Deputy Chairperson, hon members, hon Ntwanambi, government has ongoing engagements with many institutions established to protect and promote culture, language and the religious rights of all South Africans. Particular attention is given to aspects of culture, language and religious rights of population groups who previously could not exercise their rights due to oppressive laws of discrimination.
Also, government continues to engage nongovernmental organisations that operate in the same space. We find that, challenges notwithstanding, efforts of government are greatly enhanced by relentless contributions of public bodies established to promote equality and equity, as well as those of nongovernmental actors.
As the hon member might be aware, the Moral Regeneration Movement was established to lead social mobilisation at national and provincial levels in favour of promoting social values that enhance healthy families and cohesive communities. This section 21 entity is funded by the Department of Arts and Culture and boasts professionals, celebrities, religious leaders and community activists on its board. The highlight of their work is the adoption and implementation of the Charter of Positive Values that lays the basis for family, community and national conversations on what constitutes positive social values. I wish to encourage all members of this House to support the proliferation of the Charter of Positive Values. Your constituencies will benefit greatly from such a document.
This, hon members, is in addition to the schools pledge introduced by the then Education Minister, Ms Naledi Pandor. The schools pledge encourages learners to embrace, appreciate and promote social values that protect the integrity of the state, public property, etc. All these measures are meant to foster social cohesion, the basis of which begins at schools, and in families and communities where we live.
We do encourage members of this House and all sectors of society to heed the call by our President, Jacob Zuma, for all South Africans to openly debate and mould values that characterise a united, nonracial, nonsexist and prosperous South Africa. This is not meant to be a panacea for all social ills prevalent in our communities. It does, however, strengthen a foundation for a tree whose fruits will nourish our children and future generations.
Finally, the national dialogue that the President has called for is not meant to supplant other important initiatives of government, civil society and constitutional bodies; rather, it is meant to complement and support them. I thank you.