Thank you, Comrade Speaker. These challenges, in turn, tend to perpetuate the exclusion and marginalisation of poor people from mainstream economic and social participation - the key ingredients of nation-building. Unless we address these challenges, our people will never be free. They will continue to feel imprisoned and be reduced to live lives of impoverishment and suffering.
Our father of the nation, Nelson Mandela, previously captured what freedom means when he said:
For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
He said this in 1998. He further advised that:
Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.
He also said, "while poverty persists, there is no true freedom".
Given this persisting poverty, unemployment and related social ills, we should be reminded about the relevance of the values that inspired us during the struggle for freedom. These social ills have mainly affected our poor communities in the form of crime, rape, the abuse of women, child abuse and others. And they have deep-rooted gender, race and class manifestations.
These social ills only assist to undermine the efforts of government in rooting out the legacy of colonial and apartheid rule. This is despite the fact that one of the achievements of the democratic government since 1994 has been an improvement in the living conditions of our people generally. Some of these improvements are widely visible: the number of schools in previously disadvantaged communities have increased; more emphasis needs to be placed on former homelands to eradicate schooling that is taking place under trees in some areas; the road infrastructure network has received a major boost over the years, although the quality in some areas can still be improved; recreational facilities erected as part of the World Cup Legacy Project are proving to be helpful, particularly in the sporting fraternity.
The diagnostic report from the National Planning Commission, NPC, has highlighted worrying poverty and inequality trends that have afflicted not only our rural areas and female-headed households, but also marginalised residents who live on the outskirts of our cities. These are largely migrants, both South African and foreign nationals, who are flocking to the cities in large numbers in search of a better life. These developments have placed a huge burden on the ability of the state and particularly cities to cater for the basic needs of these people.
This has also presented an opportunity for policy-makers to rethink some of the approaches in our policies. However, we must commend our government for appreciating the severity of the challenges by introducing a shift in our interventions, particularly a notable shift in placing an emphasis on enhancing the capabilities of the state and our people. The democratic government needs our support. The ANC was mindful of these challenges when singling out education as one of the most important tools to address some of the challenges we are faced with today. Now, we need to focus on improving the quality of education, especially of African working class children. [Applause.]
The President made a clarion call to all in his state of the nation address when he appealed to us to join hands and work together. Indeed, through our joint efforts we can succeed. Therefore, the President's call must be supported. Let us put aside our differences for the greater good.
A caring society cannot be created without us renewing the moral fibre of our society. We need to reclaim the moral space and broaden its scope; for it is only through this that we can rid our society of corruption, greed and theft - including from the poor and vulnerable. We can still raise selfless children who have self-worth.
Let us support all anti-corruption efforts so that we can eliminate the scourge of corruption. This calls for all sectors of our society to play a part, from community-based groups to civil society organisations, churches and religious leaders, as well as traditional leaders. In other words, the work of the Moral Regeneration Movement should be visible in communities.
We are making a clarion call to our young leaders across all the sectors of our society to be exemplary in their deeds and to be directly involved in the moral regeneration initiatives in our country. These young leaders must take the lead as they are our future leaders. Young leaders must be concerned about building this nation into one of the greatest on the continent and globally. Our struggle for freedom has been widely acknowledged and praised, and now is the time to take this country to greater heights. Our people's expectations are high and we have to meet that challenge.
We cannot meet these challenges by issuing threats to the President ... [Applause.] ... as hon Njobe of Cope has said, women will march to the Union Buildings. [Laughter.] Let us work together with the government and the President and we will be able to meet these challenges. I thank you. [Applause.]