H Yawa: Welcome of Dr Lechuti

27 August 2006

The Regional Overseer for Bophirima Region of the Full Gospel Church of God,
Pastor Colleen Mahlangu
President of South African Ministers Fraternal (SAMIFRA) and Bishop of the
Independent Congregational Church-Bishop, FD Matebesi
The Executive Committee and Members of SAMIFRA
Bishops and Pastors
Pastor Lechuti and family
The congregation at large

Programme Director, in 1st Peter Chapter 5 verse 2 to 4 the Almighty
commands thus, "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as
overseers; not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you
to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those
entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."

Shepherding in Bible times was no part-time fair-weather affair. Ancient
shepherds actually lived a sheep's lifetime in the pasture with the flock. When
a tiny lamb was born into his wilderness world, among the first sensations felt
by the shivering lamb was the tender touch of the shepherd. And the shepherd's
gentle voice helped awaken the lamb's delicate eardrums.

The shepherd protected the lambs, talked to them, caressed them, and led
them to the fresh pools and luxuriant pastures, day and night. By the time the
lambs reached "ewe-hood" or "ram-hood" they completely relied on that one
shepherd and followed his voice and his alone. That is how flocks were
formed.

I am told that this is how spiritual flocks are formed today as well. People
naturally gather around a loving, serving Christian who nourishes their faith,
guides them, protects them, and affirms them with affectionate touch and loving
word.

Government as a shepherd of the masses of our people in the infancy of our
democracy still face critical challenges such as the reduction and eradication
of poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment, addressing race and gender
inequality in the distribution of opportunity, income and wealth, and creating
the caring and equitable society that will guarantee the dignity of all our
people, including children, the youth, women and people with disabilities,
within the context of a truly democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous
society.

To achieve these goals requires that we have a strong economy that generates
the resources we need. For this reason, throughout our 12 years of democracy,
government has paid close attention to the performance of the economy.

In this regard, among other things, we have sought to ensure that:

* Our economy grows at high and sustainable rates, essentially driven by
higher investment levels.
* We raise the level of domestic savings to provide the investment capital we
need.
* We manage the public finances in a manner that would ensure that the public
sector, including the state-owned enterprises, contributes to the growth of our
economy, while doing everything possible to meet the needs of the people,
especially the poor.
* We restructure and modernise our economy to improve its international
competitiveness, among other things to protect our domestic industry, and
increase the export, earnings we need to finance the intermediate and capital
goods we require to expand our production capacity.
* In this regard, we encourage the growth of the manufacturing and service
sectors, resulting in a relative reduction of our dependence on the production
and export of raw materials.
* We increase productivity, relying on better skilled workers and the
introduction of modern technology.
* We transform the "second economy", elevating it to achieve the level of
development enjoyed by the "first economy".
* We reduce the levels of poverty and the historic wealth and income imbalances
in our country, rapidly expanding the domestic market.

The church as a partner in the Moral Regeneration Movement needs to continue
to play a critical role in ensuring that the moral values of ubuntu such as
respect for human life, and respect for each other are inculcated, especially
among our youth.

We also see a key role for the church to play in alleviating the suffering
caused by disease, especially AIDS. Across the country every day, I still see
the churches and religious people and leaders alike taking care of the aged,
nursing the sick, feeding and clothing the poor and orphans especially HIV and
AIDS orphans. It is crucial for the church to continue to play a role in AIDS
awareness and prevention campaigns. We greatly applaud, and appreciate these
selfless efforts by the church, for they inspire the nation to greater moral
heights.

In the past week, false allegations about South Africa's comprehensive HIV
and AIDS programme were made at the International AIDS Congress. During the
Congress, various parties insinuated that the government did not have a
comprehensive programme on HIV and AIDS. Nothing could be further from the
truth.

Kofi Annan, the United Nations (UN) Secretary General in his report to the
General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS commended South Africa for
tripling its resource allocation for HIV and AIDS programmes, since the
adoption of the UN declaration in 2001. Public sector expenditure on HIV and
AIDS has increased substantially over the years as it grew from R30 million in
1994 to over R3 billion in 2005/06.

This increased expenditure is making it possible for us to make progress on
all fronts, namely, prevention, treatment, care and support of those who are
infected or affected by HIV and AIDS.

We look upon the church as a partner to enhance the understanding of our
comprehensive HIV and AIDS programme to address any doubts our commitment to
the fight against HIV and AIDS.

As government we remain convinced that the Christian Church, like all the
other faiths in our country, has the possibility to make a critical
contribution to the achievement of the goals of national reconstruction and
development.

We are certain that the people's contract to create jobs and fight poverty
will be enormously weakened if it does not include within it the Christian
Church and the other faiths, pursuing the goals that we have set ourselves as a
people. Your government, the ANC led government regards the church as one of
its principal partners as we strive to improve the lives of all our people,
especially the poor. Accordingly, we urge the church to continue to use its
capacity and infrastructure positively to impact on the process of
transformation and change.

I am truly honoured by the opportunity afforded to me to participate in the
welcoming function for the servant of God, Pastor Lechuti, to Matlosana and
wish to emphasise that as government we truly appreciate the partnership with
SAMIFRA and the Full Gospel Church of God for contributing towards the moral
regeneration campaign and the reconstruction of our society's moral fibre. It
is through our collective patriotic efforts that we can make a difference in
the fight against ignorance and moral decay.

In conclusion let me remind Pastor Lechuti of what the Lord says in the John
10:16 "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them
also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one
shepherd." Be the Chief Shepherd's voice in Matlosana and bring other sheep to
the Kingdom of God's Pen.

Ke a leboga.

Issued by: Department of Public Works, North West Provincial
Government
27 August 2006
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za)