P Mlambo-Ngcuka: Opening ceremony of Women’s World Cup of Golf

18 January 2006

Premier of the North West, Edna Molewa,
Deputy Minister of Sport, Gert Oosthuizen,
Chief Executive Officer of Women’s World Cup, Tanya Fourie,
Official Ambassador of the Women’s World Cup, Sally Little,
2005 Women’s World Cup of Golf Holders, Japan,
Director of Operations, Lesley Coperman,
Distinguished Guests,
Participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. I stand before you tonight wearing a special and exciting hat;
that of being an Honorary President of the Women’s World Cup of Golf, and as an
admirer of the many sisters and girls, who have raised women’s image so high
through the game of golf.

I also welcome all our international guests. I wish you a very pleasant stay
in South Africa. We are grateful that South Africa is the host of this
prestigious event. We say thank you to Tanya Fourie and her team of organisers
for their courage and determination to bring the event to South Africa and for
doing it so excellently.

We also thank our women golfers; we admire you for being the pioneers in a
sport that definitely has been predominantly a man’s sport.

I see this same dedication and determination mirrored in the Women’s World
Cup of Golf team as well as in every single player in the tournament. I can
sense the blood, sweat and tears it has taken for you to be in this room
tonight. I sense sleepless nights, aching muscles and strung-out nerves. I hear
you all and you don’t have to say a word.

South Africa is a country that takes the equality of women very seriously,
our women have many challenges, but since the dawn of our democracy from the
era of former President Madiba to President Mbeki we have seen many
changes.

The provision of services that impact on women has been a hallmark of our
democracy. Services such as water, sanitation, electricity, health facilities,
have all changed women’s situation for the better. The sport of golf has
evolved alongside with the socio-political change.

It is not only South Africa that has come such a long way in terms of
equality and democracy. The game of golf has truly evolved for women. There was
a time, not so long ago, when women were not even allowed to play golf.

This later evolved into women being allowed to play golf but not at the same
times as men, and no drinking in the bar either! We are now standing at the
official opening ceremony of the Second Women’s World Cup of Golf and it makes
me wonder – where to next, ladies?

The women have arrived and it feels good! What remains as a challenge in
South Africa is that of mobilising the private sector and big business to
sponsor and support women’s sports.

I want to acknowledge the wonderful work that Tanya and her team are doing
in taking golf to the girls and women from poor backgrounds. They have a superb
programme that assists with coaching the clubs and transporting the kids from
poor backgrounds to find their way to the golf courses. This is what Tanya and
her team have done.

Giving these children a break is a welcome act and this could be the one
break of a lifetime these children will get. The types of contacts that people
make in golf, the fact that you don’t have to be a professional to be at a golf
course, makes the game accessible to more people. We just need to enable even
more people to do the sport.

South Africa has hosted numerous world events, including The Rugby World Cup
in 1995 and the Cricket World Cup in 2003. We are very proud to be hosting the
Women’s World Cup of Golf this year. Because this is a women’s country!

Our record in terms of women in key leadership positions speaks for itself.
In total we have eleven (11) women Ministers, and four (4) women out of a total
of 9 Premiers. The Ministers are Thoko Didiza – Agriculture and Land Affairs,
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri - Communications, Naledi Pandor-Education, Nkosazana
Dlamini-Zuma-Foreign Affairs, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang - Health, Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula - Home Affairs, Lindiwe Sisulu - Housing, Brigitte Mabandla -
Justice and Constitutional Development, Lindiwe Hendricks - Minerals and
Energy, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi - Public and Administration, Stella Sigcau -
Public Works, Buyelwa Sonjica - Water and Forestry. Premiers are Edna
Molewa-North West, Nosimo Balindlela-Eastern Cape, Beatrice Marshoff-Free State
and Dipuo Peters-Northern Cape.

To those who have never before experienced the majesty and the beauty of our
country – you are welcome. And to those who are returning for another journey –
Africa welcomes you once again with open arms. And to the players in the
tournament, I am confident that your families, friends and fellow countrymen
will be thinking of you as you take on the world’s best players.

Good luck to you all and may your drives split the fairways and your putts
find the holes. I declare this tournament open.

Thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
18 January 2006