Speech by the Honourable MEC for Health and Social Development
Mr. Seaparo Sekoati on the Occasion of Family Day
21 October 2006
Venue: Thohoyandou Children’s Home
Programme Director
Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli
Executive Mayor of Vhembe District: Cllr. Irene Mutsila
Mayor of Thohoyandou: Cllr Vhamusanda
Concilours from the
Local Municipaties
District Manager
Government officials
present
Ladies and Gentlemen
In 1994, when we
celebrated our hard earned freedom and democracy, the United Nations
General Assembly declared the same year, the “Year of the Families”.
Whilst we work tireless in building our new nation we should not
neglect – The Family. In celebrating the Family Day during the
Social Development month which is October, we should also not loose
side of the fact that the 15th May every year is the International
Day for Families.
We have consciously
chosen Children Home to celebrate our Family Day, to make you aware
of children who need your help in your own door steps. These
children are not here because they have committed any crime or came
to this home because of their own choice, we must take care of them.
As government we call
upon you to bond with these children so that they can be part of
you. When the schools close you should invite these children into
your homes so that they join you, your families and communities so
that they become part of you. We need to learn to adopt these
children. Let us go back to the days when we use to say “every child
is my child”, or to the biblical verse that says “Those who seek the
Kingdom of heaven should have love for children”.
There is an Africa
saying that goes: “N`wana wavho ndi n`wanaga”. The other one goes:
“Vhabebi vhavho ndi vhanga”. We are saying as government, that in
the context of the growing poverty, how you and me as individuals
and communities should act in ways that every day of our lives
breathes life into these sayings.
It is not in the liking
of government to have places like children’s home. It is also
un-African to let children stay away from their communities. The
government has no choice since you have abdicated your
responsibilities as a community.
We must vow never to
sleep nor rest until every child in South Africa is not neglected.
Today, let us rededicate ourselves to family values. Unlike other
nations, Africans have nuclear families and extended families and we
appeal that these children become your extended families. Let’s not
make today the 21 October 2006 our first and last visit but a
beginning of a strong bond between us and these children.
The children in the
children home are not sick or dangerous, so let our children come
and play with them. As a community we can stop the flow of children
to this place by starting to adopt them. Some people are attracted
to foster care because there is money to receive from government.
Are we money driven or love driven? Let’s continue to applaud those
of us who are fostering these children for good reasons.
Our former president
Nelson Mandela once said: “Children are the most vulnerable citizens
in any society and the greatest of treasures”. When a new family is
started we cry loud for God to bless us with children and once we
have them we make their lives miserable. Our children have turned to
be our worst enemies because, the ways in which we bring them up
leave much to be desired. Children are good when it comes to
emulating and if our homes are turned into boxing rings by parents
and a base for hurling insults, what type of future are we building?
Let us not look back in
anger nor forward in fear but look around in awareness. Let us ask
ourselves a question, what can I do to make South Africa a better
place for every child to leave in harmony? The government is coming
with many programmes like moral regeneration and poverty
alleviation. Our department is funding many of poverty alleviating
projects. We cannot all rely on what the government is offering and
let us collectively save the family and our children.
Programme Director; let
me conclude by specifically calling on the faith based organisations
that we as a department will be drawing on your knowledge and the
experience of working with communities. We expect you to take the
lead in the campaign of moral regeneration in our society that
encompasses the mind, body, spirit and community.
Once again I leave you
with the words: “N`wana wavho ndi n`wanaga”. “Vhabebi vhavho ndi
vhanga”.
I thank you!
Nda!.
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