Address by KZN Department of Education MEC: Honorable Peggy Nkonyeni at the handover event of 3-way techno devices
Programme Director
Interfaith representatives
Her Worship the Mayor of eDumbe: Cllr B M Nxusa
Deputy Mayor Cllr Sbusiso Mkhabela
All Councillors present
Ndabezitha iNkosi Sibisi
National Ports Authority Acting CEO Mr. Hamilton Nxumalo
Port Manager Mr Priston Khomo
National Stakeholder Liaison Manager: Ms. Thandi Mlangeni
Port Engineer Mr. Basil Ngcobo
HR Manager Mr. Mbuso Shezi
SGM Adv B. Masuku
Representatives of School Governing Bodies
Principals
Educators
Parents
Members of the Media Fraternity
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Ngiyanibingelela nonke!!
Introduction
The month of July has become a month of great significance in our country.
It is a month in which we celebrate and commemorate the legacy of one of the greatest sons of our soil, the father of our nation and our hero the first president of a legitimate and democratic South African government, former and late President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Today's business
In just about a week’s time every South African and the world at large will actively, practically and selflessly be offering themselves to serve others especially those less fortunate than themselves with no form of expectation in return. You will all agree with me when I say if he were still with us today he would tirelessly be serving in the overall development of our children and their education. I therefore through you, Program Director, would like to urge everyone in this entire district to identify an area of need in their respective local community and then step onto the plate and serve on the 18th of this month.
It is befitting therefore that the outcomes and fruits of the initiatives and discussion between the Municipality and Transnet National Ports Authority are gained and exhibited during this great month of service. Mphathi wohlelo nomphakathi wonke, uHulumeni oholwa uKhongolose uzibophezelele ngokweqiniso okuhlinzeka imiphakathi eyakhele iNingizimu Afrika yonke ngezinsiza ezizokwenza izimpilo zabantu bakithi zibengcono ngokweqiniso. Lokhu uHulumeni ikwenza ngokubambisana nazo zonke izinhlaka nezakhiwo zikaHulumeni okubalwa nakuzo lokhu:
- imiNyango kaHulumeni ngokwahlukana kwayo
- oHulumeni boMasipala ngokwahlukana ngezigaba zabo
- Amabhizinisi angaphansi kukaHulumeni (SOE)
- Etc.
Ngivumele Mphathi wohlelo ngikhumbuze umphakathi wethu ukuthi uma amabhizinisi angaphansi kukahulumeni lawo aziwa ngokuthi ama- State Owned Enterprises (SOE) ebamba iqhaza ekuthuthukiseni izinga lezimpilo zabantu emiphakathini eyahlukahlukene, kusuke kusewuyena uHulumeni esamvotela okwenzakho lokho. Emanye aloluhlobo lwamabhizinisi angaphansi kukaHulumeni kubalwa kuwo alandelayo: SABC, Petro SA, Eskom, Transnet/Portnet, SAA Etc. At this moment we pause and salute the actions of Transnet’s National Ports Authority Management and Leadership for great initiative and support given to learners and principals of various schools in this district. Program Director, it is common knowledge that the majority of our schools are in the rural parts of our beloved Province. Not only are these schools rural by their geographical location, but also lack essential basic techno-services such as:
- Telephones
- Fax facilities
- Printers
- Etc
The lack of these services and facilities has led to a situation whereby our principals have no option, but to use their personal resources such as vehicles and in some cases public transport taxis to personally submit a document which could have been simply faxed had that facility been available.
The time taken commuting between the District/Circuit Office and the school would have been positively spent for the management of the school or even educating our learners. The same would apply for school printing needs. Program Director, as MEC of Education in the KwaZulu Natal it gives me great pleasure to announce today that these unnecessary trips, the use of personal resources and wastage of valuable time for teaching and learning will all be in the past from today for about 58 schools in this area. As a token of their commitment to the call for the eradication of our social ills, Transnet’s National Ports Authority will today handover 3- Way devices to about 58 schools in and around this area.
These devices will provide the following:
- Telephone facilities - these will enable the school principals to have access to the District/Circuit offices without having to travel long distances.
- Fax facilities - These facilities will completely eradicate the wastage of time stolen from the productivity activities of the school and development of our learners.
- Printing facilities - These will for enable the schools to do their own printing and thus cutting traveling time and costs for printing that would have otherwise been sourced externally.
Mphathi wohlelo nani nonke sizwe saseDumbe namaphethelo, manginikhumbuze ukuthi loHulumeni wethu wesiFundazwe sakwaZulu Natal ongaphansi kobuholi bukaComrade uSenzo Mchunu bunomqulu owumhlahlandlela yokuthuthukisa umnotho nokwandisa amathuba emisebenzi kulesiFundazwe obizwa ngeProvincia Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS). Kwezinye zezinto eziqukethwe kulomqulu ezizodala amathuba ayizinkulungwane ngezinkulungwane yemisebenzi wumkhakha weMaritime. Nizokhumbula ukuthi kulesiFundazwe sinamachweba amakhulukazi eAfrica okuyiTheku neRichards Bay. LenaPGDS icacisa ngokusobala onke amathuba ezomnotho wasemanzini (Ocean economy) lapha ngingabala nje kafushane ngingageq’amagula lokhu okulandelayo:
- Ukwakhiwa kwemikhumbi emikhulu nemincane (manufacture)
- Ukulungiswa kwayo (Maintanance and service)
- Ezokuphepha (marine protection services)
- Ezezimayini zasolwandle (offshore mining)
- Ezokuthutha olwandle (maritime transport)
- etc
Lokhu esikubane laphahea kwi-Career Expo egqugquzelwe uNational Ports Authority kumele kumele sushayelwe ihlombe elikhulu. Okubaluleke kakhulu Mphathi wohlelo naniMphakathi wethu ukuthi kufanele sisondele kakhulu kuloMkhakha. NjengoMphathiswa wezeMfundo kuleProvince ngiyaninxusa kakhulu ikakhulukazi nina nonke bafundi ukuthi nizibheke kakhulu izifundo zalomkhakha weMaritime Studies and engineering ukuze nibambe iqhaza elikhulu ekwakheni umnotho walesiFundazwe kanye nezwe lonkana futhi nasekudaleni amathuba amaningi emisebenzi.
Phase One (1) of Operation Phakisa focuses specifically on maritime economy. The government of the ANC under President Jacob Zuma has put maritime economy very high on the agenda of economic growth and job creation. I one of his addresses of partliament President Zuma said “Transnet has committed funds for the implementation of a concession model for private sector investment for new marine manufacturing ports facilities. Engagement with industries in this regard has already commenced,” The President further informed us that there are South African students who qualified in maritime studies through the World Maritime University in Sweden. I cannot thank Portnet enough for this great opportunity presented to the learners of this community for the exposure to this field of Maritime and Engineering. I also cannot over emphasis my plea to all learner to turn your focus to this field of study.
Conclusion
To the National Ports Authority and all Senior Management and all councilors who spearheaded this commendable initiative, Thank you!!!
Today you have put your hand up to be counted among the stakeholders referred to in the National Development Plan that “the interests of all stakeholders should be aligned to support the common goal of achieving good educational outcomes that are responsive to community needs and economic development”.
I thank you.
