Speech by MEC Dawid Rooi at the Land Handover  

                Ceremony: Wrenchville Civic Centre - Kuruman 

                                         30th August 2003 

    

      

Program Director

Honourable Mayor

Distinguish Guests

Distinguished Beneficiaries

Management and Officials of Government

Ladies and Gentlemen

Comrades

 

We gathered here to mark a moment that signifies the deliverance of democracy. We committed ourselves to a route of action that would reshape the lot of our womenfolk. This land delivery has allowed our democracy to speak its real language of progressive life for our target groups.

 

The achievement of the objective of women emancipation is with us today as we bring down the curtains on our activities for Women’s Month with a hardcore deliverable.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Allow me to thank our beneficiaries for their trust in the processes of government and for having pursued their dream of wanting to be farm owners. The beauty of this delivery leaves much to write home about.  Women in the Northern Cape are now in the majority of land redistribution beneficiaries who have gained ownership to more than 547 000 hectares of land since 1994.

 

My endless gratitude is extended to this group of 31 for turning the scales. You are heroines in your own right. Encourage other women to do likewise for ours is to bring fundamental change to those living on the fringes of society.

 

We will continue to pursue the economic advancement of our mothers and sisters who are in charge of most rural households. Land ownership is and will continue to be our magic.

 

Programme Director

 

The allocation 1 310 hectares clearly tells that Mama Anna Eileerd and company would now be able to move beyond subsistence agriculture. This project is a step towards your total harmony and dignity. Your future successes will bring much satisfaction to government as we measure the outcomes of the Female Farmer of the Year Competition.

 

The Competition has transformed itself into a deliverable that confronts all factors that influence the marginalisation of women in agriculture. 

Today’s event testifies that our noble intentions of recognizing and encouraging the contribution of women to the fight against poverty have resulted into action. It is such action that will ensure that women are enlisted to the upper echelons of agricultural production. Hence gender is on top of government’s agenda. 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen

   

    The acquisition of land by female beneficiaries is an  

    achievement that highlights gains on matters that    

    are of immediate and direct relevance to women; the

    domestic economy. A domestic economy that speaks 

    into all elements of survival, employment, the

    ability to have access to food and an environment of   

    good living.      

 

This good living will only come about once we are able to tackle all challenges facing this project. Your training is of critical importance. You should also be able to enjoy our support in all frustrations that you might experience in yearning for prosperity. Officials from the Directorate for Agricultural Development and the Land Reform office are on-call.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

Our duty is to ensure that our programmes are tailored around the improvement of the quality of life and status of women in the Northern Cape. A specific focus is based on rural women who are often subjected to the protean nature of second hand slavery.

 

Programme Director

 

I am happy to announce that the Northern Cape Provincial Land Reform office will soon unleash a land bonanza that will clearly indicate our seriousness in addressing land ownership. Deliveries will unfold through out province. The land application requirements for groups do address the gender question hence the scales would forever be tipped in favour of women.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

In conclusion, allow me to salute Mama Eileerd for her visionary work of organizing all other beneficiaries and for striking at the rock of the agriculture sector. Organizing and networking are two elements that define the efforts that you have undertaken.

 

On the other hand, service delivery serves to mirror the work done by the team at the Provincial Land Reform office. Cohesion speaks into the stamp of approval of the inter-departmental Provincial Grants Committee.     

 

I wish you prosperity in an environment of good living. I thank you.