Issued by: Office of the Deputy Presidency
22 March 2002
Director of Ceremonies,
President of the Yong Men's Guild,
Ministers of the Church,
Delegates,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a special honour for me to share this joyous occasion of the 46th Annual Convention of the Young Men's Guild of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa with you.
I am happy to be among dedicated men who, by virtue of their spirituality and zeal for social justice, are exemplary in their behaviour and social interactions. All men can take a leaf out of your book and emulate your example.
I am especially touched by the fact that you live your lives in celebration of God and remembering, that after death there is life. Religious teachings show us that those who live exemplary lives, love their neighbour and care for the vulnerable, will receive a just reward in the hereafter.
Ladies and gentlemen,
There are a number of interesting characteristics of the Young Men's Guild that deserve our praise, appreciation and respect, including in the spiritual, material and social sense.
For instance, your motto "One Heart, One Way" and dress code, speaks of the need for unity in our communities. Unity in what we stand for as a moral and just society. Unity in what we do as part of a bigger world to guarantee freedom of expression, association and religion.
In this regard it is heartening to learn that you share the concerns of the Government, and the broader society, around the ongoing decay of our morals.
As you would no doubt be aware, we have said on a number of occasions, including in our Parliament, there was a dire need for us to revive and deepen the high moral values of our people. Our entire nation is deeply disturbed about the anti-social acts, which have engulfed our country recently.
You would be aware that a Summit on Moral Regeneration will be held on 18 April at the Waterkloof Airforce Base here in Pretoria. The Summit will also launch the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM).
The MRM is a framework to encourage, facilitate, sensitise and network the response of every sector of our society. It envisages a confident community with a strong moral fibre. The Summit will draw up a concrete programme of action on how to take the work of the MRM forward.
Its mission is to revive the spirit of ubuntu/botho, using all the resources available in our society and is committed to affirming the noble values expressed in our Constitution.
Representatives from every sector of society in every province and locality will take part in the deliberations. The main thrust will be on empowering local communities to strengthen the moral and spiritual life of the nation.
We have seen urgency in addressing this matter given the problems we are facing in our society, and manifestations of moral degeneration.
Moral degeneration manifests itself in many ways, in all sectors of our society private and public, in urban and rural areas, among the young and old.
Manifestations include the following:
We have no doubt that the Young Men's Guild of the Methodist Church has and important contribution to make to the process of moral renewal, in partnership with the rest of the country.
Ladies and gentlemen
There are a number of other, equally important, national priorities that deserve our special and collective attention. Already the YMG are targeting some of these issues, one of which is HIV/Aids and its impact.
We are happy that you are doing work in this important area. We believe that churches have a crucial role to play in the fight against HIV/Aids, which, for now, must be based on prevention and stopping the spread of the disease at all costs.
You are aware of government's comprehensive HIV/Aids programme, and we invite all sectors of society to join us in raising awareness levels even more, and ensuring it translates into a change in attitudes and lifestyles of especially our young people.
All of us must also actively work together to dispel the absurd myth that child or virgin rape is a cure for Aids. We commend especially traditional healers and religious communities for the work they are doing in this regard.
Churches have a critical role in encouraging communities to break the conspiracy of silence that protects rapists. Rapists of young babies do not belong, nor do they deserve to be, in our safe, and unsuspecting communities.
We must protect our children from the physical, social and emotional abuse that some children have to suffer!bious, criminal and warped intentions.
We have a moral duty to report such crimes to the Police Service, or we must carry the burden of being accomplices of such atrocities that always leave permanent psychological scars.
A second crucial pillar of our strategy focuses on caring for those already infected and affected by HIV/Aids, especially orphans of Aids.
Since there is no cure for this deadly disease as of yet, we must all lend a hand for a better, more comfortable life for the victims of HIV/Aids.
Community workers and caregivers everywhere volunteer their time and energy to shower our destitute and sick children, with hope. Every morning, when they wake up they say, "every child is my child".
We believe our children are our future. But they continue to live under the dark cloud of violence, poverty, hunger and disease everywhere in the world. Many children cannot be cared for at home because of severe poverty.
Orphans who have lost their parents to the dreaded disease need a special caring heart and hand from all of us. Caring for them is one of the greatest challenges we face, and we have no choice but to rise to the occasion and do our best.
Without a partnership between Government and communities, they have no real hope, no real comfort and no real future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We commend you for your selfless efforts and very worthy example to the rest of us, as a nation.
In wishing you well for the rest of the Convention, we trust that you will remain resolute in your resolve to bring positive change, and a better life, to all the communities you touch.
May God Bless you, and may you grow from strength to strength.
I thank you.
Inquries: Ms Lakela Kaunda
Spokesperson/Chief Director: Communications