Welcome address at the 2017 National Adjudications by Deputy Minister Water and Sanitation, Mrs Pamela Tshwete, Benoni, Gauteng
Programme Director
Acting Deputy Director General
Youth Programme Champions
Regional Coordinators
Educators and Learners
Our Honoured Guests: The Adjudicators
Department of Arts and Culture
Youth Development Partners and Sponsors
Ladies and gentlemen
Good Day to you all.
I am very happy to meet you again in 2017 since the last session in 2016 of the national adjudications.
It is always good to be part of these national adjudications because you witness robust competition amongst provinces.
The most interesting part is that young people represent their provinces carrying the hopes and wishes of many people back at home.
I take note of the interest that is developing and growing from all provinces and many schools in our country.
In this regard I want to credit all participating educators, organising regional coordinators and all our stakeholders for the ground we are covering in our awareness campaigns.
Recently I was listening to uMasigoduke programme in uMhlobo Wenene on sport development in schools. The first thing most callers asked for was whether there will be a stipend for the educators involved.
That is not my experience in this programme. Thank you so much for serving your communities beyond the call of duty.
Most importantly are the learners who are the majority in this hall. There may be a will on the part of educators to do something but without the cooperation of learners and their availability such will perish.
With your support and contribution in these youth programmes we are set to change the water and sanitation map of South Africa.
Thirdly in the house we have partners in the form of other government departments, water boards, municipalities, the Setas and many other institutions who are here to support this good work of supporting the environment.
Through this partnership, we are also likely to create more awareness on hygiene, the use of water sparingly and introduction of new technologies in the water and sanitation management.
The critical benefit will be our ability to direct young learners to follow careers in science and engineering.
These young leaders of tomorrow we must invest in them in such a way that they will sustain this environment for many generations to come.
As we are gathered here we must be reminded of the key objectives of this initiative which are:
- Increase awareness, knowledge and practice of learners on issues of integrated water resource management.
- Encourage active participation of learners in the management of water resources in their schools and communities.
- Stimulate interest of the youth to pursue careers in water and sanitation management.
- Promote health and hygiene awareness and education.
- Promote good health and hygiene practices.
- Increase awareness and action around removal of invasive alien plants.
Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the 2017 National Adjudications held in Benoni, Ekurhuleni in the Gauteng Province.
I trust that these National Adjudications are a very useful teaching experience for all of you.
I hope you have learnt a lot on your way here and you continue to learn as you interact with others from other provinces.
With the presence of our sponsors present here today, I guarantee you warmth in this cold weather of Gauteng. Thank you for opening your hearts to our children during this time of need.
Let me take this opportunity and wish all of you enjoyable moments and interesting times during your stay here.
At the end of this session, I wish you all safe journeys back to your provinces.
Goodbye I will see you in September when I will be awarding the winners with prizes.
I thank you.
