No Violence against Women and Children Campaign by Deputy Minister of
Provincial and Local Government, Ms N Hangana, Kutlwanong Stadium,
Bloemfontein
25 June 2007
Programme Director
Dignitaries who are here today, especially:
The Honourable Premier, Ms Marshoff
MEC for Local Government and Housing, Mr Mafereka
Education MEC, Ms Tsopo
Safety and Security MEC, Mr FK Morule
Mayor of Matjhabeng, Ms Leeto
District Mayor of Lejweleputswa, Mr Ngangelizwe
To all councillors
Provincial Government officials, especially the Director-General in the office
of the Premier, Dr Nwaila
To the School Principal of Motumi High, Mrs Lebitso
Chairperson of the Provincial Youth Commission, Mr Mahoa
To all the youth about whom we are here today
Ladies and gentlemen
Dumelang!
We are speaking to the youth of Bloemfontein exactly a week after
commemorating our National Youth Day, a day which brings tears when thinking
about those school children from humbled homes who sacrificed their lives when
they challenged the government of the day for a better life. They did so
knowing they would be shot at or taken to jail, but the ideals for which they
fought far outweighed the consequences of their actions, for they knew they
were fighting for a just cause.
What saddens me about this day is that today's youth do not seem to
appreciate such bravery and sacrifice made by those who died for a quality
education that you enjoy today. As the 16 days campaign we are saying to the
youth, in 1976 June 16, a lot of people died for the kind of life you are
toying with today. They wanted a chance to go to school, which you are not
doing today even when you are given it on a silver platter. They wanted to grow
up and be good leaders and citizens of this country, which you are not doing.
They wanted to live in a society free of violence, which you are perpetuating
against your fellow learners and grandmothers at home.
Yes, as government we are facilitating a process of attaining a better life
for all, but such life will not be realised without your own contribution. In
fact, it begins with you by making a conscious decision to be a responsible
citizen. Raping, murder, staying away from school and doing drugs are certainly
the worst of all starts to attaining a better life. This campaign is exactly
about that; challenging you to change your ways.
Yes, we acknowledge that most of you come from poor backgrounds, but I fail
to understand how is resorting to crime and raping other children ever become a
solution to your problems. I am told that some children in this province die in
the process of committing crime. Is this what you would like to see happen to
you? If you do not die you will end up in jail, and by having a criminal record
you would have done a good job in destroying your life because you will not get
employment elsewhere with that record. Could this possibly be in line with
creating a better life?
We also acknowledge that some of you come from violent homes, but why do you
allow your background to define who you ultimately become in life? By resorting
to violence you only help keep this vicious cycle of violence alive. Is this
the legacy you would like your own children to inherit? To some of the parents
who are here today, why should we be even having a problem of violent homes
when we can end it by merely respecting one another? I hope you realise the
kind of future you have and continue to create for your children by displaying
this violent behaviour at home today. We have rapists at home, we have car
hijackers at the traffic lights and we have a huge number of school dropouts. I
ask again, what kind of society are we becoming when you no longer have to be
away from home to feel unsafe?
I am told that some children here head households because they lost their
parents to AIDS, which is sad enough, but doubling the sadness is to find out
that the very children resort to drugs and sex - resulting in teenage
pregnancies. In fact, the very lifestyle they live is highly likely to make
them become victims of AIDS themselves. I ask, is that what you are going to
school for? There are so many places where you can go and ask for help. You can
begin by going to the Department of Social Development; there are so many
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who work in this field and are our
partners in this campaign.
I challenge you today as the youth to embark on a process of making schools
safe places. I challenge you to make either an individual or collective
contribution to making our society free of violence. I challenge you to be the
children your parents won't regret to have brought on earth. Even though most
of you were not born in 1976, the least you could do in appropriation of the
lives lost is to take care of your own.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
25 June 2007
