Progressive Professionals Forum, North West Province, 28 July 2016 PPF Conversation with Matlosana Mayoral Candidate Maetu Kgaile Input of Mr Sediko Rakolote Inputs from Provincial Convener of Progressive Professionals Forum-North West (PPF-NW) Mr Sediko Rakolote on the occasion of having a conversation with ANC Mayoral candidate of City of Matlosana Local Municipality Cllr Maetu Kgaile, North West, 28 July 2016 Executive Mayor of City of Matlosana Local Municipality Cllr Cde Mike Khaoue and councillors present, Members of the Executive Committee in the Provincial Legislature responsible for Health Dr Magome Masike Leadership of the African National Congress Fellow members of the Progressive Professionals Forum in North-West Leadership from various business sectors, Ladies and Gentleman, Dumelang, Allow us to give very special greetings to the incoming Mayor of the City of Matlosana Local Municipality Cllr Maetu Kgaile by saying Malibongwe!!! We are humbled by your presence here tonight to join us in a conversation with the ANC Mayoral candidate cde Maetu Kgaile on theme: SETTING THE CITY ON THE TRANSFORMATIVE PATHWAY THROUGH EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AGENDA - A PEOPLE-CENTRED APPROACH BY CITY OF MATLOSANA Compatriots, It is our submission that tonight's theme is directly connected to two key documents in our country. The first document was the written by the likes of: 1) Ethel Drus who completed her MA in Cape Town, South Africa. She was a Research Fellow in the Department of Pacific History, Research School of Pacific Studies at the Australian National University 1953-1955. She was a professional. 2) Zachariah Keodirelang "ZK" Matthews who completed an LLB degree in South Africa and completed MA a degree at Yale University in the United States. In 1936 was appointed Lecturer in Social Anthropology and Native Law and Administration at University of Fort Hare. He was a professional. 3) Lionel "Rusty" Bernstein who completed Bachelor degree at University of Witwatersrand in 1946. A member of SACP. An architect. He was a professional. 4) Ruth First who worked as a research assistant for the Social Welfare Division of the Johannesburg City Council. These Professionals and many others voluntary participated in the writing of the 1955 document called the Freedom Charter, that we as PPF we are subscribing to. And as I have said it is our submission that tonight's theme is in line with this document that people volunteered in crafting to shape the future of our country. The authors of the 1,224 words document called Freedom Charter have repeatedly used the words "All" and "People" in the document. Standing to be corrected the word "All" is used 51 times and the word "People" is used 27 times in the document. The selective repeated use of the words "All" and "People" can only be understood by understanding the meaning of the words. And understanding the meaning will assist in understanding the rationale of using those words repeatedly. In short Oxford Dictionary defines the word "All" as the whole and the free dictionary indicates that the word "People" is often treated as plural of the word " Person" and states that people means a body of persons living in the same country under one national government; a nationality. Based on the repeated use of the words "All" and "People", we have a view that the Freedom Charter as a document was written purely to address inequality in South Africa. The dream of the authors of the Freedom Charter was to have "All" -"People" being equal citizens in the country with equal benefits. And the theme for tonight talks about INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AGENDA - A PEOPLE CENTRED APPROACH. It is our submission that in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality, there is poverty and unemployment which is characterized by race and gender and its main cause has been the inequality that was perpetuated by the past laws. Apartheid government has ensured that not "All" -"People" of City of Matlosana are equal shareholders of South Africa. If we have to build the people-centred City which is inclusive of all and addressing the legacy of the past, we must be unapologetic in implementing the policies that will target at the main the historically disadvantaged. Compatriots, A question that needs to be posed here tonight to all of us as the current crop of Professionals, is that: - What are we doing to ensure that the ideals of the 1955 document written by fellow professionals like Ethel Drus, Zachariah Keodirelang "ZK" Matthews, Lionel "Rusty" Bernstein, Ruth First and many other South African are realised? - Are we comfortable with our personal status quo therefore is none of our business if we are still having people who are suffering from the legacy of the past? Colleagues, Chairman Mao when talking about Classes and Class struggle indicated that: "It will take a long period to decide the issue in the ideological struggle between socialism and capitalism in our country. The reason is that the influence of the bourgeoisie and of the intellectuals who come from the old society will remain in our country for a long time to come, and so will their class ideology. If this is not sufficiently understood, or is not understood at all, the gravest mistakes will be made and the necessity of waging the struggle in the ideological field will be ignored." Indeed the bourgeoisie and the intellectuals of the old order -"Old Government" are still within us and even their class ideology is still with us. They are in Parliament in opposition benches in coercion with demagogues, anarchist, and politically confused red-overall buddies. They are taking any decision that the Government is intending to implement to achieve the 1955 dream of "All" -"People" being are equal shareholders of South Africa to court. It is our duty to defend the gains of democracy and be at the forefront of telling the masses that 1994 post-apartheid government has been making progress in redressing the imbalance of the past. It is the duty of the Professionals as direct beneficiaries of the progressive policies of the post 1994 democratic government of the ANC, to go head to head with the bourgeoisie and intellectuals of the old order and their buddies, and defend the gains of democracy. Furthermore to ensure that no one hinders transformation in this country. Ladies and Gentleman, The second document that tonight's theme is linked to is the 1996 document. One of the people who was at the forefront of compiling it, is a having a law degree from University of the North. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Natal, the University of Port Elizabeth, the University of Cape Town, the University of the North, the National University of Lesotho, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Pennsylvania. He is indeed a patriotic Professional and he is currently serving as Deputy President of the ANC and Deputy President of the country. The 1996 document is called the constitution. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and many others voluntary participated in the writing of the 1996 document called the Constitution of Republic of South Africa, that as PPF we are subscribing to, and as I have said it is our submission that the theme for tonight is in line with the Constitution of the Republic. Chapter 3 section 40 sub section (1) of Constitution of South Africa 1996 (as amended) provides for establishment of three tier system of government namely national, provincial and local. These spheres are distinctive, interdependent and moreover interrelated. Sections 152 (1) (a) and (e) requires that local government provide a democratic and accountable government to local communities. In compliance with the Constitution, there are statutory an enabling instruments like the Local Government Municipal Structures Act, 1998 and the Municipal Systems Act, 2000 which makes provision for the establishment of ward committees in the local sphere of government to encourage community participation in the affairs of government. Section 74 of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998, states that an objective of ward committees is to enhance participatory democracy in local government matters, by assisting and advising the ward councillor on matters concerning the ward and by acting as a direct link between the council and the residents. Compatriots, - How many of us are currently using our profession to voluntarily assist the local government in enhancing participatory democracy which is key driver for people-centred approach we are talking about tonight? - Are we comfortable with our personal status quo therefore is none of our business if the government is sometimes having challenges of effectiveness and efficiency? - Are we joining those who are talking from ivory towers and not providing solutions? As the direct beneficiaries of the progressive policies of the democratic government of the ANC, it is our responsibility to drive the democratic and accountability of government to local communities. We are indebted to this government and its people. Compatriots, PPF is not the formation of self-seeking glory but positively advance our country and its people by working closely with the progressive movement. We remain objective at all times. Not playing to gallery at all. It is our responsibility to contribute in building a better country. We owe our academic qualifications, our success to the lives of our forebears in the struggle. We are directly beneficiaries of progressive policies of ANC government. Amongst others of our objectives are to: o Call together professionals who are ready and willing to contribute towards the growth of our society and our country. o Be a volunteer corps in the spirit of the 1960's and the Defiance Campaign. o Encourage, foster and nurture progressive thinking and to provide a platform to stimulate intellectual debate on the progressive agenda. o Promote Education and Social Development activities. o Support the efforts aimed at the control and distribution of economic ownership that is representative of the population. o Leverage and harness the capacity of professionals to engender an inclusive economic growth to deal with the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. o Foster a plough-back culture among professionals and encourage role modelling and progressive political orientation for the younger generation. o Mobilise all professionals to play a meaningful and strategic role primarily in the body politic of South Africa, support the African Diaspora strategy and work towards engendering lasting social cohesion. o Encourage patriotism and patriotic contributions to assist the government in building the country and its people. o Seek mechanisms to ensure that the public discourse in the country is balanced and promote the patriotism of its citizens. o Contribute towards the transformation of the legacy of apartheid and the continuing socio-economic disparities within our country. Programme Director, Many organisations are having epistemological disjuncture between theory and practice, and with spirit of humility PPF is not one of those. We implement decisions that we take. For us to be able to assist the City of Matlosana Local Municipality and many other Municipalities within the length and breadth of Bokone-Bophirima we have taken a decision to establish volunteer corps. Volunteers corps members will voluntarily provide the technical know-how and expertise to resolve the challenges that our municipalities are facing from time to time. Therefore we are calling all Professionals in the City of Matlosana and the province at large to join PPF-NW volunteer's corps program. Registration is opened now and closing date is on the 31st August 2016. We are calling all professionals currently serving in the municipalities to join our ranks and be part of the PPF family that seeks to be the Think Tank of South Africa. As members of PPF, we don't ask what the country can do for us but we selflessly and voluntarily do what is needed by our country from us. Fellow colleagues and compatriots, Finally, we would like to thank you once more for coming tonight. As PPF- NW we are humbled by your presence and we are looking forward to your active participation in this conversation. It is our wish that the relationship we are creating with you tonight is not going to end after the last item on the program but it will be nourished by the daily remembrance of the discussions that happened here tonight. I thank you. Pula!!!!!! __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 13877 (20160729) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com -- -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. 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