Programme Director;
The Ambassador the Republic of South Korea, His Excellency Ambassador Yoon Lee;
The Dean of Diplomatic Corp, His Excellency Mr L M’Poko;
Ambassadors and High Commissioners gracing in the Excellencies this historic event in the Republic of South Africa;
Korean Communities and Companies present here today;
Representatives of the Democratic State of the Republic of South Africa;
The President of SATF, Mr Mokoboto;
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, Prof. De la Rey;
Tuks Director of Sport, Mr van der Walt;
Taekwondo participants and supporters;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Taekwondo Ambassador and the World Taekwondo leadership at large for inviting me to this honourable event in the history of the Republic of South Africa.
It is, indeed, an honour and privilege for me stand in front of you this afternoon to represent the sporting people of our beautiful Republic and accept the honour of being conferred with an Honorary Black Belt and receive the Sixth Den International Certificate.
Chairperson, it is well known that Taekwondo was originally developed as a self defence mechanism and retaliation against wild animals in the olden days. However, in the long run, human beings practised the art of Taekwondo to prevent violence. They used this art of Taekwondo to exercise patience, respect and self-control as a gesture of self-respect and humanity. This attitude and maturity is actually earned through discipline techniques and self-control after a long hard and bravos training. It is said that Taekwondo is not just for physical training, as most people may think, but, also promotes etiquette, respect and humility.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is indeed with a great sense of honour and pride that now I join the Taekwondo fraternity in South Africa and the world as an Honorary Black Belt holder. Chairperson, not everyone or any person can hold a Black Belt. Many Taekwondo’s athletes retired or died still longing for an honour of receiving the Black Belt in Taekwondo one day.
I have given it some serious thought and spent time applying my mind to this the matter further. I have read the documents given to me and taken into consideration the various aspects required to be a positive, interested and effective Honorary Black Belt holder and Sixth Den of the Taekwondo.
This appointment is indeed not one to be taken lightly!It comes with a great deal of responsibility and expectations. I would therefore like to also commit myself to assist Taekwondo Federation as part of my responsibilities as the Minister of Sport and Recreation to support your efforts to grow the sport into new and higher heights not only in the Republic of South Africa but worldwide.
We need to take Taekwondo to all the young people of South Africa, especially girls. We need to empower them with the art of self defence against the perpetrators of violence against women and children. We need to empower the youth to utilise the techniques of Taekwondo as a critical tool for self-discipline and mutual respect. They must use the skills learned in the training of this sport as an instrument for unity, social cohesion, nation building and human solidarity.
In the course of my duty as a recipient of the Sixth Den Certificate I trust that I will also add value in the pursuit of the abovementioned strategic priorities in making the Taekwondo a sport of choice for the majority of South Africans in particular the youth.
Thank you!
