Programme Director
Honourable Premier, Ms Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas
Executive Mayor, Mr Abraham Vosloo
Mayor, CLLR M. Louw
Councillors Present
Clergy present
Members of Civil Society
Government officials
Members of the Media
Ladies and gentlemen

My verantwoordelik vanoggend is ‘n baie maklike een, maar ook een wat ek met trots en oorgawe doen. Ek het vanoggend die eer om aan U voor te stel ‘n person wat aan U almal, oud en jonk bekend is. En dit maak hierdie eenvoudige taak soveel moeiliker om ‘n merkwaardige mens voor te stel wat so diep spore in die geskiedenis van hierdie Provinsie getrap het.

We are gathered here today to heed the call led by our Honourable Premier to come together and tackle the evil of child and women abuse. The Provincial Event was Held on Thursday and the message from Premier was very clear. And that is that we have had enough. No longer will we allow our children and women to be abused and raped. No longer will we allow our women and children to be murdered and mutilate. We have had enough and you shall not do this in our names.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have said that I have the distinct honour to introduce to you the Premier of the Northern Cape and I today not only introduce this remarkable woman, but also pay tribute to an activist and staunch and fierce fighter for women and children’s rights. The accomplishments are many, the victories were sweet and the repertoire of our keynote speaker is long and impressive. I will however for the sake of time name but a few of the many highlights of her illustrious career. 
Dames en here, die Agbare Premier is gebore en soos ek reeds genoem het, het diep en blywende spore in die Noordkaap getrap. Sy is ‘n boorling van hierdie area en dit is ook hier waar haar wortels sterk geanker bly. Soos baie van U sal weet is die Premier konstant besig om te werk in ons gemeensakppe en is sy alom bekend as ‘n vrygewende en saggeaarde siel wat die welstand van almal, ongeag kleur, geloofsoortuigings en politieke affiliasie na aan die hart hou.
Sy het van ‘n tenger ouderdom die onreg wat in ons land en gemeenskappe bestaan gesien en sederdien dit haar lewensdoel gemaak om saam met ander te veg sodat ons almal hier teenwoordig en in die land die vryhede en regte kan geniet. In ‘n neutedop kan mens haar net beskryf as ‘n mens mens, met ander woorde sy behoort aan die mense en sy aanvaar hierdie rol en verantwoordelikheid met oorgawe.
Premier Lucas is ‘n moeder, nie net van haar eie nie, maar vir soveel ander, sy is ‘n grootmoeder, ‘n ouma, maar belangrikste van als bly sy ‘n kind. ‘n Diep gelowige mens wat die kerk en die welstand van haar medemens haar kernpunt maak, bly sy ‘n kind van God en ‘n getroue dienaar van mens. Ek het reeds genoem dat sy ‘n aktivis in murg in been is , en skroom sy nie om te verklaar dat alles ter wille en ten danke is aan ons Almagtige God nie. Dit is die Premier wat ons ken, eer en respekteer.
Ladies and gentlemen, her entry into formal politics saw Premier Lucas holding several positions in the ruling party of the African National Congress (ANC) that she loves with a passion unmatched anywhere. Sylvia Lucas represented the African National Congress as a Councillor, Member of the Provincial Legislature, Member of the Executive Council for Environment and Nature Conservation, Acting Premier and Premier of the Northern Cape.

It is in the latter capacity where Premier Lucas has made and continues to make an indelible and positive impression on the people of the Northern Cape. In her resolute commitment to advance the social economic conditions of the Northern Cape, her achievements as the number one citizen of the province have been well documented.
In her constant pursuit to improve on her personal capacity, the Premier has completed her post graduate Diploma in Governance and Public Leadership, and is currently enrolled in the Master’s Programme of Governance and Public Leadership. The Northern Cape is a province that has tremendous opportunities.
Ms Sylvia Lucas became involved in political activities in 1980 whilst schooling at Carlton van Heerden high school in Upington.
• 1983 – 1995
As a community Activist was part of leading the rent boycotts in Rosedale community, Upington.
• As ANC leader in the branch, formed part of the delegations to the Transitional Council to ensure communities get prepaid electricity when they could not afford conventional electrical power.
• Initiated the Oasis Centre for People with disabilities under the banner of the ANC Women’s League during late 1990's.
• Founding member of Radio Riverside community radio in Upington.
• Served as Executive trustee of the Northern Cape Educare Trust and a member of the Ikemeleng Trust that served Free State and Northern Cape.
1993 - 1994 ANC Women’s League – Branch Chairperson – Rosedale Branch
1994 – 1996 ANC and ANC Women’s League REC member – Upington region
1996 – 1998 ANC Women’s League – Regional Secretary – Upington region
1998 - 2000 ANC Women’s League – Regional Chairperson – Upington region
1996 - 2000 ANC REC and RWC Member – Upington Region
2000 – 2004 Became the first Regional Chairperson of the merged Upington and part of Kuruman Region, known as Siyanda region.
2004 – 2007 ANC PEC-member
2000 – 2007 ANC Women’s League PEC and PWC Member
2006 – 2008 ANC Women’s League acting provincial secretary serving on the Women’s League NEC in an -ex Officio capacity
2008 – Date Deputy Provincial chairperson of the ANC Women’s League
2008 - 2012 ANC PEC and PWC – member – re-elected
2012 – Date Re-elected ANC PEC and PWC-member
 2014 – Date      Elected Provincial Treasurer of the ANC
PUBLIC POSITIONS AND WORK HISTORY
1983 – 1999 Public Servant – Department Social Development
1995 – 1999 ANC PR Councilor – Upington Municipality
1999 – 2000 Community Development Worker - /Khara Hais Municipality SAMWU Shopsteward  and Chairperson of Upington Local
2000 – 2004 Member of the Provincial legislature
2002 – 2004 Elected as Exco member of the Association of Public Accounts Committees
2004 – 2009 Member of the Provincial legislature, serving as ANC – Whip
2004 – 2006 Elected as Deputy General Secretary of Association of Public Accounts Committees
2006 – 2009 Elected as General Secretary of Association of Public Accounts Committees
2009 – Date Member of EXCO – Environment and Nature Conservation
2013 23rd May 2013 Appointed as Premier of the Northern Cape Province

Die inleiding en voorstelling van hierdie merkwaardige vegter, dienaar en leier is maar ‘n opsomming en ek kan nog ure lank praat oor die Premier. Tyd is egter nie aan ons kant nie en met hierdie paar woorde stel ek aan U voor U Premier-  die Agbare Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas.