Date: 01/06/2004
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Title: S Ndebele: International Children's Day celebrations
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE PREMIER OF KWAZULU-NATAL, MR JS NDEBELE, AT THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY CELEBRATIONS, KINGS PARK STADIUM, 1 June 2004
Mayor Obed Mlaba
MEC for Transport, Bheki Cele
MEC for Social Welfare, Inkosi Ngubane
MEC for Education, Ina' Cronje
Members of the KZN legislature
Shamilla Batohi, Provincial Director of Department of Public Prosecutions, Religious leaders
And mostly children who are present here and all over the Province
Greetings and salutations.
Today is a special day for children around the world and we are gathered here to celebrate all of you.
Ten years into our democracy as fathers, mothers, grandparents, we are pleased and indeed are proud to celebrate children's day in a South Africa that is free from the shackles of apartheid.
Your parents fought hard and long for all of you to become our future. You, children, are what we get up every morning for - to prepare the future.
UN Convention
South Africa joined the Global Community by ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on 16 June 1995. The commitment was further intensified by the Constitution of South Africa (1996) in Section 28 of the Bill of Rights, which stipulates clearly how children should be protected.
There are four critical areas pronounced by both the Convention and the Constitution: Survival, Protection, Development and Participation. All children have rights to survival, protection from any form of exploitation and harm, the right to develop to be best citizens in their own way, and the right to participate and their voices to be heard. When we say all children, we mean all children.
Even children with special needs have a right to special care. Children with disabilities also have a right to special care. Orphaned children (through whatever means) and vulnerable children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS have a right to special care. Children affected by abuse, neglect and violence have a right to special care. Whether children are living on the streets or are in conflict with the law they are still children, our children, and they have a right to special care.
Child Protection is Everybody's Business The guiding principle we are committing ourselves to is "Child Protection is Everybody's Business" ensuring that in whatever we do be it policy, programmes or actions we consider what will be in the best interest of the child.
It is violence to beat a child up. It is violence to deny a child education. It is violence to deny a child food and water. It is violence to abandon a child and not pay maintenance.
Each of us elders here has a duty to protect children. It's not only the job of the police, the prosecutors, the welfare authorities to keep children safe and act as their custodians. It is the obligation of the religious leaders, it is the duty of the media, it is the duty of everyone one of us - from soccer players to lawyers to shopkeepers.
Children are vulnerable because they cannot defend themselves. They depend on us as adults to protect and defend them. We have a responsibility, which means that we are entrusted with a duty to do the right thing even if nobody is checking or watching us.
Children have responsibilities too. Whilst you have rights as children, you also have a responsibility to respect the rights of others. You have to take responsibility of your actions. You have a responsibility to love, respect and share with your families. You have a responsibility to go to school and learn and not involve yourselves in drugs, violence and any other crime. Don't commit crime, cheat at school, vandalize buildings or steal. Take care of our environment, don't litter, waste food or water. You need to learn from your mistakes and not repeat them.
Lack of access to services
Lack of access to social security, including social welfare, education and health services rank high as challenges to children's well being especially in rural areas and informal settlements. Poverty, unemployment and absence of adequate services are some of the reasons given for children's lack of access to services. Yet another factor contributing to children's lack of access to services relates to their right to an identity. Large numbers of children are unable to access vital services because they do not own a birth certificate, or their parents/caregivers are without identity documents. As duty-bearers we have a responsibility, we owe our children a decent life.
No to Violence against Children
The number of crimes reported against children in this Province is alarming. Each and every day both the electronic and the print media report a crime against a child who has been raped, assaulted or locked in the room. Under-reporting of child abuse continues to be an obstacle to ensure timely and appropriate interventions for child victims. It concerns me that there is still a belief that when a child is raped by a relative it should not be reported because that would be hanging the family's dirty linen in the open. Some of our traditional practices of UKUHLAWULA KANYE NOKUGEZA UMUZI when such has happened need to be revisited if the victim is a child. If parents or adults allow this they are accomplices in child abuse.
I am particularly concerned about the levels of violence within schools, between teachers and learners, and among learners themselves. Despite legislation prohibiting corporal punishment, there are many reports that suggest that teachers in some schools continue to use it. Educators need training and support to use other forms of discipline without depriving the learner his/her right to access education. As for educators who have affairs and impregnate children, they are committing a very serious crime, called statutory rape. That is detestable and abominable. Have those teachers forgotten they are parents?
We are appealing to each Inkosi and each Induna in their respective communities, as key duty bearers to continue to publicly denounce violence against children. In addition to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we are now faced with exploitation and sexual abuse of our children. It must be clearly understood by everyone that raping a child will not cure the HIV virus but will definitely infect the child and contribute to killing the nation.
Child Maintenance
Parenting a child comes with an obligation for the parents. It is not enough to bring a child to the world but, as parents, we have an obligation to maintain our children. Over and above it being a disgrace to fail to maintain one's children when one has the means to do so, it is also illegal. The tragedy about this situation is that it is seldom those with meagre means who fail to support their children but those who earn fat salaries and drive fancy cars.
I have one message for those who shirk their responsibilities towards their children: "The KwaZulu-Natal government will use all its might to hunt you down and make sure that you fulfill your obligations to your child or children".
In spite of our stand on this matter, my government is still committed to providing social grants to the needy children as indicated in the budget allocation announced by the Honourable MEC of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu. We want to ensure that ours is "A Province Fit for Children".
Child Labour
Child Labour is one of the most serious transgressions of our children's rights. Some of the work children engage in may be harmful to them, either because of the environments in which they are required to perform duties, or because they are physically, mentally or emotionally immature for the work required of them. Some children are forced to work on farms, where they are generally under-nourished and exposed to a variety of hazards such as injuries related to farming equipment. Children living on farms are also at risk of drowning in unfenced dams.
Child Headed Households
The UBuntu philosophy (humanity) dictates that it takes the entire community to raise the child and that is why as the Province of KwaZulu-Natal we commit ourselves to the theme "Child Protection is Everybody's Business" The vulnerability of children is far more than we sometimes can imagine or think of it.
Most of the children are growing in families that are living below the poverty line. Poverty in South Africa means that many children grow up without having their basic needs met. HIV and AIDS have made this situation even more difficult. In making this province fit for children, we must have their needs met by us as government, by families as well as communities. If we are serious about ensuring that our children grow into responsible, capable and caring adults we need to take care of them now.
There are children who are made adults or have responsibilities of adults even before their adulthood has commenced. I plead on, their behalf, that they be given an opportunity to be children as well. Let us build a province where our children can say: "It is cool to be a child!"
A Province Fit for Children
To the civil society and people of KwaZulu-Natal, government will never achieve "A Province Fit for Children" alone, let us join hands in creating a safe and caring environment for our children.
I would like to re-iterate what I said in my State of the Province Address. We are taking a stand against violence. It is violence to abandon a child. It is violence to abuse children. It is violence to avoid paying child maintenance. It is violence to abandon a woman with your child. It is violence to deny a child access to education. Let us make KwaZulu-Natal fit for our children to grow up in. Let us create a caring province. Let us make sure that our children, who are the future of this province, come first.
I thank you and wish you well for your future.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 June 2004
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Title: S Ndebele: International Children's Day celebrations
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE PREMIER OF KWAZULU-NATAL, MR JS NDEBELE, AT THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY CELEBRATIONS, KINGS PARK STADIUM, 1 June 2004
Mayor Obed Mlaba
MEC for Transport, Bheki Cele
MEC for Social Welfare, Inkosi Ngubane
MEC for Education, Ina' Cronje
Members of the KZN legislature
Shamilla Batohi, Provincial Director of Department of Public Prosecutions, Religious leaders
And mostly children who are present here and all over the Province
Greetings and salutations.
Today is a special day for children around the world and we are gathered here to celebrate all of you.
Ten years into our democracy as fathers, mothers, grandparents, we are pleased and indeed are proud to celebrate children's day in a South Africa that is free from the shackles of apartheid.
Your parents fought hard and long for all of you to become our future. You, children, are what we get up every morning for - to prepare the future.
UN Convention
South Africa joined the Global Community by ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on 16 June 1995. The commitment was further intensified by the Constitution of South Africa (1996) in Section 28 of the Bill of Rights, which stipulates clearly how children should be protected.
There are four critical areas pronounced by both the Convention and the Constitution: Survival, Protection, Development and Participation. All children have rights to survival, protection from any form of exploitation and harm, the right to develop to be best citizens in their own way, and the right to participate and their voices to be heard. When we say all children, we mean all children.
Even children with special needs have a right to special care. Children with disabilities also have a right to special care. Orphaned children (through whatever means) and vulnerable children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS have a right to special care. Children affected by abuse, neglect and violence have a right to special care. Whether children are living on the streets or are in conflict with the law they are still children, our children, and they have a right to special care.
Child Protection is Everybody's Business The guiding principle we are committing ourselves to is "Child Protection is Everybody's Business" ensuring that in whatever we do be it policy, programmes or actions we consider what will be in the best interest of the child.
It is violence to beat a child up. It is violence to deny a child education. It is violence to deny a child food and water. It is violence to abandon a child and not pay maintenance.
Each of us elders here has a duty to protect children. It's not only the job of the police, the prosecutors, the welfare authorities to keep children safe and act as their custodians. It is the obligation of the religious leaders, it is the duty of the media, it is the duty of everyone one of us - from soccer players to lawyers to shopkeepers.
Children are vulnerable because they cannot defend themselves. They depend on us as adults to protect and defend them. We have a responsibility, which means that we are entrusted with a duty to do the right thing even if nobody is checking or watching us.
Children have responsibilities too. Whilst you have rights as children, you also have a responsibility to respect the rights of others. You have to take responsibility of your actions. You have a responsibility to love, respect and share with your families. You have a responsibility to go to school and learn and not involve yourselves in drugs, violence and any other crime. Don't commit crime, cheat at school, vandalize buildings or steal. Take care of our environment, don't litter, waste food or water. You need to learn from your mistakes and not repeat them.
Lack of access to services
Lack of access to social security, including social welfare, education and health services rank high as challenges to children's well being especially in rural areas and informal settlements. Poverty, unemployment and absence of adequate services are some of the reasons given for children's lack of access to services. Yet another factor contributing to children's lack of access to services relates to their right to an identity. Large numbers of children are unable to access vital services because they do not own a birth certificate, or their parents/caregivers are without identity documents. As duty-bearers we have a responsibility, we owe our children a decent life.
No to Violence against Children
The number of crimes reported against children in this Province is alarming. Each and every day both the electronic and the print media report a crime against a child who has been raped, assaulted or locked in the room. Under-reporting of child abuse continues to be an obstacle to ensure timely and appropriate interventions for child victims. It concerns me that there is still a belief that when a child is raped by a relative it should not be reported because that would be hanging the family's dirty linen in the open. Some of our traditional practices of UKUHLAWULA KANYE NOKUGEZA UMUZI when such has happened need to be revisited if the victim is a child. If parents or adults allow this they are accomplices in child abuse.
I am particularly concerned about the levels of violence within schools, between teachers and learners, and among learners themselves. Despite legislation prohibiting corporal punishment, there are many reports that suggest that teachers in some schools continue to use it. Educators need training and support to use other forms of discipline without depriving the learner his/her right to access education. As for educators who have affairs and impregnate children, they are committing a very serious crime, called statutory rape. That is detestable and abominable. Have those teachers forgotten they are parents?
We are appealing to each Inkosi and each Induna in their respective communities, as key duty bearers to continue to publicly denounce violence against children. In addition to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we are now faced with exploitation and sexual abuse of our children. It must be clearly understood by everyone that raping a child will not cure the HIV virus but will definitely infect the child and contribute to killing the nation.
Child Maintenance
Parenting a child comes with an obligation for the parents. It is not enough to bring a child to the world but, as parents, we have an obligation to maintain our children. Over and above it being a disgrace to fail to maintain one's children when one has the means to do so, it is also illegal. The tragedy about this situation is that it is seldom those with meagre means who fail to support their children but those who earn fat salaries and drive fancy cars.
I have one message for those who shirk their responsibilities towards their children: "The KwaZulu-Natal government will use all its might to hunt you down and make sure that you fulfill your obligations to your child or children".
In spite of our stand on this matter, my government is still committed to providing social grants to the needy children as indicated in the budget allocation announced by the Honourable MEC of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu. We want to ensure that ours is "A Province Fit for Children".
Child Labour
Child Labour is one of the most serious transgressions of our children's rights. Some of the work children engage in may be harmful to them, either because of the environments in which they are required to perform duties, or because they are physically, mentally or emotionally immature for the work required of them. Some children are forced to work on farms, where they are generally under-nourished and exposed to a variety of hazards such as injuries related to farming equipment. Children living on farms are also at risk of drowning in unfenced dams.
Child Headed Households
The UBuntu philosophy (humanity) dictates that it takes the entire community to raise the child and that is why as the Province of KwaZulu-Natal we commit ourselves to the theme "Child Protection is Everybody's Business" The vulnerability of children is far more than we sometimes can imagine or think of it.
Most of the children are growing in families that are living below the poverty line. Poverty in South Africa means that many children grow up without having their basic needs met. HIV and AIDS have made this situation even more difficult. In making this province fit for children, we must have their needs met by us as government, by families as well as communities. If we are serious about ensuring that our children grow into responsible, capable and caring adults we need to take care of them now.
There are children who are made adults or have responsibilities of adults even before their adulthood has commenced. I plead on, their behalf, that they be given an opportunity to be children as well. Let us build a province where our children can say: "It is cool to be a child!"
A Province Fit for Children
To the civil society and people of KwaZulu-Natal, government will never achieve "A Province Fit for Children" alone, let us join hands in creating a safe and caring environment for our children.
I would like to re-iterate what I said in my State of the Province Address. We are taking a stand against violence. It is violence to abandon a child. It is violence to abuse children. It is violence to avoid paying child maintenance. It is violence to abandon a woman with your child. It is violence to deny a child access to education. Let us make KwaZulu-Natal fit for our children to grow up in. Let us create a caring province. Let us make sure that our children, who are the future of this province, come first.
I thank you and wish you well for your future.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 June 2004
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
