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Executive Mayor's speech at the Ace Schools Sport Programme Launch
23 April 2008
The Speaker of the Mogale City Council, Cir. Noluthando Mangole; The Executive Mayor of the West Rand District Municipality, AId. Faith Matshikiza; Distinguished leaders from the soccer and netball fraternities; Distinguished leaders from our partners: the Gauteng West Education department, the Patrick Ace Ntsoelengoe Foundation, the South African Schools Football and Netball Associations; Honourable members of our Mayoral Committee here present; The Executive Management team of the municipality; Distinguished guests, friends and comrades; Ladies and gentlemen: We are gathered this evening to give life to a ground-breaking, precedent setting initiative, a partnership with the Patrick Ace Ntsoelengoe Foundation, the Gauteng West Education Department, the South African Schools Netball Association and the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA). Through this partnership we are doing our bit as Mogale City to contribute towards preserving the legacy of arguably one of the finest soccer players in living memory to ever lace on soccer boots and grace a football pitch. Our struggle for freedom was fought on many fronts, the contribution our people made to the liberation struggle was wide ranging and varied. Who can forget the heroics of cadres such as the revered Barney Molokoane and his unit on the battle field. Who can forget the international support and solidarity, the huge anti-apartheid movement the world over. Who can forget the bravery of our people throughout the beautiful land, who took on a murderous regime intent on genocide with their bare hands and braved apartheid bullets, in running battles in the streets of our townships. Gallows of ink have been used, correctly, to document and record this history for posterity. However, there is a category of activists whose contribution must still be properly researched, recorded and narrated. Their contribution was largely psychological and subtle, but huge. For instance millions of our people across our beautiful land would sit huddled in front of their small battery operated transistor radios or watch on their 37cm black and white TV sets - to hear and see Ace turn on his magic. For the duration of the spectacle Ace, with his immense talent, was able to sooth the collective psyche of the nation. For those 90 minutes, with Ace doing his therapeutic magic, they would forget their oppression and hardship. For the duration of the Ace-show they would be free from bondage, free from hopelessness. More importantly, this would get them fired up, this moment with Ace, and with the batteries re-charged, with renewed hope and vigour they would struggle on. The Ace inspired show would galvanise their resolve to free themselves from subjugation and humiliation. We are honoured therefore to play our little role to ensure that his is an enduring legacy, imprinted firmly in the landscape of our country. This initiative is in keeping with our strategic vision to position the city as a mecca of sports – a centre of sporting excellence. That is why Kaizer Chiefs is setting up shop in Mogale City. On the occasion of Ace’s funeral the people got a glimpse of what is coming, legions of soccer lovers descended on our CBD, which over the weekend is normally quite. The CBD and surrounds would become a hive of socio-economic activity once more. It is our contribution to youth development in our city. It is meant to sway our young people from anti-social behaviour which seems to be on the increase. All this forms the basis of our bold decision we took to fund this programme in its entirety. We will continue to do so until our term of office expires in 2011. As we grow this programme, together with our partners, we will invite other stakeholders to join us in this noble cause. This will assist us to make a bigger impact in the lives of the children of the West Rand. As a municipality we welcome all our partners in the drive to promote and increase school’s participation in Sport; increase levels of performance in School Sport; increase learner academic performance through participation in sport; promote the culture of Sport in schools within the community; reduce behaviour problems and social ills in schools and communities; build the character of learners and produce responsible citizens; increase co-operation and coordination between different spheres of government within the Mogale City area and the West Rand in general; increase and strengthen co-operation and coordination between government in general and community organisations and the community; and increase and strengthen co-operation and co-ordination between government and custodians of sports in general. Programme Director one of the things that this initiative emphasizes, as mentioned above, is the power of partnerships. This will assist us to ensure a coordinated approach to service delivery and increase the impact on the people of our city. This initiative represents an example of what we can achieve if we work together. It is at the centre of our strategic approach. In the spirit of business as unusual, like the President said, ‘let’s put all hands on deck’ to ensure that we create a vibrant sports culture in our city and region. To show the seriousness with which we regard this programme, we have already taken a decision to incorporate it into our 2010 World Cup activities. At its conclusion, the Mogale City Local Municipality will launch its 2010 World Cup Strategic Plan. This represents an important moment in our city. We invite all residents to support this programme as part of pursuing the bigger strategic objective. While Mogale City is not one of the host cities for the 2010 soccer showpiece Programme Director, there is a need to prepare the people of our city for the event. It has to be so because we must ensure that our city and its people also enjoy the benefits that come with this event. This is on the understanding that, precisely because of its broad approach, the event must touch all corners of our country, and indeed of our continent. After all - this is an African world cup. We will ensure that they are not left wondering what happened long after the soccer spectacle was held. This will also assist us to create a lasting legacy for future generations. This opportunity creates space for projects that will assist to advance the service delivery programme of the city in an integrated manner. The main areas of focus will be tourism promotion and development; the greening and beautification of our city; sports development; public viewing facilities; persuading one of the top countries to adopt us as a base camp; issues around marketing of our city; and the development of our infrastructure and so on. This plan will be the people’s plan. We invite all residents to own it and make it work. On the occasion of bidding farewell to this legend, we also said in part: “Indeed, we have lost a legend, a massive star, a big human being, a mentor, a colleague, an advisor and a friend. Time Magazine once described Jamaican Reggae great Robert Nesta Marley as the ‘most influential artist of the second half of the 2Oth century’. Let me put my foot down, we are bidding farewell today to Africa’s most influential athlete of the second half of the 20th century. Mabhekaphansi, YOU MAY BE GONE, BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!” The occasion this evening says it all. It is the realization of the commitment we made then. To forget an individual who gave so much of himself to millions of us would be criminal. Just like a one-time coach of Kaizer Chiefs once said of the late Sizwe Motaung after a much contested Rothmans Cup final. It is on that basis that we opted to name this programme after this legend. Indeed, we will never forget you, Mabhekaphansi In conclusion, Programme Director, allow me to wish all the young boys and girls the very best in the programme. The focus is on them. In the spirit of fair play, I urge them to do all of us proud. Let the games begin! Thank you.
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Mayor Koketso Calvin Seerane
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