S Ndebele: International Children’s Day

1 June 2006

Hello children today is ‘tune in to kids day,’ a day that makes all citizens
across South Africa, Africa and the world aware of the call to put children
first / Abantwana Kuqala / Bana Pele / Kinders Eerste.

It is International Children's Day and a day to remember and celebrate
tomorrow's leaders and take stock of how far we have gone as the society of
KwaZulu-Natal in protecting our children and moulding them into future leaders
of our country.

This week we also acknowledge Child Protection Week which re-emphasises the
message that we owe children the best and that with its theme being ‘Caring
Communities Protect Children,’ we remind adults of the declaration of the
rights of children.

When I talk to you today I want to talk about hope, about the future and I
can't avoid talking about the most horrific matter that plagues our schools and
communities: violence against children, violence in the playground and violence
in the home.

But let me start with words of encouragement for the millions of kids who
are our future generation.

Keep on dreaming

This is a time to remind ourselves that children are our future. It is a
time to say to ourselves that we must let our children dream and make their
dreams come true.

I demand all of our children to dream, to dream and to dream without any
barriers.

"From dreams come thoughts, from thoughts come actions." These are the
words, children, of a famous Indian President, Dr Abdul Kalam, who has invested
much of his energy and time to the development of science allowing the youth to
guide the Indian economy towards a life which will make them a proud nation.
Some of you are dreaming about becoming doctors or engineers. Some want to work
in a bank, others want to be teachers.

You must dream and you will achieve.

Having a voice

Our province is launching the children's forum giving all of you an
opportunity to have a say in all matters affecting you and helping you to have
a voice. Through this forum you will learn to participate in family
discussions, in school and class decisions, in faith communities, in your
cultural and sporting organisations and also in local and national
government.

The office on the rights of the child in the office of the Premier is to
form your parliament. Through it you can learn the democratic values and
respect other people's rights. You will also obtain an opportunity to discuss
and debate about issues that affect you.

Challenges facing government

* We know you need clinics to be closer to schools.
* You want to have closer access to the welfare offices.
* You need safe and at times subsidised transport so that the schools can be
accessed easily.
* You want the gap between the independent, ex-model C schools and advantaged
schools to be closed.
* You want us to create safe play areas and make available sporting
equipment.

The list is longer but I can assure you that we in the provincial government
are striving to uphold your constitutional rights (sections 28 and 29).

In pursuit of this we have established the KwaZulu-Natal Advisory Council
for Children where all government departments, municipalities and
non-governmental organisation (NGOs) meet in implementing children's
rights.

The government is committed to moral regeneration and reinstating the values
and norms that scouts and girl guides have e.g. the scouts and girl guides
slogan is ‘be prepared’. The Premier's Department has contributed financially
to the maintenance and development of the scout movement and girl guides in
KwaZulu-Natal. Many of these scouts and guides have joined us here today
espousing their values of character building, strong willpower and leadership
skills.

While our work is cut out for us, we want you to make the most of your lives
and build a future you can be proud of and create a generation of solid, young
and motivated individuals.

This can be achieved through faith, focus, ability, integrity, tenacity and
hope.

Crafting your future

But do something with your lives. Many young people leave school without
knowing what careers would suit their abilities, interests and personalities.
Some go to university or technikon to gain some qualification where 35 percent
drop out in their first year. Others finish their courses but can't find
employment.

A large number of school leavers receive no training at all beyond school
and become virtually unemployable. If pointed in the right direction, these
children could earn an income and become assets to the South African economy.
Some can become employers giving other people the opportunity to earn a
living.

I wonder how many of you know the best kept secret to get our nation at work
for a better life for all?

The secret is our Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. There are
nine in KwaZulu-Natal and the MEC for Education, Mrs Ina Cronje, told me they
have increased the delivery sites from 55 to 71 to make it also accessible for
people in the rural areas. These colleges are designed to address the education
and training needs of both our out of school youth and adults.

I want to let you spin your brains around the idea of learning a trade.
South Africa has a shortage of skills e.g. local welders, electricians and
other artisans in our country. The average age of a toolmaker in South Africa
is 55 years. Very often jobs are available but our people don't have the skills
to do the job. Yet, we are engaged in serious capital projects like the
development of the Dube Trade Port and the construction of the iconic stadium,
valued at approximately R4 billion, that need people with proper skills.

Violence in schools

Let me now turn my attention to the violence perpetrated against children
and violence perpetrated by children.

Schools are part of our society and what's been happening in schools across
the globe is simply a spill over of the larger societal violence. To stamp out
crime and violence in our schools, we need the input of all role players; the
children, teachers, principals but also the parents and the communities that
surround our schools.

A recent study conducted by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention
(CJCP) found that children are twice as likely as adults to become victims of
crime. The survey of 4 409 respondents found that in total 41,5 percent of
South Africans between the ages of 12 and 22 were victims of crime in the
12-month period between September 2004 and September 2005. According to the
Sunday Tribune, the report says that children are compelled to learn in
environments where they are assaulted, robbed, forced to do things against
their will, intimidated and threatened with harm.

There is also a lack of safe spaces for young people and the perpetrators
are usually known by the child victims. Most of the children in the survey are
exposed to criminal elements in their community and half had witnessed
incidents of violence.

In KwaZulu-Natal almost a quarter of the children interviewed were victims
of crime more than once. One in seven children has been assaulted mostly at
school.

Children also have a responsibility; if you know someone has a knife or a
gun, to quietly tell a teacher or the police. If you feel unsafe at home or at
schools, phone the hotline at the KZN MEC Ina Cronje's office or childline
hotline no: 0800 204 35.

Government takes the lead

Our Cabinet has put together a task team to come up with short term and
long-term solutions to make our schools safe places. This team will soon make a
presentation to Cabinet.

Meanwhile the Department of Education has put structures in place to work
towards safe schools. Each school should have a disciplinary, safety and
security committee, a subcommittee within the school governing body consisting
of the principal, parents and a representative of the police. Our major
objective this year is to ensure that each school is aligned with the local
police station.

They have also embarked on a pilot project in the Nongoma area and at
schools in Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu. In conjunction with the police we
train security guards that are employed by school governing bodies. At these
workshops the relevant legislation is explained, such as human rights to the
guards, how to handle a situation when a firearm is brought to school, to deal
with somebody who has become violent, to keep records of access control, to
liaise with the local police station etc. Once the model has been thoroughly
tested we will implement the project in other areas.

We don't want to encourage a situation where all schools require formal
security guarding.

Communities must also play their part to ensure the safety of our children
and teachers. Protect our schools. If you know about thugs in the community,
tell the police or the principal.

Remember you, the children, are South Africa's future. You make up the great
nation we have fought so hard to bring to fruition. We know you'll make us
proud.

Enjoy your day today. Though our programmes and projects we are clearly
demonstrating that children are a responsibility of all of us. Equally it is
the duty of each and every child to look after her or himself. Make something
of your lives. Your future lies in your hands.

Thank you!

Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 June 2006
Source: SAPA