President Jacob Zuma,
Minister Paul Mashatile,
ANC Women’s League,
SA Council of Churches,
Mk Veterans,
Honourable guests.
I greet you all in the name of the government and the people of South Africa. I wish to convey the President’s well wishes for the success of this function and the programmes of the African Sinakho Arts in improving the lives of the disabled people.
Today we are gathered here to witness a showcase for the wide- ranging talent and commitment of a cast of 80 performers with various disabilities from rural areas sharing the limelight with able bodied dancers.
These performers have, today, proved many of us who thought that dance performance was the preserve of the able bodied persons, wrong. The sky is the limit. All sectors of our societies can – and will be assisted to achieve their goals in life, irrespective of their physical status.
The government has, through the employment equity regulations has ensured that the rights of the physically challenged are upheld in the work place, that they, too, will enjoy equal rights with their able bodied counterparts.
This week we saw on national television successful disabled farmers in KwaZulu-Natal who have employed a number of people. Nothing is impossible when one has a drive and a passion for his or her chosen career.
Arts and culture is one of the drivers of the economy of the country hence the Arts and Culture Department is part of the economic cluster of the government. These two social entities attract tourists to ours shores who would generate foreign currency for our country.
Through dedication and perseverance young people can carve a living out of arts by studying arts so they can be performers of various acts that would entertain globally various communities.
The National Rural Youths Services Corps (NARYSEC) of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform stipulates that 25 percent of the trainees of this programme should comprise disabled youths.
This is meant to ensure that disabled rural youths also benefit from this skills training programme so they can be able to land employment and be able to open their own businesses.
Of paramount importance is that they are being equipped with the needed skills that will enable them to develop their own communities. Disabled farmers should also tap into the recently launched Animal and Veld Management Programme so as to boost their farming production.
This programme will assist the farmers with the needed infrastructure facilities such animal handling facilities, stock water dams, dipping tanks and other farming requirements. With the present myriad of opportunities available in the arts industry, your future is in your hands.
With these few words, I would like to congratulate the African Sinakho Arts for successfully staging this eye-opening In Blood Musical production throughout the country.
I thank you!
