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Programme Director
Members of Parliament and the Provincial Legislature
Members of the Mayoral Committee and Councillors
Honoured Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

It once more pride me to be part of honouring the promise we made during our Imbizo programme here few months ago as well as the announcement we made during our budget vote speech.

During our Imbizo here, our people poured out their frustration in having to queue for long for them to access our services. The pain to sleep at the doorsteps of our offices so as to be the first one to access our services is indeed dehumanising. What about those who had to turn because we can only assist 40 or less people due to time constrains?

I join you today with admiration for this community, who for the past years have refused to give up when the odds where against them. You were taken from pillar to post until where we are today. Such sacrifice and commitment demonstrate, without doubt, the power of self-discipline and the desire to succeed. For that I salute you.

Sometimes along the road to a better life, when we are faced with difficulties, when we stumble and fall, it is all too easy to despair and give up.

But when one hears of how our communities are joining hands to create a better life for themselves and those around them, then we regain the strength to meet whatever difficulties there may be.

As we face the challenge of meeting our people's basic needs with limited resources, those who roll their sleeves and take the initiative to uplift their conditions, set an example for all of us to follow. If we need to succeed, that is, to achieve much from few resources; we must find the path to sustainable creation of jobs and self-sufficiency; develop new skills; and involve communities. None of our plans can succeed without such efforts.

Our joint presence here today confirms that those who shared the trenches of struggle are today working hard as free nations to realise the possibilities of freedom.

It is a special pleasure that so many children from this area will benefit from the opening of this office. My young friends, you are the true custodians of this office. The responsibility for taking care of this office lies in you, however we are confident that you will be worthy custodians of this office.

The opening of this office signals the end of frustration, pain, suffering and anger to our people. Gone are the days were our people used to travel to town to get our services. Gone are also the days were our people used to be serviced only once a week for two or three hours.

Today is a special day to all of us. To us as government it continues to demonstrate our commitment to better the lives of our people. It also continues to demonstrate our undying desire to put our people first.

As we face the scourge of poverty this office will bring relief to those who rely on the state to access help.

As President Thabo Mbeki has correctly put it that "Poverty is not an act of nature"

We remain convinced that the scourge of poverty ruining the lives of millions of South Africa's population can be fought and conquered through integrated efforts by various Government departments, Non Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organisations, Faith Based Organisation and all other organisations rallying behind the idea of creating a better life for all.

HIV/Aids is another issue of concern, which will remain a challenge for Government, and people of South Africa. The rate of Orphans is increasing due to children loosing their parents to the HIV/Aids pandemic.

The state of the nations children report of 2001 clearly outlines a role that we have to play to ensure that our kids grow up in adequate, nutritious and conducive environments.

This report, which marks our achievement, is now available for public scrutiny and continues to serve as a guiding framework to Governments conduct on Children's issues.

We have committed ourselves to recruit more than 250 000 children through our child support grant. This task was made difficult in this area because our services were limited to a day pay week. We also committed ourselves to allow all those who qualify for our grants to access these grants. Therefore, this office will indeed position us to reach our objectives so as to push back the frontiers of poverty.

This office will be capable of handling all the services offered by our department. From the application of social grants to fostering of children including the support to fight HIV/AIDS and poverty. Hence our excitement to be here today.

A word of thanks, to Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality for their tireless support. To give us this offices indeed demonstrate your respect to the elderly, women and children

This also demonstrates the commitment to cooperative governance and the commitment to serve our people better.

A word of thanks also to our offices before head office and the Germiston office for their tireless work in ensuring that we open this office. You remain the pillar of our hope to better the lives for our people.

To the people of Thokoza and Vosloorus, here is an office, it belongs to you, and it is here to serve you, use it to the fullest.

For more information contact: Panyaza Lesufi on 082 469 0822

Issued by Social Services and Population Development, Gauteng

19 July 2002