Programme director
Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi
Executive Mayor of the Lesedi Municipality Councillor
Members of parliaments and provincial legislature present
Members of the mayoral committee and councillors from municipalities across the province
Officials from all spheres of government (National, Provincial and local)
Representatives of the CEF/SDM
Participants and beneficiaries of our Expanded Public Works Programme
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen
I first wish to congratulate the organisers of this event for a job well done. It is such a pleasure to be here amongst you today and to participate in this campaign of “Basa nje ngoMagogo Campaign” that will change our way of making fire.
Programme director, during her opening of the Gauteng Legislature, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane alluded to the fact that the province and Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) will campaign together with municipalities and communities to clean and green the province as part of our commitment to fight global warming. We are aware that our present way of making fire contributes towards the air pollution resulting in global warming.
As department strategy of contributing towards the cleaner air, the department has launched Bontle ke Botho (BkB) in 2002 and contribute during the arbor week every year by planting many trees across the provinces. It has been scientifically proven that trees clean the air we need by absorbing carbon dioxide and release cleaner, healthy oxygen into the air for us to breathe. It is through “Love Gauteng, Keep It Clean and Green campaign, that the province is committed to planting one million trees as a step towards reversing the damage done to the ozone layer. It is important for community not only to plant more trees but also look after them as part of contributing towards healthy environment. By today GDARD has already distributed 4 152 trees across all municipalities in the province.
Deputy Minister, programme director and ladies and gentleman, GDARD is at the edge of launching the air quality strategy for the province. Because Gauteng is largely industrial, it contributes a lot towards the air pollution. This is also increase by the way our communities are making fire for their daily basic needs.
These entire programmes are part of our mandate given by the South African during the general elections last year. It is the promise we made in our election manifesto and resolutions of the ANC Polokwane conference as the ruling party and the constitutions of this country as government is the custodian on healthy environment.
Deputy Minister, GDARD is committed to “Basa nje ngoMagogo Campaign” programme because air pollution result into climate change that affects our agricultural sector, one of the most important mandates of the department and our general health.
Programme director, ladies and gentleman, distinguished guests; before I introduce national Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs please allow me to wish Bafana Bafana our pride nation soccer team the best of luck during their journey of brings the world cup home. It is important that we all support the team so that they can develop more confident and perform to their maximum during this competition.
National Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs: Ms Rejoice Thizwilondi Mabudafhasi. Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi was appointed on 11 May 2009 after the general election. She is a member of the ANC's National Executive Council, elected during the 2007 national conference held in Polokwane. Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi is currently chairperson of the Mvula Trust Board and has been since 1997. She has co-chaired the Global Networking of Women Ministers and Leaders of Environment since 2004.
In her life as an activist and community leader, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi has worked as a teacher at Tshilidzi School, Soweto (1962 to 1963) and worked at the University of the North as librarian between 1965 and 1994. Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi was Secretary of the United Democratic Front Northern Transvaal (UDF) between 1983 and 1986; a member and, organiser of the Federation of Transvaal Women (FEDTRAW) between 1983 and 1986. She also organised rural women in various self-help projects such as gardening etc between 1985 and 1986. She was Commissioner for the Human Rights Commission between 1990 and 1992, National Treasurer of the National Education Health and Allied Union (NEHAWU) and COSATU affiliate from 1992 to 1994 and a member of the Council of the University of the North between 1992 and 1994.
Between 1998 and 1999, she was member of the International Committee on Business Partners for Development of Water and Sanitation.
Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi was an elected to the first national legislature in 1994 and was the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of South Africa from 17 June 1999 to 10 May 2009.
We are honoured to have her participate in this occasion with us today. Please welcome the Deputy Minister.
I thank you.
Source: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
