A special committee to oversee implementation of resolutions adopted at the Provincial Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration Summit and the establishment of a permanent Monitoring and Evaluation Unit in the Office of the Premier were announced by North West Premier Thandi Modise in Mahikeng on Tuesday.
Hailed as the trend setter for other provinces, the provincial summit resolved among others to continue to fight any forms of discriminations, which are threats to social cohesion and nation building and to accelerate change in improving the quality of life of all people, with special attention to the needs of the youth, women and people with disability.
Delegates endorsed that the provincial government must continue to build capacity to drive the socio economic agenda in the province, including absorbing young people and women into economic activity, employing professionals, investing in skills required by the economy, and investing in research and development to respond to the demands of the knowledge economy.
They resolved to mobilise communities to work together to build a caring and proud society based on shared values and a vision informed by constitutional democracy, Ubuntu , human rights and equality, non-racialism, non-tribalism and non-sexism.
Inclusivity and social justice, redress and transformation, intercultural and community cooperation, social solidarity, empowered, fair, inclusive and active citizenship, civic responsibility, unity in diversity, national consciousness and identity were adopted as guiding principles that should knot society together.
Stakeholders committed to work towards the implementation of the recommendations of the 2030 National Development Plan as a long term vision which should serve as a basis for partnerships across society to attain the South Africa and North West province of their dreams, eloquently articulated in the constitution.
They also undertook to ensure that social cohesion and nation building underpins all provincial and local government strategic priorities, inclusive of integrated economic and social development, education, health, human settlement, land and rural development, safety and security, immigration policies and programmes, arts, culture, language and heritage development and preservation, technological innovation, research and development.
Delegates from across all sectors also agreed to promote and preserve all indigenous cultures and knowledge and further to accelerate change in improving the quality of life of all people, with special attention to the needs of the youth, women and people with disability.
In her closing address, Premier Modise reminded delegates that social cohesion is not about new concepts. Modise emphasised that it is about renewal of values and standards, respecting other people’s cultures and beliefs, being our brothers keepers and loving our neighbours.She said that a lot still needs to be done to protect whistle blowers and that the public service should be intolerant to people who are unable to serve with a smile.
“Rural development is not about tractors or the number of fowls. It is about making the lives of people residing in those areas better by providing the kind of services and resources that are found in urban areas. It is not about the erosion of culture or values,” said Modise in proclaiming that Mahikeng and Taung are among areas that are targeted for development that should turn them into modern cities.
The Premier encouraged young people to take their studies seriously saying that there will be no place for the uneducated in the future. “There is absolutely no excuse for the youth of today not to be educated,” she stressed.
