Date: 01/06/2006
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Title: Ndebele: International Children’s Day
Speech by Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, honourable Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, on the occasion of International Children’s Day at Kingsmead Stadium
Hello children today is ‘tune in to kids day,’ a day that makes all citizens across South Africa, Africa and the world aware of the call to put children first / Abantwana Kuqala / Bana Pele / Kinders Eerste.
It is International Children's Day and a day to remember and celebrate tomorrow's leaders and take stock of how far we have gone as the society of KwaZulu-Natal in protecting our children and moulding them into future leaders of our country.
This week we also acknowledge Child Protection Week which re-emphasises the message that we owe children the best and that with its theme being ‘Caring Communities Protect Children,’ we remind adults of the declaration of the rights of children.
When I talk to you today I want to talk about hope, about the future and I can't avoid talking about the most horrific matter that plagues our schools and communities: violence against children, violence in the playground and violence in the home.
But let me start with words of encouragement for the millions of kids who are our future generation.
Keep on dreaming
This is a time to remind ourselves that children are our future. It is a time to say to ourselves that we must let our children dream and make their dreams come true.
I demand all of our children to dream, to dream and to dream without any barriers.
"From dreams come thoughts, from thoughts come actions." These are the words, children, of a famous Indian President, Dr Abdul Kalam, who has invested much of his energy and time to the development of science allowing the youth to guide the Indian economy towards a life which will make them a proud nation. Some of you are dreaming about becoming doctors or engineers. Some want to work in a bank, others want to be teachers.
You must dream and you will achieve.
Having a voice
Our province is launching the children's forum giving all of you an opportunity to have a say in all matters affecting you and helping you to have a voice. Through this forum you will learn to participate in family discussions, in school and class decisions, in faith communities, in your cultural and sporting organisations and also in local and national government.
The office on the rights of the child in the office of the Premier is to form your parliament. Through it you can learn the democratic values and respect other people's rights. You will also obtain an opportunity to discuss and debate about issues that affect you.
Challenges facing government
* We know you need clinics to be closer to schools.
* You want to have closer access to the welfare offices.
* You need safe and at times subsidised transport so that the schools can be accessed easily.
* You want the gap between the independent, ex-model C schools and advantaged schools to be closed.
* You want us to create safe play areas and make available sporting equipment.
The list is longer but I can assure you that we in the provincial government are striving to uphold your constitutional rights (sections 28 and 29).
In pursuit of this we have established the KwaZulu-Natal Advisory Council for Children where all government departments, municipalities and non-governmental organisation (NGOs) meet in implementing children's rights.
The government is committed to moral regeneration and reinstating the values and norms that scouts and girl guides have e.g. the scouts and girl guides slogan is ‘be prepared’. The Premier's Department has contributed financially to the maintenance and development of the scout movement and girl guides in KwaZulu-Natal. Many of these scouts and guides have joined us here today espousing their values of character building, strong willpower and leadership skills.
While our work is cut out for us, we want you to make the most of your lives and build a future you can be proud of and create a generation of solid, young and motivated individuals.
This can be achieved through faith, focus, ability, integrity, tenacity and hope.
Crafting your future
But do something with your lives. Many young people leave school without knowing what careers would suit their abilities, interests and personalities. Some go to university or technikon to gain some qualification where 35 percent drop out in their first year. Others finish their courses but can't find employment.
A large number of school leavers receive no training at all beyond school and become virtually unemployable. If pointed in the right direction, these children could earn an income and become assets to the South African economy. Some can become employers giving other people the opportunity to earn a living.
I wonder how many of you know the best kept secret to get our nation at work for a better life for all?
The secret is our Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. There are nine in KwaZulu-Natal and the MEC for Education, Mrs Ina Cronje, told me they have increased the delivery sites from 55 to 71 to make it also accessible for people in the rural areas. These colleges are designed to address the education and training needs of both our out of school youth and adults.
I want to let you spin your brains around the idea of learning a trade. South Africa has a shortage of skills e.g. local welders, electricians and other artisans in our country. The average age of a toolmaker in South Africa is 55 years. Very often jobs are available but our people don't have the skills to do the job. Yet, we are engaged in serious capital projects like the development of the Dube Trade Port and the construction of the iconic stadium, valued at approximately R4 billion, that need people with proper skills.
Violence in schools
Let me now turn my attention to the violence perpetrated against children and violence perpetrated by children.
Schools are part of our society and what's been happening in schools across the globe is simply a spill over of the larger societal violence. To stamp out crime and violence in our schools, we need the input of all role players; the children, teachers, principals but also the parents and the communities that surround our schools.
A recent study conducted by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP) found that children are twice as likely as adults to become victims of crime. The survey of 4 409 respondents found that in total 41,5 percent of South Africans between the ages of 12 and 22 were victims of crime in the 12-month period between September 2004 and September 2005. According to the Sunday Tribune, the report says that children are compelled to learn in environments where they are assaulted, robbed, forced to do things against their will, intimidated and threatened with harm.
There is also a lack of safe spaces for young people and the perpetrators are usually known by the child victims. Most of the children in the survey are exposed to criminal elements in their community and half had witnessed incidents of violence.
In KwaZulu-Natal almost a quarter of the children interviewed were victims of crime more than once. One in seven children has been assaulted mostly at school.
Children also have a responsibility; if you know someone has a knife or a gun, to quietly tell a teacher or the police. If you feel unsafe at home or at schools, phone the hotline at the KZN MEC Ina Cronje's office or childline hotline no: 0800 204 35.
Government takes the lead
Our Cabinet has put together a task team to come up with short term and long-term solutions to make our schools safe places. This team will soon make a presentation to Cabinet.
Meanwhile the Department of Education has put structures in place to work towards safe schools. Each school should have a disciplinary, safety and security committee, a subcommittee within the school governing body consisting of the principal, parents and a representative of the police. Our major objective this year is to ensure that each school is aligned with the local police station.
They have also embarked on a pilot project in the Nongoma area and at schools in Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu. In conjunction with the police we train security guards that are employed by school governing bodies. At these workshops the relevant legislation is explained, such as human rights to the guards, how to handle a situation when a firearm is brought to school, to deal with somebody who has become violent, to keep records of access control, to liaise with the local police station etc. Once the model has been thoroughly tested we will implement the project in other areas.
We don't want to encourage a situation where all schools require formal security guarding.
Communities must also play their part to ensure the safety of our children and teachers. Protect our schools. If you know about thugs in the community, tell the police or the principal.
Remember you, the children, are South Africa's future. You make up the great nation we have fought so hard to bring to fruition. We know you'll make us proud.
Enjoy your day today. Though our programmes and projects we are clearly demonstrating that children are a responsibility of all of us. Equally it is the duty of each and every child to look after her or himself. Make something of your lives. Your future lies in your hands.
Thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 June 2006
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Title: Ndebele: International Children’s Day
Speech by Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, honourable Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, on the occasion of International Children’s Day at Kingsmead Stadium
Hello children today is ‘tune in to kids day,’ a day that makes all citizens across South Africa, Africa and the world aware of the call to put children first / Abantwana Kuqala / Bana Pele / Kinders Eerste.
It is International Children's Day and a day to remember and celebrate tomorrow's leaders and take stock of how far we have gone as the society of KwaZulu-Natal in protecting our children and moulding them into future leaders of our country.
This week we also acknowledge Child Protection Week which re-emphasises the message that we owe children the best and that with its theme being ‘Caring Communities Protect Children,’ we remind adults of the declaration of the rights of children.
When I talk to you today I want to talk about hope, about the future and I can't avoid talking about the most horrific matter that plagues our schools and communities: violence against children, violence in the playground and violence in the home.
But let me start with words of encouragement for the millions of kids who are our future generation.
Keep on dreaming
This is a time to remind ourselves that children are our future. It is a time to say to ourselves that we must let our children dream and make their dreams come true.
I demand all of our children to dream, to dream and to dream without any barriers.
"From dreams come thoughts, from thoughts come actions." These are the words, children, of a famous Indian President, Dr Abdul Kalam, who has invested much of his energy and time to the development of science allowing the youth to guide the Indian economy towards a life which will make them a proud nation. Some of you are dreaming about becoming doctors or engineers. Some want to work in a bank, others want to be teachers.
You must dream and you will achieve.
Having a voice
Our province is launching the children's forum giving all of you an opportunity to have a say in all matters affecting you and helping you to have a voice. Through this forum you will learn to participate in family discussions, in school and class decisions, in faith communities, in your cultural and sporting organisations and also in local and national government.
The office on the rights of the child in the office of the Premier is to form your parliament. Through it you can learn the democratic values and respect other people's rights. You will also obtain an opportunity to discuss and debate about issues that affect you.
Challenges facing government
* We know you need clinics to be closer to schools.
* You want to have closer access to the welfare offices.
* You need safe and at times subsidised transport so that the schools can be accessed easily.
* You want the gap between the independent, ex-model C schools and advantaged schools to be closed.
* You want us to create safe play areas and make available sporting equipment.
The list is longer but I can assure you that we in the provincial government are striving to uphold your constitutional rights (sections 28 and 29).
In pursuit of this we have established the KwaZulu-Natal Advisory Council for Children where all government departments, municipalities and non-governmental organisation (NGOs) meet in implementing children's rights.
The government is committed to moral regeneration and reinstating the values and norms that scouts and girl guides have e.g. the scouts and girl guides slogan is ‘be prepared’. The Premier's Department has contributed financially to the maintenance and development of the scout movement and girl guides in KwaZulu-Natal. Many of these scouts and guides have joined us here today espousing their values of character building, strong willpower and leadership skills.
While our work is cut out for us, we want you to make the most of your lives and build a future you can be proud of and create a generation of solid, young and motivated individuals.
This can be achieved through faith, focus, ability, integrity, tenacity and hope.
Crafting your future
But do something with your lives. Many young people leave school without knowing what careers would suit their abilities, interests and personalities. Some go to university or technikon to gain some qualification where 35 percent drop out in their first year. Others finish their courses but can't find employment.
A large number of school leavers receive no training at all beyond school and become virtually unemployable. If pointed in the right direction, these children could earn an income and become assets to the South African economy. Some can become employers giving other people the opportunity to earn a living.
I wonder how many of you know the best kept secret to get our nation at work for a better life for all?
The secret is our Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. There are nine in KwaZulu-Natal and the MEC for Education, Mrs Ina Cronje, told me they have increased the delivery sites from 55 to 71 to make it also accessible for people in the rural areas. These colleges are designed to address the education and training needs of both our out of school youth and adults.
I want to let you spin your brains around the idea of learning a trade. South Africa has a shortage of skills e.g. local welders, electricians and other artisans in our country. The average age of a toolmaker in South Africa is 55 years. Very often jobs are available but our people don't have the skills to do the job. Yet, we are engaged in serious capital projects like the development of the Dube Trade Port and the construction of the iconic stadium, valued at approximately R4 billion, that need people with proper skills.
Violence in schools
Let me now turn my attention to the violence perpetrated against children and violence perpetrated by children.
Schools are part of our society and what's been happening in schools across the globe is simply a spill over of the larger societal violence. To stamp out crime and violence in our schools, we need the input of all role players; the children, teachers, principals but also the parents and the communities that surround our schools.
A recent study conducted by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP) found that children are twice as likely as adults to become victims of crime. The survey of 4 409 respondents found that in total 41,5 percent of South Africans between the ages of 12 and 22 were victims of crime in the 12-month period between September 2004 and September 2005. According to the Sunday Tribune, the report says that children are compelled to learn in environments where they are assaulted, robbed, forced to do things against their will, intimidated and threatened with harm.
There is also a lack of safe spaces for young people and the perpetrators are usually known by the child victims. Most of the children in the survey are exposed to criminal elements in their community and half had witnessed incidents of violence.
In KwaZulu-Natal almost a quarter of the children interviewed were victims of crime more than once. One in seven children has been assaulted mostly at school.
Children also have a responsibility; if you know someone has a knife or a gun, to quietly tell a teacher or the police. If you feel unsafe at home or at schools, phone the hotline at the KZN MEC Ina Cronje's office or childline hotline no: 0800 204 35.
Government takes the lead
Our Cabinet has put together a task team to come up with short term and long-term solutions to make our schools safe places. This team will soon make a presentation to Cabinet.
Meanwhile the Department of Education has put structures in place to work towards safe schools. Each school should have a disciplinary, safety and security committee, a subcommittee within the school governing body consisting of the principal, parents and a representative of the police. Our major objective this year is to ensure that each school is aligned with the local police station.
They have also embarked on a pilot project in the Nongoma area and at schools in Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu. In conjunction with the police we train security guards that are employed by school governing bodies. At these workshops the relevant legislation is explained, such as human rights to the guards, how to handle a situation when a firearm is brought to school, to deal with somebody who has become violent, to keep records of access control, to liaise with the local police station etc. Once the model has been thoroughly tested we will implement the project in other areas.
We don't want to encourage a situation where all schools require formal security guarding.
Communities must also play their part to ensure the safety of our children and teachers. Protect our schools. If you know about thugs in the community, tell the police or the principal.
Remember you, the children, are South Africa's future. You make up the great nation we have fought so hard to bring to fruition. We know you'll make us proud.
Enjoy your day today. Though our programmes and projects we are clearly demonstrating that children are a responsibility of all of us. Equally it is the duty of each and every child to look after her or himself. Make something of your lives. Your future lies in your hands.
Thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 June 2006
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