Date: 17/04/2007

Source: Limpopo Provincial Government

Title: Nkoana-Mashabane: Handing over of houses in Lephalale Municipality

Address by MEC Mme Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on the occasion of the Handing over of houses in Lephalale Municipality Marapong Ext 1

Programme Director
Mayor of Lephalale, Councillor Rosina Mogotlane
The speaker of Lephalale Municipality, Councillor Maggy Kgwantha
Chief Whip of the Lephalale Municipality, Councillor Thomas Nku
Councillors
Officials from our government
Representative from the business community
Our friends from the media
Beneficiaries present here
Comrades and friends
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Our struggle for liberation was relentlessly fought by dedicated warriors, heroes and heroines who unflinchingly took up arms to fight for liberation and Freedom which we are enjoying today. Their resolve was not informed by the material gains that will accrue after liberation but was a desire to see their people free from the apartheid regime and to serve them. In 1994, after many years of struggle and negotiations, the democratic movement, the African National Congress (ANC) assumed political power through a landslide victory were our people gave us a mandate to transform society into a non racial, non sexiest, democratic and prosperous country.

We are therefore obliged to honour the sweat and blood of those who laid their lives for us to be free today by transforming society and delivery of services such as water, electricity, sanitation and infrastructure to all our people.

In delivering services to our people, we will be honouring the heroes like Peter Mokaba, Lawrance Phokanoka, Marie�Stella Mabitje Seqwale, Martha Motswenyane Ngwako Ramalepe and many other fallen heroes of our struggle or lest we will be judged by history and the generations to come as those who betrayed the struggle. The democratic breakthrough brought about challenges of governance and delivery to our elected officials as they were contained in our election manifesto in 1994. We adopted a blueprint for South Africa to transform the society, the Reconstruction and Development Programme.

In concert with our successive electoral victories, the contract we signed with our people to make their lives better, we committed ourselves to build houses for the indigents, provide basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity.

The President of the ANC Thabo Mbeki proclaimed this year as "the year for the intensification of struggle against poverty." The President merely was saying that in our programme implementation we must strive to eradicate poverty. The primary responsibility of all of us this year is to focus on programmes that are geared towards eradicating poverty and the bucket system. It is not an option, we must just do it. We can't change the President's call and create our own timeframes.

Our programme, as the Department of Local Government and Housing is to provide decent shelter to our people as per ANC election manifesto and the Constitution of the Republic. In the whole world, it is only in South Africa where the poor receive a house free without paying a cent. The ANC government has been able to build more than three million houses in a period of 12 years. The apartheid regime was unable to build nationally a number of houses that we have been able to deliver as Limpopo province alone. It is for this reason that our people will continue to have hope and home in the African National Congress.

Programme Director, Last year on the 1st of March our people voted for the ANC overwhelmingly to continue to govern at a local sphere of government. We told our people that we have a plan to make our municipalities work better for them. It is time to translate our manifesto into action by delivery of basic services to our people. The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) processes must reflect and prioritise the issues of sanitation and water, poverty eradication and job creation, fighting crime and provision of housing security and comfort. We must strengthen the community policing forums, ward committees as organs of people's power to ensure full and meaningful community participation in all process.

Community participation at ward level is central and crucial for the success of this transformation agenda. Our programmes must be people-centred and people driven, for it is them who must determine their own destiny. We must organise churches, traditional authorities and community leaders to join us. Today we have gathered here to bear testimony of what we promised our people when we assumed power, provision of shelter to our masses in Marapong Ext 1. Hundred and sixty one houses were completed for the total value of R4 million were accordingly allocated to the beneficiaries.

On 27 April we will be celebrating Freedom Day. As we celebrate this day, we must remember fallen heroes of our struggle. I know for others this is just a holiday but for some of us who know the day better, it is the day at which we achieved our Freedom from the centuries of colonial rule. Six days ago, we celebrated and commemorated the passing away of one of our own, Comrade Chris Hani whom through his blood we achieved an election date and ultimately Freedom.

We call upon on all peace loving people of Limpopo to observe Freedom Day with dignity and respect. As we gather here today, we advise our people that there is a growing tendency by some people who betray our hard fought struggle and form some Mickey Mouse concerned groups. These people (Bo mabina go solwa) are there only for their stomach and not community interest. The ANC will always remain your home. We will continue to listen to you, lead you and serve you. This is the contract we signed with you.

We call upon the business community and all other stakeholders to join hands with government to speed up delivery of houses to the poor because it is in everyone's interest to have shelter for our people. Our march to freedom is not yet over, we still have challenges of housing, unemployment and poverty. Let's join hands in defeating the enemy of progress and underdevelopment.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Limpopo Provincial Government
17 April 2007