An introductory speech by the National Convenor for 16 Days for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign by Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government, Ms N Hangana, Kutlwanong Stadium, Bloemfontein

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