Whilst many families have access to social grants and other poverty alleviation programmes, many of our households and communities remain trapped in poverty, are dependent on the state and thus unable to access the opportunities created by the positive economic climate.
Central to the task of social transformation is the role of the Government in confronting the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment. We must be the first to re-affirm our commitment to redress poverty and inequality.
In August 2008, government launched the national War on Poverty Campaign to reduce poverty among the country’s poorest citizens. And one of the key elements to graduate out of poverty or to improve your life is through education .Whilst the main aim of Balelapa is to facilitate household access to basic government amenities such as health; education water and electricity, what is heartening is to note that Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) have joined hands with the Northern Cape Government in addressing skills development among the youth, the view here that education and skills development is perhaps the most important economic opportunity the government can provide for young people. As the Department Social Development, we entered into partnerships with different SETAs for the training of 1000 learners to carry out the survey.
We have put a great emphasis on the type of volunteer that we envisage at creating at the end of this particular program, furthermore we are making good today on our pledge as a People’s Government to never forget the good work done by our community volunteers, who have over many years participated in the construction of our democratic government.
The large majority of volunteers are young people, as at a general level the Northern Cape is indeed a youthful province, as youth constitute more than 71 percent of the entire Northern Cape populace. It therefore goes with requiring much complex reasoning, that the thrust of our People-Centered and People-Driven programs should be biased posture towards the development of our young people. How best than to allow the youth themselves to be the pioneers of their own advancement, given credence to the role-call, “that nothing for us, without us!”
The 114 young vibrant and youthful Namakwa volunteers graduated on the 13 March 2014 where they received their certificates of competence which is pitched at NQF Level 4.
It was a glitz and glamour event where the hall was covered in a sea of black graduation gowns and hoods. Whilst addressing the graduates MEC Chotelo emphasised the importance to them of education and the fundamental role it plays in you graduating out of poverty. She encouraged them to continue their studies and make themselves employable by capacitating themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills required in the various fields available.
MEC Chotelo said to the graduates that they are like diamonds in the sky and that they must remember that the sky is the limit.
The evening was ended off with entertainment from the local Idol Simphiwe Gwegwe who hails from the coastal town of Port Nolloth in the Namakwa. He started off his show by singing the song “ like diamonds in the sky “ , a song which could not be more befitting and appropriate , based on MEC Chotelo’s statement earlier.
This is another good story of government in which we are improving the lives of our people.
