Government and Housing, Howard Yawa at the handing over ceremony of Willow Park
Emergency Housing Project
31 March 2009
Programme directors
The Executive Mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Cllr Temba
Gwabeni
The Honourable Mayor of Ramotshere Moiloa, Cllr Peter Pilane
Honourable councillors
Batlotlegi Dikgosi tsa rona
Officials
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
On 14 January 2009, one daily newspaper published an article titled Poor and
Forgotten and emphasised that: "Its election time. The air is thick with
promises from politicians who want your vote. All of them talk about "service
delivery" and a "better life for all. But often that is not what happens in the
real world."
The African writer and poet Ben Okri wisely cautions us against such
pessimists when he says, "To poison a nation, poison its stories. A demoralised
nation tells demoralised stories to itself. Beware of the storytellers who are
not fully conscious of the importance of their gifts, and who are irresponsible
in the application of their art: they could unwittingly help along the psychic
destruction of their people."
I am mostly humbled and at the same time, very excited to be part of this
occasion to attest that in the real world, it is only the African National
Congress (ANC) that can be trusted to deliver on its undertakings.
I must confess that when I first visited Willow Park on the 14 August 2008,
I was overcome with sadness and left the area depressed because this place was
a contradiction to what we fought for â a better life for all. The area was not
a good sight. However, when I approached this area this morning, I could see
the excitement on the faces of those whose lives we have managed to change.
True to our commitment last year when we visited the area, it is very
heart-warming that we come back to this community, to deliver on what we had
promised.
This development signifies that the ANC government has placed rural
development and infrastructure development as central pillars in our struggle
against unemployment, poverty and inequality. Although people living in rural
areas face the harshest conditions of poverty, food insecurity and lack of
access to services on an almost daily basis, workers living in rural areas face
the brunt of poverty. Many of them work long hours for poverty wages, face
evictions and live under appalling and conditions.
As a caring and compassionate government, we are committed to eradicate the
apartheid legacy of homelessness and deprivation in order to restore the
dignity of our people, provide housing that create sustainable livelihoods and
improve the quality of the lives of our people.
This R2,6 million housing development coupled with other programmes and
initiatives by the Departments of Social Development, Agriculture Conservation
and Environment, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality and Ramotshere
Moiloa Local Municipality have demonstrated that we are indeed committed to a
comprehensive rural development strategy linked to agrarian reform, which
builds the potential for rural sustainable livelihoods, particularly for
African women.
Through integrated interventions, residents of Willow Park today have
identity documents, social grants, early childhood development (ECD) programmes
and decent housing. This project has also contributed towards job creation as
16 building teams were engaged and 203 labourers were employed.
We need to commend Mosegedi and Associates Pty Ltd for chasing the target
for today. Against all adds that include among others unavailability of skilled
labourers, rainy conditions over a period of about a month you strove for the
realisation of our commitment. I am confident that within the next week, work
would have been 100% completed to the satisfaction of all beneficiaries.
This housing development is part of ANC government measures to support rural
development. These measures include infrastructure development to produce
thriving rural economies and ensure sustainable development. The expansion of
basic infrastructure, which includes roads, electricity, water connections and
public toilet systems in rural areas, are a central priority for the next
administration to be put in place after the 22 April 2009 elections.
To those in rural and farming communities who are yet to see the changes,
our housing delivery programme continues. Have hope for we shall not rest until
all our people no longer live in appalling conditions. On behalf of the North
West provincial government, I wish to thank the Commission for Gender Equality
(CGE) and the public broadcaster, in particular South African Broadcasting
Corporation television (SABC TV) Morning Live for drawing our attention to this
area.
We need all stakeholders to co-operate and commit themselves towards
bringing about changes to many parts of our province and our country as a
whole. Though we have a long road ahead of us, but we shall conquer.
To the beneficiaries, we are giving you are a start to a better life because
though you might be poor today, your government, i.e. the ANC government has
not forgotten you. A house offers more than shelter. It is an asset and an
investment for your children and their children. Look after it and it will last
for years to come. Feel free to plant trees and even create vegetable patches
so that you can feed your families.
In conclusion, I wish to remind you to exercise your right to elect a
government of your choice on 22 April 2009. We should all mobilise our
families, friends, relatives and neighbours to vote for a government that is
committed to fight against crime and corruption in order to establish a service
delivery culture, vote for a government that will prioritise education and
health. A government that will be committed to create decent work and
sustainable livelihoods, a government committed to rural development, food
security and land reform.
Ke a leboga
Baie Dankie
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 387 3814
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 384 5426
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, North
West Provincial Government
31 March 2009
