Beatrice Marshoff, Bloemfontein
27 September 2006
Programme Director,
The Honourable Presiding Bishop and Ministers,
The executive of the Connexional,
Past presidents of the Connexional,
Members of the Connexional Association,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Faith-based organisations and the churches in particular have a very
important role to play with regard to the strengthening of families, especially
in areas like mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS on children, poverty
alleviation as well as the fight against the abuse of women and children. The
theme, "Life in all its fullness, " chosen by the organisers of this conference
is relevant and appropriate.
The continued proper implementation of programmes and their envisaged
expansion to each needy family requires the involvement, control, collaboration
and monitoring not only by government but by all relevant stakeholders
including faith-based organisations. Your active involvement in ensuring the
proper implementation and monitoring of these programmes is of vital
importance.
A full range of community support services, often provided by faith-based
organisations, was contemplated in government's plans for comprehensive HIV and
AIDS care and treatment. These community support services include counselling,
adherence support groups, community mobilisation efforts to reduce stigma and
discrimination, patient transport, home and community-based care and, when
necessary, palliative care.
The role of the church in the fight for freedom and equality in this country
cannot be underrated. Different church denominations were vocal in speaking out
against the unjust and oppressive apartheid regime. The church has indeed been
at the forefront of social development in our country.
It was the spirit of forgiveness preached by our churches which filled the
hearts of the great leaders of our country, and which helped our people, as a
whole, to cope emotionally with the transition to democracy. As we enter the
second decade of democracy, our churches continue to play an important role in
shaping our society, influencing government policy, and improving the lives of
people in all our communities.
We should indeed acknowledge that women have always been at the forefront of
the struggle for freedom and equality in our country. From the drafting of the
Freedom Charter in 1955 that declared that South Africa belongs to all who live
in it, Black and White, to the women's petition against pass laws on 9 August
1956. Women have always fought united across colour lines with a common vision
of preserving their right to freedom and equality. Challenging and changing the
devaluation and oppression of women in this society is central to any effort to
give meaning to the high principles and ideals enshrined in our
constitution.
In 1994, our first President of a democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela,
made it very clear, two years before our Constitution was adopted, that there
can be no genuine freedom without the total liberation of the women in our
society. He said: "It is vitally important that all structures of government,
including the President himself, should understand this fully that freedom
cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of
oppression."
This statement affirms that the degradation of women, especially in the name
of culture, undermines the principles, values and ideals enshrined in our
constitution.
In this, the second decade of our freedom, women can be proud of their role
in bringing about change and unity in our country. Through their brave
participation as equal citizens of this country, South Africa has indeed become
the beacon and reflection of true democracy.
Our society owes it to our women to ensure that we restore the culture of
love and respect for women. We seriously need to redefine the role of women and
to alter the negative perceptions about women in our society.
As we are gathered here, we should acknowledge that much still has to be
done in order to achieve the true emancipation of women from the adversities
they have endured because of their gender, race and social status. We should
also pay homage to our fallen heroines who sacrificed their lives for freedom
and democracy in our country. Our thoughts should also be with the plight of
those women across Africa, for it is these women and their children who find
themselves caught between conflicts that are precipitated by power struggles.
We have to work hard to ensure that women are actively involved in the
development of our country and our continent.
We should recognise that many of the women in our country live in conditions
of poverty, and that the deliberate location of women in rural areas and the
underdevelopment in these areas have been responsible for the poor conditions
under which our people live, and have created homelessness and joblessness.
The government needs the church and the rest of the religious communities,
not as party political interested organisations, but as partners in rebuilding
the broken lives of our people. The church must be involved in its own way to
contribute effectively in this noble goal of creating a better life for all in
South Africa. I would like to urge churches and church leaders of all
denominations to join government in ensuring that we continue to improve the
lives of all our people for the better. We all have a responsibility to
contribute towards building a people's contract.
Let take this opportunity to thank this congregation for inviting me to this
thanksgiving service. I am confident that as a collective we will work towards
the ideal of creating a better life for all citizens of the Free State.
Issued by: Free State Provincial Government
27 September 2006
Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://www.fs.gov.za/)
