Date: 11/07/2003
Source: Ministry of Communications
Title: Matsepe-Casaburri: Opening of new school building in Kroonstad
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, IVY MATSEPE-CASABURRI, AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING AT THE THUTO LESEDI/BODIBENG PREMISES, Kroonstad, 11 July 2003
Programme Director
Mayor of Moqhaka Municipality, Mr J Lebona
Principal of Bodibeng School, Ms Barbara Mazibuko
Principal of Thuto-Lesedi, Mr Liphoko
Mr Andrew Mthembu, Deputy CEO of Vodacom
Mr Monde Mama, Executive Head of the Vodacom Foundation
Mr Kgotliso Moeketsi, ANC MP
Mr L Modisenyane, ANC MP
Mr J Mohapi, MPL, Speaker
Mr M Dukwana, MPL, Deputy Speaker
Mr D Kganare, MEC for Education
Mr S.M.A. Malebo, MEC for Public Works
Itumeleng Kotsiane, MEC for Safety and Security
Government Officials
People of the Moqhaka Municipality
Comrades:
Today marks another milestone and building block in our democratic dispensation, when the Kroonstad/Maokeng community can celebrate as a product of a public-private partnership. This product, this new school building, is an example of collective participation and cooperation between different spheres of government and within different departments, between government and the private sector and between these and the people of this area as represented by their SGBs, administrators and the municipality.
When this new democracy started, the ANC government expressed its strong belief that our communities and nation will only develop and move forward if everyone of us makes a contribution, from the public sector through public representatives and public servants, and also from the business sector and from civil society.
In embarking on a parliamentary system based on proportional representation, all parties, which garnered the requisite vote, could sit in Parliament. But each party had the responsibility to distribute its members to the people through the constituency system. I am grateful that my party sent me to do my constituency work in an area where I have my roots and where my ancestors lay buried and protect and guide me on an ongoing basis.
But important for all to know is what the President said to us as new Ministers and NEC members. He said: I do not only want to know what you do as Ministers. I also want to know what you do for the ANC and what you do for the people as a public representative of the ANC.
Today there are many public representatives present here to celebrate this example of how we carry out this mandate. As Minister, I used my access to Vodacom to appeal to them for assistance. They needed no persuasion because they had already been ready and willing to meet the President's call. They asked me what they could do for me. Together we knew we could not go forward with this project without the assistance of the provincial departments of education and public works. Cdes MECs Papi Kganare and Sekgopi Malebo had no hesitation to join this venture. But without the support of the people in charge of these schools, the SGBs and principals, we would not have succeeded. And without the encouragement of colleagues in Parliament, Cdes Dix Modisenyane and Dennis Bloem, and without my constituency administrator, I may not have had the courage to continue with this idea. I may never have understood how to manoeuvre around the dynamics of the community.
What exactly are we celebrating as we open this building? We are celebrating a youth committed to their job, who take responsibility for this project, who understand they have to give respect to and acceptance of their leaders, who understand that in accomplishing tasks, they must listen to the needs of the people in the community while at the same time giving guidance on the basis of their expertise. In Monde Mama, the project manager, Vodacom gave us such a person who renewed our confidence in our youth. We thank Mr Knott Craig and Mr Tyamzashe for the excellent selection. Today we also celebrate the triumph of a participatory democratic process. It was not easy for the principals and SGBs to take full ownership and leadership, as they had never before been asked to do so. They had to learn as we proceeded, sometimes with lot of pulling and pushing from Mme Ivy.
Today we are celebrating an acceptance that schools and communities belong together. The facilities must serve all and not some. The Thuto Lesedi and Bodibeng school administrations must understand that sharing of facilities in education is a necessity. We must improve our education system through better access to school for our children, through better and more education facilities such as Activity Rooms, Labs, Computer rooms and Libraries etc. for the use of both teachers and learners. These schools serve the same community, whose problems are the same and whose parents are the same. Understanding the problems of the community, of the individual parents and students is a joint responsibility of principals and the teachers of both schools. Sharing ideas and strategies for better education and improved results is the responsibility of both schools and their administrators and SGBs. Let us treasure this new school, protect this school against vandals; let us preserve it as an inheritance for future generations.
A great challenge lies ahead of us. The old school - The Bantu High School - of the Ivy Matsepe's, Terror Lekota's and Kgoarai's etc. - under the leadership of Bo Ntate Cingo, Mr Philemon Makgetha, the Setiloane brothers, Mr Lefafa, etc. - stands before us, reminding us of a long and difficult struggle for excellence under apartheid conditions. Reminding us of our refusal to just be victims but also survivors of apartheid, through excellence in education, song, music, and sport.
The renovation of the school is our unfinished project. We need to complete this project as part of documenting our history and telling our own story to the next generations, but also to South Africa and the world. For here Sotho, Xhosa, Zulu, Tswana, Afrikaans speakers, schooled, taught, played and sang together till apartheid policies forcefully separated us physically. But it will be the triumph of the human spirit that we will be celebrating when we complete that project and the failure of apartheid to separate us spiritually.
In demonstration of our culture of Letsema and rising to the President's call of Vukuzenzele, I call on all of us to rise and do something to complete this project.
Vodacom is already prepared to put any left over money from their side into the project. Monde Mama and his friends Zolani (The Techno Boys) are prepared to bring their quality surveying, legal and project management skills to assist. Oupa Matsepe offers his legal and gardening and horticultural skills, the provincial education department has offered their collective wisdom in guiding us. Kroonstad is not short of building, electrical, plumbing, painting etc. skills. We hope the Rotary Club will come to the party. Youth, able men and women, we have in abundance: We call on them also to give of themselves.
We can make this our heritage project. A project that cuts across political parties, religion and race. Let us make it a story of our revival of our "tenadering", our reonciliation and our collective gift to future generations.
In closing, may I thank all of you here present for making this event a success - the workers who built this, the architects and contractors engineers etc - the provincial government for clearing and cleaning, the schools' authority; my staff at the department and my constituency office; the Members of Parliament and of the Free State legislature, for the support in popularising this event and attending, for old students who are here or who sent messages of support and to the Premier's Office for the enormous assistance for the events of today.
My deepest gratitude and appreciation go to the late Mary Mxadana who brought Vodacom CEO Alan Knott Craig and I together on this project. We wish to thank Vodacom through its representative, Mr Andrew Mthembu, and Mr Tyamzashe of the Vodacom Foundation for their assistance, so freely and willingly given.
Nangomso! Siyabonga! Re a leboha
Liteboho tsaka ho lona kaofela
Sekolo sena Ha re se hlokomeleng, ke bokamoso ba bana ba rona
Re a leboha, Khotso Bagaecho
For further details please contact: Ms. Lisa Combrinck @ 012 427 8292, 082 821 4886, Mr. Jerry Majatladi @ 012 427 8017, 082 889 3381
Issued by Ministry of Communications
11 June 2003
Source: Ministry of Communications
Title: Matsepe-Casaburri: Opening of new school building in Kroonstad
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, IVY MATSEPE-CASABURRI, AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING AT THE THUTO LESEDI/BODIBENG PREMISES, Kroonstad, 11 July 2003
Programme Director
Mayor of Moqhaka Municipality, Mr J Lebona
Principal of Bodibeng School, Ms Barbara Mazibuko
Principal of Thuto-Lesedi, Mr Liphoko
Mr Andrew Mthembu, Deputy CEO of Vodacom
Mr Monde Mama, Executive Head of the Vodacom Foundation
Mr Kgotliso Moeketsi, ANC MP
Mr L Modisenyane, ANC MP
Mr J Mohapi, MPL, Speaker
Mr M Dukwana, MPL, Deputy Speaker
Mr D Kganare, MEC for Education
Mr S.M.A. Malebo, MEC for Public Works
Itumeleng Kotsiane, MEC for Safety and Security
Government Officials
People of the Moqhaka Municipality
Comrades:
Today marks another milestone and building block in our democratic dispensation, when the Kroonstad/Maokeng community can celebrate as a product of a public-private partnership. This product, this new school building, is an example of collective participation and cooperation between different spheres of government and within different departments, between government and the private sector and between these and the people of this area as represented by their SGBs, administrators and the municipality.
When this new democracy started, the ANC government expressed its strong belief that our communities and nation will only develop and move forward if everyone of us makes a contribution, from the public sector through public representatives and public servants, and also from the business sector and from civil society.
In embarking on a parliamentary system based on proportional representation, all parties, which garnered the requisite vote, could sit in Parliament. But each party had the responsibility to distribute its members to the people through the constituency system. I am grateful that my party sent me to do my constituency work in an area where I have my roots and where my ancestors lay buried and protect and guide me on an ongoing basis.
But important for all to know is what the President said to us as new Ministers and NEC members. He said: I do not only want to know what you do as Ministers. I also want to know what you do for the ANC and what you do for the people as a public representative of the ANC.
Today there are many public representatives present here to celebrate this example of how we carry out this mandate. As Minister, I used my access to Vodacom to appeal to them for assistance. They needed no persuasion because they had already been ready and willing to meet the President's call. They asked me what they could do for me. Together we knew we could not go forward with this project without the assistance of the provincial departments of education and public works. Cdes MECs Papi Kganare and Sekgopi Malebo had no hesitation to join this venture. But without the support of the people in charge of these schools, the SGBs and principals, we would not have succeeded. And without the encouragement of colleagues in Parliament, Cdes Dix Modisenyane and Dennis Bloem, and without my constituency administrator, I may not have had the courage to continue with this idea. I may never have understood how to manoeuvre around the dynamics of the community.
What exactly are we celebrating as we open this building? We are celebrating a youth committed to their job, who take responsibility for this project, who understand they have to give respect to and acceptance of their leaders, who understand that in accomplishing tasks, they must listen to the needs of the people in the community while at the same time giving guidance on the basis of their expertise. In Monde Mama, the project manager, Vodacom gave us such a person who renewed our confidence in our youth. We thank Mr Knott Craig and Mr Tyamzashe for the excellent selection. Today we also celebrate the triumph of a participatory democratic process. It was not easy for the principals and SGBs to take full ownership and leadership, as they had never before been asked to do so. They had to learn as we proceeded, sometimes with lot of pulling and pushing from Mme Ivy.
Today we are celebrating an acceptance that schools and communities belong together. The facilities must serve all and not some. The Thuto Lesedi and Bodibeng school administrations must understand that sharing of facilities in education is a necessity. We must improve our education system through better access to school for our children, through better and more education facilities such as Activity Rooms, Labs, Computer rooms and Libraries etc. for the use of both teachers and learners. These schools serve the same community, whose problems are the same and whose parents are the same. Understanding the problems of the community, of the individual parents and students is a joint responsibility of principals and the teachers of both schools. Sharing ideas and strategies for better education and improved results is the responsibility of both schools and their administrators and SGBs. Let us treasure this new school, protect this school against vandals; let us preserve it as an inheritance for future generations.
A great challenge lies ahead of us. The old school - The Bantu High School - of the Ivy Matsepe's, Terror Lekota's and Kgoarai's etc. - under the leadership of Bo Ntate Cingo, Mr Philemon Makgetha, the Setiloane brothers, Mr Lefafa, etc. - stands before us, reminding us of a long and difficult struggle for excellence under apartheid conditions. Reminding us of our refusal to just be victims but also survivors of apartheid, through excellence in education, song, music, and sport.
The renovation of the school is our unfinished project. We need to complete this project as part of documenting our history and telling our own story to the next generations, but also to South Africa and the world. For here Sotho, Xhosa, Zulu, Tswana, Afrikaans speakers, schooled, taught, played and sang together till apartheid policies forcefully separated us physically. But it will be the triumph of the human spirit that we will be celebrating when we complete that project and the failure of apartheid to separate us spiritually.
In demonstration of our culture of Letsema and rising to the President's call of Vukuzenzele, I call on all of us to rise and do something to complete this project.
Vodacom is already prepared to put any left over money from their side into the project. Monde Mama and his friends Zolani (The Techno Boys) are prepared to bring their quality surveying, legal and project management skills to assist. Oupa Matsepe offers his legal and gardening and horticultural skills, the provincial education department has offered their collective wisdom in guiding us. Kroonstad is not short of building, electrical, plumbing, painting etc. skills. We hope the Rotary Club will come to the party. Youth, able men and women, we have in abundance: We call on them also to give of themselves.
We can make this our heritage project. A project that cuts across political parties, religion and race. Let us make it a story of our revival of our "tenadering", our reonciliation and our collective gift to future generations.
In closing, may I thank all of you here present for making this event a success - the workers who built this, the architects and contractors engineers etc - the provincial government for clearing and cleaning, the schools' authority; my staff at the department and my constituency office; the Members of Parliament and of the Free State legislature, for the support in popularising this event and attending, for old students who are here or who sent messages of support and to the Premier's Office for the enormous assistance for the events of today.
My deepest gratitude and appreciation go to the late Mary Mxadana who brought Vodacom CEO Alan Knott Craig and I together on this project. We wish to thank Vodacom through its representative, Mr Andrew Mthembu, and Mr Tyamzashe of the Vodacom Foundation for their assistance, so freely and willingly given.
Nangomso! Siyabonga! Re a leboha
Liteboho tsaka ho lona kaofela
Sekolo sena Ha re se hlokomeleng, ke bokamoso ba bana ba rona
Re a leboha, Khotso Bagaecho
For further details please contact: Ms. Lisa Combrinck @ 012 427 8292, 082 821 4886, Mr. Jerry Majatladi @ 012 427 8017, 082 889 3381
Issued by Ministry of Communications
11 June 2003
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