The following remarks were delivered by the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr Solly Msimanga, during a blanket handover ceremony at Dunduzela Day and Night Care Centre in Nellmapius, Mamelodi
We are gathered here today to give back and lend a helping hand to the less privileged amongst us.
To borrow from an adage “It is more blessed to give than to receive”, I would like to thank our men in “Blue or Khakhi” as they are affectionately known for the incalculable gesture we are observing today.
I was excited when I heard of the blanket donation drive project and how it encompasses the essence of Ubuntu– a spirit of caring, sacrifice and of belonging. Ubuntu is about caring for the well-being of your neighbour and as a caring city we are here today to express that warmth by giving back to the VIPs of Tshwane, our residents. I am deeply touched and inspired by this great initiative that demonstrates responsibility and thoughtfulness.
The blanket donation drive demonstrates that gone are the days where policemen and women were perceived as enemies of the community. Our police men and women are here to instil and provide law enforcement which also means protecting our people.
Communities must work with law enforcement and assist them with information regarding criminal acts taking place in our society. Communities must rally together and fight all sorts of social injustices and lend a helping hand wherever they can. We encourage communities not harbour criminals in their homes. It is the responsibility of residents to report thugs that kill our officers and fellow community members. If we don’t report them, the same thugs will eventually terrorise us leaving our communities more vulnerable to crime and despair than ever before.
With wintertime already upon us, there are many children who are homeless or in places of safety such as Dunduzela Day and Night Care who need care from all of us. I urge every citizen of the City of Tshwane to lend a helping hand in keeping our less fortunate people, especially our children, warm.
This can be done in various ways like forming soup kitchens, donating unwanted clothing or sponsoring a child to go to school. It is these small gestures that make a world of a difference in someone’s life.
We are here today to show our commitment towards the advancement of youngsters in Tshwane and to tell you that we are rallying behind you on your journey towards success. I believe that most of you here are scholars around Nellmapius and Mamelodi. I therefore encourage you all to never lose hope and to believe in yourselves and your dreams. Never lose sight of your dream.
Allow me to share with you some successful stories of people who were once living in harsh conditions.
- Benni McCarthy was exposed to things such as drugs and poverty as youngster living in a gang-infested area. Luckily for Benni, he kept his eyes fully focused on becoming one of Mzansi’s finest footballers ever. Today he is the coach of Cape Town City, a successful Premier Soccer League team.
- How many of you knew that Black Coffee, one of the world’s famous DJ from South Africa, was once a cow herder? Today he is sharing the stage with the best musicians and DJs in the world.
These and many other successful people remind us that success is about patience, perseverance and discipline.
It still remains our responsibility as government and ordinary citizens to ensure that all of you learners exercise their right to primary, secondary and higher education. You however, need to grab the opportunities with both hands. The importance of education can never be emphasized enough. The fruits of education are sweet and I urge you to take your studies seriously.
Government alone will not be able to satisfy community needs all at once. It therefore requires us all to hold each other by hand, and continue to make the lives of our people better, especially the less privileged.
In that vein, I would like to thank all the donors and the contributors for coming together towards this good cause.