Programme director,
The Executive Committee members
Councillors present here
Ladies and gentlemen
Distinguished guest
Good evening,
We as the department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) are pleased to host the National Civil Servants Sports and Cultural Events (NCSSCE) on a few months shy of the 20th anniversary of our hard won democratic dispensation. Coincidentally, government has launched Freedom Fridays which commence today on the 25 October 2013.
South Africans will on 27 April 2014 celebrate freedom and democracy. The day will mark two decades since South Africans of all races voted in the country`s first free and fair elections ushering in s new democratic dispensation. Freedom Fridays is a call to all South Africans to take pride in their nation and celebrate the road they have travelled since 1994. The inspirational Freedom Fridays campaign which is aimed at building a momentum in the run up to the next year`s 20th anniversary of freedom and democracy.
This auspicious event will leave an indelible mark in the history of our province. Sports was one of the weaponry used to perpetuate the social divide of our society, so it is important that we must use the same tool for promotion of social cohesion and nation building agenda. Our province is forever thankful to those who still believe in us to host an event of this magnitude as such we are honoured to welcome you.
Furthermore, as a caring government, we need to acknowledge that in this developmental paradigm, conducive conditions should be created for public service to partake in all forms of sporting codes to enhance their psychological morale. We also salute those who used various sporting codes to contribute to the struggle against apartheid. Our nascent democratic state is not immune to developmental challenges. In order to understand these challenges better, it is imperative to critically analyse the nature of the current development trends.
Admittedly sport serves as an excellent exercise which has a variety of health benefits. It reduces stress related disorders, depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders are less probable in people who indulge in sports activities. Sport adds value in the workplace in the sense that it lowers tension, fatigue and general anxiety resulting from the workload experienced by the employees. Participation in the tournament will encourage team spirit, socialisation, networking and learning amongst team members.
As government our challenges are numerous and diverse, they include the multiple crisis of unemployment, homelessness, landlessness, lack of basic services, HIV/Aids, food insecurity and unacceptable levels of crime and violence. These challenges persist in making it difficult for some public servants to realise their full potential and thus improve the lives of our people.
It is within this context that as a collective, we must build and maintain momentum to provide socio-economic development. This goes hand in hand with sustained efforts to entrench a culture of work ethics. It is our interests that these games will enhance the performance of our workforce. Working together we can do more.
I seize this opportunity to wish you fruitful activities and wonderful stay in our peaceful province
I thank you.
