at the commemoration of Kgosi Mampuru and Kgosi Nyabela, Mamone Royal Kraal,
Limpopo
27 January 2007
Programme director
Kgosi Sekwati Mampuru III
All traditional leaders
Members of the various royal families
The Executive mayor
Honourable Premier, Sello Moloto
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Kea le dumisa, ke re thobela
We are truly grateful to be part of this important occasion today, as guests
of the Bopedi Kingdom, to remember our ancestors, their majesties, Kgosi
Mampuru and Kgosi Nyabela.
I am also privileged to claim Limpopo as my Constituency. This province has
a rich and vibrant history. It is host to eighty percent of the world renowned
Kruger National Park and it is also home to the World Heritage Site of
Mapungubwe, the cradle of mankind.
The world acclaimed treasure is also appropriately acknowledged by the
naming of one of our country's prestigious national orders, the Order of
Mapungubwe.
Today's the fifth commemoration day for Kgosi Mampuru and Kgosi Nyabela. It
is appropriate that we remember the two heroes, given their contribution to our
history, and to the fight against colonialism.
And as we remember them, we are also conscious of the fact that one of our
leaders, Kgosi Rhyne Sekhukhune the third, has passed on, "mabu a
utswitswe."
Let us take a moment of silence in memory of the royal son.
Kgosi Mampuru was a revolutionary who fiercely resisted colonial rule. He
was hanged by the colonial government in November 1883, while Kgosi Nyabela was
sentenced to life imprisonment, as they refused to abide by the authority of
the colonial government. After serving just five years of his sentence Kgosi
Nyabela was poisoned. No one knows where both Kings' remains are.
The spirit of solidarity and brotherhood that Kgosi Nyabela displayed when
he refused to hand over Kgosi Mampuru to the British soldiers is an example of
the resilience of our forefathers.
The story goes when the soldiers enquired about the whereabouts of Kgosi
Mampuru, Kgosi Nyabela said, "He is in my stomach." A metaphor, I am told,
meaning "I have hidden him in the caves." But only the locals would be
privileged to that code. In praise of Kgosi Nyabela's prowess, AmaNdebele have
this saying: Ngathan' uNyabela was geleer'd uZim was vokol which means, If
Nyabela was an educated man even God would be nothing.
Today in being true to the memory of those who fell in the struggle for our
liberation we continue to implement policies that seek to empower our people
and restore their livelihoods.
Government has embarked on a number of poverty alleviation and job creation
projects. Through these projects the intention is to invest in the future of
this province, the youth.
In January 2006, a donation of R500 000 towards skills development
initiatives here was announced.
In promoting job creation in rural areas, poor households protect themselves
from income risk by diversifying their sources of income. A rural household is
likely to depend on some agricultural production, small scale entrepreneurial
activities, a remittance from a family member, and, if at all possible, a
pension. None of these is secure, so even when one seems to offer real hope of
raising household income, a broad range of activities is often maintained.
The wider range of jobs and activities created in an area, the more people
can provide services to each other, the more markets will be created, and money
circulates. The investment of half a million the rural area intends to address
employment issues through as wide a range of activities as possible. This will
allow many households to benefit from increases in productivity in at least
some of their activities, and create increased access to markets.
The Mamone Tribal Authority can lobby to ensure that all structures built
with government funds use labour intensive techniques, and will thus provide
local employment. They can also apply to the Community Based Public Works
Programme (CBPWP) at provincial level for funding for special employment
projects for the poor. The CBPWP and the re-orientation of building methods
through public sector transformation fall under the National Public Works
Programme. This programme aims to provide jobs and create infrastructure, to
develop human resources through training programmes, and to empower
communities. The CBPWP is specifically targeted to benefit the poor.
In promoting small scale agriculture, investment in agricultural requires
investment in suitable agricultural technologies and infrastructure to increase
farm production and employment, and also non-farm production, through forward,
backward, and consumer-demand linkages. The half a million we contributed
served as the foundation towards addressing the promotion of small scale
agriculture.
With respect to promoting local markets, take advantage of your heritage.
Your produce can be marketed locally, around the Limpopo area, in the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) regions. The learners who will acquire
entrepreneurial training and skills through this donation can be able to add
value to the Mamone community.
Thanks to you for your leadership and for taking keen interest in the
development of our people. I am told that with your advice and assistance, the
community identified eight priority projects that had potential to contribute
in a meaningful way, to economic growth of the area by providing job
opportunities for the unemployed.
Let me take this opportunity, to also applaud the Mamone community, for the
excellent and co-operative manner that they have displayed, in working closely
with my officials to conduct a proper skills audit and to determine training
needs of the unemployed people in this area.
Their collective efforts have made me very proud today and I am happy to
announce, to the nation that over 390 unemployed people benefited from this
initiative. I am told that all of them were successfully placed in the projects
in which they were trained. Of these, 55 are males, 335 females and four
disabled. Youth constituted 200 of these learners.
Although the number of female trainees constitutes an impressive 86%, I
remain deeply concerned that people with disabilities are still under
represented. Kgosi Mampuru, I was also informed that, given the success of this
project, my officials became very proactive this time, and have already made
provision in their National Skills Fund Social Development budget to
accommodate you in your future endeavours. You no longer have to wait for a new
donation to pursue this wonderful work.
The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) declared a strong
commitment to rural development in South Africa, where the strongest effects of
apartheid are manifest in the greatest depths of poverty, the most inequitable
access to resources, and the least access to decision makers. Given these
inequities, the progress of those South Africans who live in rural areas will
provide the dearest indication of RDP success in meeting basic needs, building
the economy, and democratising the state.
The proportion of rural African households living below the minimum
subsistence level in rural areas in 1990 was 68 percent, compared to 42 percent
for the whole population. We can safely assume, therefore, that most of those
born in rural areas from 1985 to 1991 were born into poor households. Without
successful rural development, these people can give little to the new South
Africa. Many will be women, they will be unhealthy, politically and
economically disempowered, and will maintain a high birth rate. We need long
term investment to reduce poverty through empowerment of those who will stay,
and those who will move to urban areas.
I am convinced that together we can do much better.
I hope you that one day with the skills you have acquired; you will cherish
the time and the opportunity that your African National Congress government has
created for you. Thank you very much for having participated to the end of this
programme and I wish you well in your future endeavours. I know that the labour
market is a very tough world, but armed with the skills that you have, I
believe you will make a difference.
Let me also take this opportunity to thank all the local service providers
for their tireless effort, commitment and determination in the training and
imparting of crucial skills for self-development to the beneficiaries.
A community that feeds and nurtures itself is a winning community. And that
is government's goal. We do not want to create a Welfare State but rather a
Developmental State where communities do not live off State hand-outs.
We will surely achieve on the objective of eradicating poverty and reducing
unemployment when we pull together and fully assume our responsibilities as
principal defenders of our democracy.
In unity there is strength.
Congratulations.
Thank you, re a le leboga go menagane
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
E-mail: zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
27 January 2007
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za)
