Chairperson, Minister and members, on behalf of society, Cope acknowledges the work of Minister Lulu Xingwana, the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. She stated, as a reminder to the government department in Pretoria on 15 May 2012, during a meeting of the National Disability Machinery, that we dare not fail. There are only 12 months remaining to meet Cabinet's March 2013 target of 2% with regard to employing people with disabilities.
Cope asks: What is it that the Minister knows that she and the department are not revealing? Are these early warning signals or an honourable attempt to ensure delivery?
Minister, last Thursday the SA Broadcasting Corporation televised the story of a disabled woman who has a disabled child in Limpopo. Her name is Ms Makhwidikha Rasealoka. She lives in Lephephane, in the Mopane region. She is still waiting, after a promise was made to her four years ago, for intervention in her life. She walks on her knees. Therefore, I would want the Minister to fulfil that promise of that intervention in the life of that family.
Thabo Mbeki's declaration: "I am an African" encourages the renaissance of ubuntu. This includes striving to heal family dysfunctionalities, accommodating state assistance, such as grants, and empowering the dysfunctional. This allows the spirit of Africanism to assist in economic and spiritual conditions, development and the renewal of society. The intent is to speculate on the drive of our knowledge base, understanding the prosperities and growth as the fundamentals of ubuntu.
However, the implementation of these policies, under the guidance of the ANC led-government, reflects the inconsistency between intent and implementation in the Apex Priorities aspired to.
We need to teach communities how to be self-sufficient in creating an enabling environment. We urgently need policies that will encourage participation and a way forward to renew our own commitments and efforts.
We want to congratulate the government on the revolutionary policy stance taken in the Green Paper and, when it comes to families, attempting to normalise the family as an ubuntu project - a proactive, moral value and a shared responsibility unit to equalise past inequalities, and giving fathers the joint responsibility of caring for their family.
The gender-sensitive policy position for public comment will bring an end to the exploitation of women and allow fathers greater responsibilities to fulfil their roles as partners in the uplifting of their children, establishing life the way it should be.
Mr Vavi, the general secretary of Cosatu, at its international policy conference in Kempton Park, observed rightfully on Wednesday, in a critique, that the ruling party was to blame for the pending possible rebellion owing to controversial decisions, while corruption is covered because the ANC concentrates on palace politics rather than attempting to address issues of poverty. Thank you. Thank you, Chairperson. [Time expired.]