Date: 12/12/2006
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molewa: End of year function for older and disabled persons
Remarks by North West Premier Mme Edna Molewa at the end of year function for older persons and disabled people, Danuse Village, Moretele
Programme Director
Leaders of the Provincial Government and the Legislature present
Executive Mayors, Mayors and Councillors present
Dikgosi Tsa Rona
Bagolo Ba Rona
It has become our most beloved annual religion now to come here, not as Government Leaders but as your children and servants to spend some valuable time with you, listen to your concerns as well as bid farewell to the foregoing year in preparation of the next year.
We value greatly this opportunity and therefore feel greatly honoured once again today to be joined by our parents, both old and those with disabilities at this year end function. This activity is intended to once again convey our sincere appreciation for the contributions you have made in the building of our province and our country. For many years, some of you have endured the heat of racial segregation, disregard for your fundamental human rights, oppression and all other forms of abuse.
However, the new democratic order has created an opportunity for all our people to provide an alternative and better treatment of our older persons and people with disabilities. Government has generated an enabling regulatory and legislative framework work through which an environment for a more humane and dignified treatment of older persons and the disabled persons can be exercised.
In particular the passing of the Older Persons Act as well as different policies for both the disabled and older persons all bear testimony to this fact. In the Office of the Premier, we have established the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons (OSDP) to ensure that government programmes incorporate people with disabilities.
In 2007, we will publicly announce the establishment of an Office on the Rights of Older Persons, which will also be based in the Office of the Premier. This Office will work with departments to promote the rights and dignity of all older persons.
Bagolo, Ladies and Gentlemen, we continue to receive disturbing reports of some of the unfortunate acts that are taking place at some social grant pay-points in our communities. Some unscrupulous business people have extended these places to some form of unregulated markets. Moneylenders (Bo-mashonisa), fly-by-night butcheries and fashion shops have an almost permanent presence at these pay-points.
We are aware also that most of the products being sold by these people are of very bad quality, but they always have their way of pressurising our older citizens to procure them.
Our social grant beneficiaries are therefore denied a right to exercise freedom of choice on the use of their money. We will request the Department of Social Development and the South African Social Security Agency to investigate ways of regulating these social grant pay-point 'markets.'
We must equally call upon our parents to similarly assist us by refraining from using bo-mashonisa as well as buying some of the unhealthy products being sold at pay-points.
The successful implementation of the provisions of the policies to promote the rights and dignity of older persons and the disabled people, requires of all of us to be a matured and responsible society. That maturity and responsibility starts with accepting the fact that our parents played an important role in what we have attained both as a country and as individuals.
The positions of responsibilities we hold, our social status, our level of education and all that we regard as ours, they are attributed to the many sacrifices made by our parents. Our parents denied themselves many things in the past for the sake of the success of our generation and era.
The Setswana proverb says, "Ntime o Mphele ngwana." This is indeed true of you as our parents. The bright and shining future of our country and people can only be attributed to your deep commitment to the ideals of this proverb.
As your children, we would like to once again thank you very much for having put our interests before any other. You have secured a better life not for the current generation, but even for future ones.
We will continue to rely on your guidance and wisdom as we tackle the challenges confronting our society. We know very well that you are all a true representation of the road we have traversed as a nation. Let then the occasion of Christmas bring you fulfilment and joy, and may God continue to show you His love and blessings in the New Year.
As usual I would not like to take much of your precious time by talking too much today but let me leave you with this exhortation from an anonymous writer who said:
If life is a gift, we must accept it.
If life is a mystery, we must unfold it.
If life is a game, we must play it.
If life is a struggle, we must face it.
If life is a beauty, we must praise it.
If life is a song, we must sing it.
If life is an opportunity, we must take it.
If life is a goal, we must achieve it, and
If life is a mission, we must fulfil it.
I am therefore most delighted to have spent this time with all these wonderful people who have reached most of the goals that this anonymous writer talks about.
I wish you even longer lives and please know that your existence alone is a blessing to us children and it continues to inspire our work as we together build a better province and improve the lives of all North West people.
Thank you again for this golden opportunity and please enjoy your day.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
12 December 2006
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molewa: End of year function for older and disabled persons
Remarks by North West Premier Mme Edna Molewa at the end of year function for older persons and disabled people, Danuse Village, Moretele
Programme Director
Leaders of the Provincial Government and the Legislature present
Executive Mayors, Mayors and Councillors present
Dikgosi Tsa Rona
Bagolo Ba Rona
It has become our most beloved annual religion now to come here, not as Government Leaders but as your children and servants to spend some valuable time with you, listen to your concerns as well as bid farewell to the foregoing year in preparation of the next year.
We value greatly this opportunity and therefore feel greatly honoured once again today to be joined by our parents, both old and those with disabilities at this year end function. This activity is intended to once again convey our sincere appreciation for the contributions you have made in the building of our province and our country. For many years, some of you have endured the heat of racial segregation, disregard for your fundamental human rights, oppression and all other forms of abuse.
However, the new democratic order has created an opportunity for all our people to provide an alternative and better treatment of our older persons and people with disabilities. Government has generated an enabling regulatory and legislative framework work through which an environment for a more humane and dignified treatment of older persons and the disabled persons can be exercised.
In particular the passing of the Older Persons Act as well as different policies for both the disabled and older persons all bear testimony to this fact. In the Office of the Premier, we have established the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons (OSDP) to ensure that government programmes incorporate people with disabilities.
In 2007, we will publicly announce the establishment of an Office on the Rights of Older Persons, which will also be based in the Office of the Premier. This Office will work with departments to promote the rights and dignity of all older persons.
Bagolo, Ladies and Gentlemen, we continue to receive disturbing reports of some of the unfortunate acts that are taking place at some social grant pay-points in our communities. Some unscrupulous business people have extended these places to some form of unregulated markets. Moneylenders (Bo-mashonisa), fly-by-night butcheries and fashion shops have an almost permanent presence at these pay-points.
We are aware also that most of the products being sold by these people are of very bad quality, but they always have their way of pressurising our older citizens to procure them.
Our social grant beneficiaries are therefore denied a right to exercise freedom of choice on the use of their money. We will request the Department of Social Development and the South African Social Security Agency to investigate ways of regulating these social grant pay-point 'markets.'
We must equally call upon our parents to similarly assist us by refraining from using bo-mashonisa as well as buying some of the unhealthy products being sold at pay-points.
The successful implementation of the provisions of the policies to promote the rights and dignity of older persons and the disabled people, requires of all of us to be a matured and responsible society. That maturity and responsibility starts with accepting the fact that our parents played an important role in what we have attained both as a country and as individuals.
The positions of responsibilities we hold, our social status, our level of education and all that we regard as ours, they are attributed to the many sacrifices made by our parents. Our parents denied themselves many things in the past for the sake of the success of our generation and era.
The Setswana proverb says, "Ntime o Mphele ngwana." This is indeed true of you as our parents. The bright and shining future of our country and people can only be attributed to your deep commitment to the ideals of this proverb.
As your children, we would like to once again thank you very much for having put our interests before any other. You have secured a better life not for the current generation, but even for future ones.
We will continue to rely on your guidance and wisdom as we tackle the challenges confronting our society. We know very well that you are all a true representation of the road we have traversed as a nation. Let then the occasion of Christmas bring you fulfilment and joy, and may God continue to show you His love and blessings in the New Year.
As usual I would not like to take much of your precious time by talking too much today but let me leave you with this exhortation from an anonymous writer who said:
If life is a gift, we must accept it.
If life is a mystery, we must unfold it.
If life is a game, we must play it.
If life is a struggle, we must face it.
If life is a beauty, we must praise it.
If life is a song, we must sing it.
If life is an opportunity, we must take it.
If life is a goal, we must achieve it, and
If life is a mission, we must fulfil it.
I am therefore most delighted to have spent this time with all these wonderful people who have reached most of the goals that this anonymous writer talks about.
I wish you even longer lives and please know that your existence alone is a blessing to us children and it continues to inspire our work as we together build a better province and improve the lives of all North West people.
Thank you again for this golden opportunity and please enjoy your day.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
12 December 2006
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