B Sonjica: Handing over ceremony of school projects

20 March 2009

Programme director
Honourable Mayor and Councillors
Vice-President Operations PetroSA and Chairman CSI of PetroSA, Mr Dan
Marokane,
Representatives of Eskom amongst us
Learners
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

I must report on a meeting that we held with councillors before we came
here. One of the issues raised was with regard to electricity in Rooidraai. I
wish to announce that the electrification programme in Rooidraai will start on
1 April.

In all that we still need to continue to save electricity.

I am truly honoured to, once again, be in this community. The last time I
was here, I had requested two State Owned Enterprises reporting to the
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), namely Eskom and PetroSA, to provide
assistance to some of the schools in the area. I am thrilled that these
entities responded positively and we have a reason to be here to acknowledge
that response. Today, as a responsive and caring government, I have come to
fulfil that request.

This effort must be seen as a means to close the gap between the schools
that were disadvantaged and those that were built with all facilities in place.
In terms of knowledge we need to build same quality students who can compete
with the best in the world. We must be proud to say when our children go out to
serve in other parts of the world they could be at the same level as their
colleagues.

One reality is that it does not matter where you come from you have a right
to a quality education.

To the kids who are born free, let us not develop an attitude that says I am
well in my own right and therefore there is no need for me to care for anyone
else. Education is a liberator but as you get educated and liberated, do not
forget where you come from.

Firstly, I would like to highlight that the government that I am part of, is
committed to the education of the youth. This is in line with the vision of our
country as set out in our Constitution, following from the directives of the
Freedom Charter. Our country needs to have a vision and that vision is
education.

Government is also committed to fighting poverty and inequality. We believe
that through education we can be able to achieve that ideal. We are deeply
committed to opening the doors of learning and culture to all. It is therefore
critical for all children to have equal access not just to schools but these
should be well equipped as well.

To this end my, department has initiated a career guidance programme known
as the Learners Focus Week. The purpose of this programme is to redress the
imbalances of the past and to play a significant role in removing the barriers
for the youth to enter into the various professions within the minerals and
energy sectors. This effort is meant to increase and sustain the much-needed
technical skills in the mining and energy sectors.

The mining and energy sectors are highly technical fields so I encourage the
learners to study mathematics and science, geography, etcetera, so as to be
able to take up technical subjects at tertiary level.

Allow me programme director, to name the programmes that we embarked upon to
raise the level of interest and activity of the previously disadvantaged
scholars within our sectors:

* Malaysian Scholarship Programme

The DME in partnership with PetroSA is facilitating the Malaysian
Scholarship Programme which is open to all students who pass their
matriculation and obtain excellent grades in mathematics and science. They are
provided with bursaries to study in Malaysia with a focus on the following
specialities:
* Chemical Engineering
* Mechanical Engineering
* Civil Engineering
* Information Technology

Since its inception, the Malaysian Scholarship Programme has accepted 91
students and thus far, 46 students have graduated. Some of these students are
now employed in local industries.

* SASOL Scholarship Programme

In partnership with SASOL, we have developed a scholarship programme whereby
the employees of DME are encouraged to further their studies in engineering and
management, that is, through a Masters in business administration
qualification.

* Nuclear energy bursaries

As a nuclear country, we need skills in this field to ensure our
competitiveness. We do have a serious shortage of personnel in this field,
especially from the previously disadvantaged. To address this challenge, we
established a Nuclear energy bursary within the DME.

* Mine health and safety bursary

There is a shortage of mine health and safety inspectors as well as
occupational medicine personnel, not just in South Africa but worldwide. In
recognition of this, we needed to set up this scheme. The main thrust of our
intervention is the empowerment of the historically disadvantaged South
Africans (HDSAs).

Partnership with the University of Fort Hare

In support of our universities, the DME entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the University of Fort Hare. The aim of the MoU is to
assist various departments within the institution, viz, geology, chemistry,
statistics and biochemistry. This assistance could not have been possible
without the involvement of our stakeholders, namely, the Council for
GeoScience, the Central Energy Fund and PetroSA.

I wish to make a point that we also do not have well-equipped teachers for
science and mathematics. We need to think about how we can keep those with good
intelligence quotients (IQ) towards these faculties within the teaching
profession.

With all these efforts, government is investing in the future of its young,
and is particularly contributing towards poverty alleviation.

Let us come back to the business of today.

I am convinced that our public entities are in good hands. I believe that
our business today signifies that our public entities are managed by
conscientious South Africans who understand their roles and mandates. When a
call was made that there is a need in some of our schools, there was a response
equal to it that reflected a common spirit and a love for the children of this
country. Truly, together we can do more and do it better!

We are here today to launch and hand over the school projects undertaken
here in Humansdorp, Hankey and Jeffrey's Bay.

These projects are the following:
* The renovation of ablution facilities and upgrading of the science laboratory
and computer room at Lungiso High School.
* The upgrading and building of classrooms at Humansdorp High School.
* The upgrading of the administration block, the equipping of the computer room
and science laboratory at the Mzingisi Primary School.

These projects were as a result of co-operation with PetroSA.

* Finally but definitely not in the least less important, the provision of
computers by Eskom at Vukani Primary School in Hankey and at the Pellsrus
Primary School in Jeffrey's Bay.

I would like to commend our State Owned Enterprises namely; Eskom and
PetroSA for the good work they have done in upgrading and refurbishing the
schools.

We need state-owned entities to lead in the CSI programmes and I am proud
that the entities reporting to the DME are leading the way.

Some schools needed proper classrooms to accommodate the computers and
science equipment, whilst others required basic needs such as ablution
facilities. These are facilities which are readily available and taken for
granted in a lot of urban areas. Our State Owned Enterprises (SOE) took up the
challenge to equip schools in rural or under-developed areas of our country and
this is truly commendable.

To the community, I hope we will support the schools, the educators and our
entities in looking after these assets. Take pride in them and understand that
the responsibility for their upkeep is in our hands. To the children let us
take pride of our assets. Protect and look after them.

There are bursaries for social workers through the Department of Social
Development (DSD). For those children who have passed matriculation and are not
furthering their studies you can take up this opportunity.

There is also the opportunity through the institution developed in
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) that can retrain people towards science and
mathematics.

I hope that the students will take advantage of all the opportunities
available to them with the provision of these facilities. I also hope that the
skills that they will acquire will improve the quality of their lives and
develop them to their fullest potential to contribute to a better life.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
20 March 2009