Executive Mayor of the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality Mr Seweditse Benjamin Gaobusiwe.
Saturday 18 July 2009 will be remembered for many things but one of them will go into history books because it marks the 91 st birthday of the world’s most iconic leader, Nelson Mandela. On Saturday 11 July 2009, the seventh annual Nelson Mandela lecture was held in honour of this selfless leader of the struggle, who spent 67 years of his time serving and fighting for the people – not only of this country, but the entire world – to be free from all forms of discrimination. With the theme “Eradicating Poverty by Investing in the Marginalised”, Professor Muhammad Yunus, challenged all of us to make South Africa the first county without poverty. As the Executive Mayor of John Taolo Gaetsewe district, I want to take the challenge to all residents of the district, to make John Taolo Gaetsewe the first district without poverty, bearing in mind the challenge by Professor Yunus. It is very important to start even in a small way with this enormous task. Many people believe it is impossible to eradicate poverty. However, it has been proven that nothing is impossible unless we think that it is. Our very own Mark Shuttleworth has landed on the moon. If that is possible, is it not possible for us to help others. We got rid of colonialism, everyone said it’s impossible. We got rid of slavery, they said it was impossible. We got rid of apartheid, they said it was impossible … Let’s do the next impossible thing. Let us rid ourselves of poverty that has over the years made the lives of many of us unbearable. Even Madiba himself would argue, that charity and grants are not going to solve our problems, but rather, the society itself should create possibilities so that people could access opportunities so as to be better equipped to deal with the poverty challenges. Among other things this Saturday 18 July 2009, we shall as government and the ruling party, embark on various campaigns to lend a helping hand to the needy and the elderly. We shall clean the Batlharos and Kuruman hospitals as well as the Batlharos old age home. A lot of ECDs have also been identified. We therefore urge all members of the public, to dedicate at least 67 minutes of their time this Saturday, to do something good for the community in honour of Madiba’s birthday.
