Today it is indeed a day of celebrating a dream that was conceived by the
stalwarts of our own democracy, who foresaw a South Africa that would level the
economic battle grounds, whereby people from all pillars of our own nation,
whether rich or poor, educated or illiterate, young or old, situated in the
most affluent suburbs of the Cape or in the remote outskirts of this country
would commit and dedicate their lives in creating a better tomorrow.
Let me seize this moment to salute and hail young people behind this project
who, when everyone thought it was impossible, did not want to sit down and be
counted as casualties of the scourge of poverty, unemployment, HIV and AIDS and
other opportunistic diseases but opted to esteem themselves in contributing
extensively to the growth of our own country.
This is indeed a work of champions, a work of not only dreamers, but a work
of people who act on their dreams. These are young people who are not
discouraged by historical disadvantages because of the legacy of apartheid, but
are motivated to stand up and make South Africa a country we can all aspire to
live in it.
As government, we are shifting the paradigm of expecting our people to
depend solely on what the government can offer, but moving towards a direction
whereby communities are empowered with instruments that would enable them to
create initiatives like these in fighting poverty, unemployment and HIV and
AIDS. Projects like this one really promote self-reliance that we have been
preaching.
The province is faced with a multiplicity of social challenges with regard
to high unemployment rate, poverty, underdevelopment, crime, high prevalence of
abuse and violence. Our department as champions of Social Development has
committed R18 million to youth entrepreneurial programmes in all seven district
municipalities this financial year. This shows government's commitment to youth
development since they are entrusted with the responsibility of carrying on
with the leadership of this country when all the stalwarts who fought
fearlessly for this democracy will no longer be around physically, but will be
in spirit.
On top of that, the department has set aside an amount of R44 million for 11
poorest municipalities in the province with each municipality receiving R4
million each for special interventions in both community development and
developmental social welfare services. The targeted municipalities are
Umzimvubu, Nyandeni, Mbizana, Qaukeni, Ntabankulu, Mnquma, Mbashe, Ngqushwa,
Elundini, Intsika Yethu and Ngcobo local municipality.
This intervention will identify specific activities that will have an impact
in the reduction of poverty, help the poorest of the poor to access their
rights in terms of basic services. It will also see the identification of
families who live below the poverty living levels by working with them in
creating positive sustainable family households and integrate a spectrum of
services from Early Childhood Development.
As government, we say, people should form structures in their own
communities that are project oriented so that they are in a position to acquire
support from government and other role players and not operate as individuals.
With the success of these projects through government's intervention, a lot of
job opportunities will be created and we will see a reduction in poverty. We
urge our own people to make use of local government since this is a local
sphere of government that is in a position to monitor the sustainability of
these projects.
These projects should also be connected to Massive Food programmes, Local
Economic Development (LED) programmes and Integrated Development Plan (IDP)
programmes. The Department of Social Development further advocates for the
strengthening of women and community co-operatives. As a result of that, the
department has committed R25 million to the empowerment of Women this financial
year through women's co-operatives.
The efforts by our own youth behind this project are being realised today.
Today is the beginning of many more challenges that this project would face.
Let this historical celebration be a light that will shine for everyone to see.
This is an open extended invitation to local business community to take note of
what we are seeing here. If we work together in empowering these communities,
by offering them an opportunity to make their mark, we will have fulfilled a
dream to make South Africa a better tomorrow.
The government has committed itself to move faster in building a better
South Africa and has come up with a vision to 2014 whereby South Africa
will:
* have a growing economy that will enable us to reduce unemployment and
poverty by half
* enable the economy to have the skills it needs to grow and our people the
education they need to find employment
Let us all build a better tomorrow.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs,
Eastern Cape Provincial Government
21 August 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za)
