Programme director
Executive Mayor, Councilor Milton Morema
Members of the Mayoral Committee
Councilors
Head of Department of Finance and his team
Officials from various Departments
Representatives of our partners and stakeholders i.e.
Disabled People South Africa
National Empowerment Fund
South African Revenue Services
Construction Industry Development Board
Small Enterprise Development Agency
Representatives from the banking institutions
Ladies and gentlemen
Avuxeni, Dumelang, Sanibonani
Today, Friday, 10 December 2010 marks the day in which South Africa commemorates the closing of the 16 days of Activism Against Women and Child Abuse Campaign, a day which is one of South Africa’s innovation under the rubric of Human Rights that ensures that South Africa is a better place for all, including women and children.
Ironically, it is within the same date and day that the whole world celebrates International Day of Human Rights. It is a day within which South Africa joins the international community in celebrating human victory over adversities. A day within which as South Africans we remember, first hand for that matter, those that were affected by human rights violations. A day in which we commit that never again will the situation that our forefathers experienced during the height of political struggle repeat itself right before our eyes. A day in which we further commit to promote actions that will lead to decent human living conditions for all.
Despite the 16 days notion we urge communities, civil formations and South African Police Service to continue the awareness campaigns beyond the 16 days. Democracy has given us back the human right to live freely, and let it be everyone’s commitment, to say every 365/366 days “I am not going to look away, but I am going to ensure that every woman and child enjoys theright to live freely, and free of abuse or any other form of human rights violation”.
Ladies and gentleman, it is within this day in which we commemorate these two important events that the Department of Finance has strategically deemed it fit to host this Supply Chain Road Show with specific focus on the marginalised groups of our society, that is, women, youth and people with disabilities and by so doing, reiterating the importance of ensuring Human Rights for ALL.
Programme director, let me emphasise that the day is even more relevant in that this supply chain road show takes place a few days after the conclusion of the Disability month and celebration of the International Day of People with Disabilities.
The Department of Finance has, therefore, correctly so, thought it wise to converge and organise this event here in Acornhoek to share and impact knowledge, information and experiences about supply chain management processes and opportunities with our people for “Knowledge is Power”.
Ladies and gentlemen, this road show is inspired by our desire to share and pursue ways in which women, youth and people with disabilities can take their rightful place in economic development and usurp the opportunities that the government makes available for all. It is intended to empower all our people to participate in the mainstream of economy and through that contribute to economic revival where they live. It is about acknowledging that the struggle for inclusivity in the communities and economic space continues.
Programme director,
On this day, we affirm our commitment to do everything possible and everything within our power and means to protect the rights of all people of Mpumalanga through implementation of people-centred programmes. We will continue to improve the way we work and serve the communities inorder to ensure that the people of this province benefit from all the programmes and projects that are implemented on their behalf.
In the past few days we reminded ourselves about progress made in the fight against discrimination and exclusion of people with disabilities in the mainstream of our economy and the challenges that still weigh heavily against the achievement especially on access to infrastructure, economic opportunities among others.
We agree with the observation made by United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navanethem Pillay, on that day, when she said:
“The participation in the labour force of persons with disabilities is significantly lower than for those who do not have any disability. This is not only detrimental to the rights and quality of life of the individuals concerned, it is also damaging to theeconomy and to the family, the community and society at large. It makes no sense to leave such a huge, potentially productive, group of people on the economic sidelines.”
This road show is therefore part of our crusade to empower all our people, including people with disabilities with information to use and to take advantage of the economic opportunities.
It is a programme that seeks to bring young people, women and people with disabilities to the epicentre of our economic advancement. It is in part our strategic response to challenges of access to information to support growth of small, micro and medium enterprises, and to provision of the required support and documentation on information on tendering/bidding.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We remain committed to ensuring economic emancipation of all our people, women, youth and people with disabilities from the shackles of poverty and unemployment. The government continues to implement policies that are intended to help us achieve the targets for employment of people with disabilities and to ensure that they enjoy the benefits of the job market equally so.
We continue to advocate for disability-friendly social and economic infrastructure in the province. It is our collective responsibility to promote the rights and dignity of all our people including of those with disabilities. The African Union (AU) has agreed to extend the African Decade of Disabled Persons to 2019. We urge everyone to unite and work together to ensure that the decade succeeds beyond its expectations and during that period the socio-economic situation of all people with disabilities in the province improves.
Programme director,
We are mindful of the great challenges that are experienced by our fellow South African, especially those among us with disability. However, we remain convinced that working together we can achieve the objectives of the African Decade of Disabled Persons. Government and all other social partners must strengthen implementation, monitoring and accounting on our recruitment and procurement policies to ensure that people with disabilities access the opportunities.
We will never achieve total economic development goals unless the private put their lot in doing the same, by committing to ensure access and equitable distribution of opportunities for all our people in the province.
Programme director,
We would like to urge you to take advantage of the presence of the development institutions here with us to get information, explore opportunities and use these for economic development.
In conclusion, let me take this opportunity to thank all those who are parts of us in the implementation of this programme, local municipalities, business people as well as communities for their great enthusiasm and support for this programme.
Working together colleagues we can defeat women and children abuse and create a society based on non-sexism and gender equality.
I wish you a blessed festive season and productive New Year.
God bless you.
I thank you!
