Address by Speaker Baleka Mbete at the launch of the national programme: Digging into dignity – promoting human dignity at home and throughout society
Programme Director
Deputy Minister of DIRCO, Nomaindia Mfeketo
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The youth
Good Afternoon to you all.
I take this opportunity to express appreciation to the leadership of Ilitha Labantu for the honour of joining you today, as you launch this national programme: Digging into dignity- promoting human dignity at home and throughout society.
I am also honoured to share the stage with a remarkable leader, Deputy Minister Nomaindia Mfeketo, who has played a key role in advancing our struggle for a just South Africa, equality and the promotion of development in our country.
The theme chosen for today’s event “Becoming an active citizen”, is critical at this juncture in the continued development of our country.
In fact the National Development Plan, which is our developmental road map until 2013, draws extensively on the notion of an active citizenry, to work alongside our government to ensure that all of our people have a better quality of life.
As a country which has respect for fundamental human rights, we have the Constitution which upholds the rights to human dignity. The cornerstone of South African democracy, the Bill of Rights, states that “Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected”.
These constitutional provisions serve as a reminder and a lesson for us to change our perceptions towards the elderly. We have the responsibility to treat our senior citizens with respect and the dignity they deserve.
The value of being older and having lived long lives is that you have experienced the totality of the experiences that form part of a human being’s journey. This includes the lessons that you have learnt based on mistakes and decisions you may have made.
In this sense, part of the role of older persons in society, is to share these lessons with the young and upcoming generation so that they can make better decisions and thereby contribute to building a better future for their children and future generations.
I also firmly believe that senior citizens can play a pivotal role in nation building and social cohesion in society. Mutual trust, mutual respect and reciprocity are what will build a better society for ourselves, our children and their grandchildren.
The polarization that we are witnessing in politics at the moment, is highly distressing and in this regard, it is our elders who are in the best position to encourage mutual respect and tolerance, listening to each other and tolerating different and diverse views.
In addition to this, there are still so many causes worth sacrificing for. There is still so much history yet to be made.
You can help to endHIV/AIDS in our time by fighting the disease and the stigma of the disease. You can also spread the message that HIV/AIDS is fully preventable and treatable, and should never be a source of shame.
Programme Director
This province has a painful history of continued racism and discrimination. As elders, it is your responsibility to talk about racism and end it. As elders, you must talk about class inequality and end it. Let us not be swayed by the dictates of divisive elements in our society.
Let us make up our own minds and declare unequivocally that race and class shall be a thing of the past, all over the country, but especially in this province. The power of diversity can only lead to greater socio-economic advances and more opportunities for all to prosper. Thus we must Unite in Action.
Programme Director
The 5thLocal Government elections since 1994, is but months away. As senior citizens, you have a critical role to play in making your voices heard during the upcoming local government elections and thus the development of local communities.
I make this statement to highlight the reality that older persons who live in communities are alive to the day-to-day challenges on the ground and can play a role in turning the situation around.
I urge you, as senior citizens to exercise your right and turn out in your numbers to register and vote in the upcoming local government elections.
Indeed, as the elders, your responsibility is to school the young in holding your leaders accountable for open, honest government at every level - government that stamps out corruption and protects the rights of every citizen to speak freely, to worship openly, to love whomever they choose.
As senior citizens you can ensure that women are no longer second-class citizens, that girls take their rightful places in our schools.
As elders, you must continue to stand up and say that violence against women in any form, in any place — including the home - especially the home –is not just a women’s rights violation. It is a human rights violation. And it has no place in any society.
Programme Director
With Freedom comes responsibilities- we must not take it for granted that our progress is inevitable. All of us must play our part- with the kind of patriotism and dedication of a lifetime. It requires citizenship and a sense that we are one.
I hope that you will commit yourselves to doing what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are, because in the end, that is what makes you a lion. Not fortune, not fame, not your pictures in history books, but the refusal to remain a bystander when others are suffering. I hope you will commit yourselves to serve however you can, where you are. Together let us Move South Africa Forward.
I thank you!
