Programme Director
Honourable Mayor of Maletswai Municipality, Mr Phungwana
Reverend Stoffel and all religious denominations present
All councilors
Municipal manager
My Head of Department, Mr Bongani Gxilishe
My Regional Director, Mr Rozani
Department of Education District Director, Ms Kanjana
The Acting Principal of the school, Ms September
The community of Dukathole, Hewton, Hongerbult and the whole of Maletswai and Joe Gqabi District Municipality
All departmental and municipal officials
Ladies and gentlemen
Goei more
Dumelang
Molweni.
Eerstens, baie dankie aan die skoolhoof, die personeel en die leerders wat ons toegelaat het om veranderinge aan die skool aan te bring ter viering van ons wêreld ikoon President Nelson Mandela se 94ste verjaarsdag.
Dit is vir my en my departement 'ʼn besonderse voorreg om ook ter viering van Mandela Maand vandag hier by Alheit van der Merwe Primêre Skool ons moue op te rol en by die hartklop van Suid-Afrika betrokke te raak deur op ʼn praktiese manier ʼn verskil aan veral die leerders se lewe en leeromgewing te maak.
On the 18th of July the people of South Africa and the world has united in celebrating one of the living icons of our time, former President Nelson Mandela. The day marked Madiba's 94th birthday.
This day and the whole of July Month was declared in 2009 by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Nelson Mandela Day.
The celebration of Mandela Day recognises and honors our former President's commitment to the objective of building a national democratic society, that is united, non racial, non sexist, democratic and prosperous.
We are here today as the Department of Roads and Public Work to heed to that international call to render our "67 minutes of selfless service in honour of Madiba". As the department we have undertaken to use the entire month of July to bring about meaningful service that will change people's lives for the better.
Today we are here at the Alheit van der Merwe Primary School to spend this day with you and do renovations work to your school in honor of one of the ANC and the world’s revered and astute leader Dr Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela.
It is therefore an honor for me as the MEC responsible for Transport, Roads and Public Works to add on his contribution towards reconstruction and development of our country and to the equally important task of building a Better Africa and a Better World.
We have chosen this community and this school, in particular, because of seeing your situation and the condition of the school. This is a primary school that teaches learners from the foundation, intermediate up to senior phase and the condition of the class room was not conducive to house such young learners like you it also did not reflect the a South African school we envisage.
This is a very critical stage of a child's education life as it provides the much needed grounding and foresight into the future and assist in shaping up the career paths. Its is therefore utmost impotent that as a government we provide space and enabling environment for our children to prosper and reach their fullest potential.
"That is what Madiba would want, and it is what as Roads and Public Works and the Eastern Cape government will do". The 67 minutes symbolises Madiba's 67 years of selfless service to the people of South Africa and the world in the course of his extraordinary life. Its therefore prudent as a government that he fought for and achieved to emulate that selflessness Madiba gave to the people of South Africa and the world by also being of service to you today.
The activities that we will do in the school include: painting of the school, sealing of leaks on the roof, do plumbing and fix ablution facility. As government now we have developed a systematic way of cooperating with one another through various systemic approaches such as clusters to expedite the service delivery process.
I have also been made aware that sister department in the Economic Development and Infrastructure Cluster, the Rural Development and Agrarian Reforms has come to assist the school to establish its vegetable garden.
This is one of the ways as government we ensure that we work together with the community and the school for the betterment of the lives of our children and the entire society. I must commend the children of this school, the acting principal and teachers as well as all the parents of this school because they did not fold their arms in the light of the challenges the school faced. These students have been getting all the necessary support and they have excelled in their work.
Some of their notable achievements include being the first prize winner of the Primary Phase Environment Award from Department of Economic Development. These winnings won them a prize of R20 000.00 some of the money now the school is using to assist in the vegetable garden. I am also told that on athletics these children compete nationally, their under 13 rugby team was part of the Craven Week.
We therefore need to continue working together with our local councilors, organic leadership, and parents and raise our children to be the agents and ambassadors of our revolution. The school belongs to the community it serves. It is therefore the responsibility of that community to safe-guard its interests and assets.
Let us all individually and collectively strive to become agents for building a better and caring society. "It is in our hands to make a change". We take this opportunity to urge all government departments and municipalities, the private sector and local communities to initiate activities that are aimed at achieving the objectives of Nelson Mandela Day throughout the country.
I thank you
Baie dankie
Keya leboha
Niyabulela.
