Deputy Speaker, nation-building and social cohesion are key pillars of social progress and inclusive economic prosperity. A nation bound by deep sense of cohesiveness, patriotism and national pride is built on the foundations of a shared purpose and common goals. It is a nation defined by a common set of positive moral norms and values that guide our actions, our behaviours and our interactions in society.
The Moral Regeneration Movement, MRM, remains a crucial platform to galvanise and mobilise our society to advance the promotion of positive values and ethical conduct in a manner that confronts deep-seated challenges of moral decay within our communities.
The sustained and heinous attack on women is a clear indication that our moral compass as a nation is
dangerously out of tune with our common values of compassion, care, human dignity and of ubuntu.
The inquiry about the funding of the Moral Regeneration Movement is accompanied by the necessary reminder of ensuring that we effectively utilise such forums towards moral and ethical renewal and transformation of our society.
This renewal also require that all citizens, young and old, take on their rightful place and rightful roles in the war of redefining and reaffirming ourselves as moral being and as citizens living out values that are compatible with our democratic South Africa.
Currently, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is the only government department which provides financial support to the Moral Regeneration Movement. The financial support is R12 million for three years. That means, it is just over R4 million per annum.
All support to the Moral Regeneration Movement is towards shaping the moral fibre of our society, thereby
contributing to nation-building. A civil society driven movement that is supported by government, the Moral Regeneration Movement has been able to achieve a number of successful milestones with greater support from the state and nonstate role-players.
Some of the milestones that have been achieved include the establishment of structures of Moral Regeneration Movement in provinces, the development and adoption of the Charter of Positive Values, mainstreaming of moral regeneration initiatives, with respect to people in conflict with the law, in partnership with the Department of Correctional Services, honouring domestic workers as for their role as pillars of homes, families and with society.
The Charter of Election Ethics focuses on values and ethics of general election by voters, those voted for and administering elections. Antifemicide campaign, in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, SA Police Service, Department of Social Development and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is focusing on community
engagement with respect to measures that can be taken to address femicide and child abuse.
As government we continue to support the work of the Moral Regeneration Movement, including addressing some of the capacity constrains that the board has raised during our interactions. We have also agreed on structured collaboration with key national departments, provinces and municipalities, to ensure a broad-based multistakeholder participation in national moral regeneration programme.
This will require the existence of vibrant moral regeneration movement's clutches at local levels to bring communities together to promote moral renewal, ethical conduct and coercive communities. It is the responsibility of all South Africans, particularly all of us seated here, to be agents of the work that is being led by the Moral Regeneration Movement and other similar organisations.
The Charter of Positive values must feature prominently in the programme of action of government, including in
our schools and in all public facilities. To further on this work, next month, my office, in partnership with the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the Moral Regeneration Movement, will convene a national consultative session to evaluate of the Moral Regeneration Movement.
More is needed from all of us as social partners to step up in our nation- building efforts. In this regard, we engage the private sector to solicit increased financial contribution and participation in this nation-building effort. We need to wage a war on violence that threatens to undo the gains that we have made towards ensuring the safety of women, youth and all those who live and work in our country. Thank you very much.