21 March 2007
MECs
Mayors
Councillors
Invited guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
We are gathered here once more to remember those who sacrificed their lives to bring about our freedom and democracy. We salute those who were killed during the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, survivors of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre and their families. We also pay tribute to many who were killed or survived subsequent massacres throughout the country.
Let us together ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain. This we do by ensuring that human rights mean more than having them enshrined in the constitution. It must mean access to shelter, water, sanitation, electricity, jobs, quality health and education. It must mean living without fear from crime especially violent crimes and crimes against women, children and the elderly. It must mean a sustained fight against HIV and Aids and other communicable diseases, poverty and underdevelopment.
We are all agreed that the Gauteng we live in is very different from the PWV of 1960, that this year is different from last year, that today is not the same as yesterday and that tomorrow will therefore be different from today. This is because everyday we are working to ensure the realisation of basic human rights enshrined in our constitution and to make Gauteng a better place to live in.
Last month the Gauteng provincial government released a mid-term report which details the achievements we have made since 2004 to advance the socio-economic rights of the people of Gauteng. In it we make the bold assertion that while there are still people who do not have jobs and live in abject poverty, the lives of great number of people have changed and change is spreading to many more people as a better Gauteng arises.
According to Stats SA, there has been a steady increase in the number of jobs in the Gauteng economy, rising from 2, 9 million jobs in March 2002 to 3, 3 million jobs in March 2006. This represents an increase of 426 000 jobs
Other economic and developmental indicators also show that:
We continue to make steady progress to meet our people's right to housing. Since 2004, we have provided over 160 000 new housing opportunities in the province. As part of our commitment to formalising and eradicating informal settlements, we have registered and provided basic services to close to 100 000 stands in informal settlements. Around 11000 housing units were built through the community builder and people's housing process. In addition, over 43 000 people received title deeds of their properties, and a total of 1 701 hostel units have also been upgraded.
By the end of June this year, we shall have eliminated the degrading bucket system in the few areas where it is still in use in our province. In that way we shall have ensured that the right to human dignity is enjoyed by an even greater number of our people.
The socio-economic rights will continue to be met through the 20 township priority programme. The people of Boipatong, Bophelong, Sebokeng and Sharpeville in this district will benefit from this programme that seeks to fast-track the rehabilitation of 20 old established in the province.
This programme aims to beautify our old townships by providing social amenities such as tarred roads, the upgrading of schools, clinics, water and sanitation facilities. There will also be the development of local transport and business hubs to contribute to local economic development and job creation.
Residents of these areas must help us to monitor that the contractors, employed to work on these projects, do their work properly and in a manner that will ensure that the infrastructure we are building is sustainable. Our monitoring must help us ensure that we avoid the situation we saw in Evaton where a contractor failed to start the social development projects they were supposed to do on time. The contract has since been cancelled and steps will be taken to ensure that the contractor never get new government contracts.
As we prepare for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, we are doing everything we can to ensure that we speed up infrastructure development that will provide a legacy of better roads, improved public transport and better communication networks. Our work on improving the George Thabe Stadium, as a possible practice venue for 2010, is progressing very well. Our aim is that this stadium be used to host top Premier Soccer League games once the world cup competition is over. Other stadiums we are improving include Sinaba in Daveyton and HM Pitje in Mamelodi.
HIV and AIDS, crime and the state of education in township schools continue to be issues that pose a challenge to our ability to enjoy human rights. While our healthcare system is improving and more people are accessing antiretroviral therapy, the health system is coming under pressure because of high number of people who continue to be infected with HIV on a daily basis. Too many people are still engaging in casual sex without using condoms and far too many people are having multiple sexual partners. Far too many people seem to live under a false hope that it won't happen to me. They fail to realise that if it has happened to your friend, if it has happened to your neighbour and if it has happened to your cousin, it can most definitely happen to you too. So my plea to you today is let us heed the message and change our sexual behaviour. We have survived the most difficulty times in our history, why do we allow ourselves to be killed by something that we know how to avoid.
Crime continues to be a blot that dirties the moral fibre of our society. It happens partly because there are some among us who are ready and willing to buy stolen goods, some harbour wanted hijackers and rapist and known criminals are given elevated status even though their dark and evil ways are known. Crime is everyone's problem and we must work together take charge of our lives. We can no longer afford to look the other way, when the image of country is damaged by criminals. On 30 March 2007 we will be unveiling the provincial safety plan which calls for community participation. We call on all communities regardless of race and class to join hands with us as we engage in battle to rid our communities of crime and its causes.
While we are seeing promising pass rates in our education system, the state of education in township schools still leaves too much to be desired. It is here where teenage pregnancy is highest; dysfunctionality is common in these schools. Children from the townships board taxis every morning to attend schools in former white suburbs as parents show lack of confidence in schools closer to their homes. This situation can not be allowed to continue forever. This week the MEC for Education will be hosting an education summit to discuss what needs to be done to improve this situation. Again we require community support to turn this situation around and restore glory to township schools. In the past these schools produced some of the best political, business and academic leaders. Let us help them reclaim their position as reservoirs of knowledge, progress and as centre of excellence. Successful former learners of these schools must be mobilised to come back as role models to motivate current learners to work hard and succeed.
A sound and growing economy is a fundamental requirement if we are to succeed in bringing about the progressive realisation of socio-economic rights for our people. For us in Gauteng the global city region initiative, supported by our growth and development strategy, the human resources strategy, the social development strategy, the safety plan and others provides us the platform to fulfil our obligation to ensure a better life for all.
Clearly we still have a considerable task in ensuring that the fundamental human rights enshrined in our constitution are become a reality enjoyed by all. Our success requires the contribution of each and every one of us, young and old, black and white.
The protection, promotion and progressive realisation of fundamental human rights can only be the outcome of ongoing struggle: every day, in every community, in every sphere of human activity. It is only when people themselves engage in social action to give meaning to the words enshrined in our Constitution that human rights will become the living thread from which our social fabric is woven. The organisation of the people to act as their own liberators, to themselves transform the provisions of the Constitution into a living reality, is a function of our ongoing struggle.
I thank you.