Modern, Growing, Successful Province

Long Service Awards: Department of Social Development

It gives me great pleasure in sharing with you in this special day, as we pay respect, honor, acknowledge and give thanks to the stalwarts of the Social Work Department, of which I’m proud to be a family member.
Perhaps before I engage in my input I should briefly tap into a reflection that was made when our movement payed tribute to one of the great stalwarts of our struggle.

Zapatillas de baloncesto Nik

Oom Ray ( Raymond Mhlaba):
“His was indeed a life well-lived, and a struggle well-fought, and he has left us many lessons, which confirms that the masses are the makers of history. He came from the downtrodden levels of our country to make a lasting contribution to our liberation struggle.

His life confirms that ours was not an elitist struggle but a struggle that was led and directed by ordinary masses of our country, whom we must continue to serve with distinction, as their serving government.

He died knowing that we are on course to and committed in meeting the minimum demands of our people as stated in the Freedom Charter. He left us a legacy of struggle, dedication and commitment, and lessons in patriotism, nation building, which we must nurture and protect.

Ladies and Gentlemen let us pay tribute to a stalwart of our struggle and a revolutionary whose lifetime of commitment to the ideals of freedom, liberty and democracy. It remains incomprehensible to many, how after being incarcerated for so many decades Oom Ray and his comrades emerged from prison with no bitterness, only seeking to make South Africa prosperous home for all its inhabitants and future generations to come”.

The inspiration from people like Oom Ray is indeed what makes us, in the congress movement, what we are today; the dedication, passion, discipline and selfless struggle they wedged against the tyranny of Apartheid thought us valuable lessons. Indeed today we can proudly say he was a good teacher, for a good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.

We are here today to congratulate our employees who completed 20-30 years of continuous service and thank them for their dedication and loyalty. It is a known fact that the most important resource in any organization is its employees and without such, failure is imminent. The Public Service as a whole has undergone drastic changes in the last 30 years which have affected its employees and persuaded some to choose different careers.

The employees receiving certificates today are therefore acknowledged and commended for their hard work and contributing towards the achievement of a more broadly representative, service delivery driven Social Development Department.

Your service delivery enhances the ethos of Batho Pele, People First and the adage I belong, I care, I serve. I trust that you will continue to serve the Public in the same manner which has now awarded you this special recognition.

You epitomize what giving real service really means, because it warrens of you to add something that cannot be bought or measured by money, and that is sincerity and integrity. You were at all times guided by the conviction that the inner reward is greater than any other compensation, service to the people.

At times the spark within each one of us goes out, and it is rekindled by a spark from another person, so each one of us has a cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us, and each one of you sited here today are responsible for thousands of flames currently lighting brightly in society, and for that we would like to say thank you.

'No man is an island', when we achieve, we usually do so because others have helped, in giving this speech today we would like to express our appreciation to you all. One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind.

"G.B. Stern said 'Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.' and I agree.

I want to shout my thanks out loud. I want everyone to know and hear how much the support of everyone of you means to the department.

I believe it will not be incorrectly interpreted if I have to quote from a hymn:

IF WHEN YOU GIVE THE BEST OF YOUR SERVICE;

TELLING THE WORLD THAT THE SAVIOUR HAS COME;

BE NOT DISMAYED IF MAN DOES NOT BELIEVE YOU;

HE’LL UNDERSTAND AND SAY WELL DONE.

Through the cause of your service it is quite obvious that not all was rosy, not every day presented sunshine, there were rocky paths, the thorns were brutal and uncompromising, but through it all one thing that remained and is still there; Your will power.

You have persevered against all odds and you are still standing strong, all of you are discipline public servants, you draw your inspiration from your desire to honestly and diligently serve our people. This kind of passion can only be explained in one way; that is the understanding of the basic principles of BATHO PELE.

In closing, I would like to once again thank you for your commitment to the Public Service as a whole and to the Department. From the bottom of my heart, and I would like to believe I m speaking for the whole department here;

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE YEARS;

THE PASSION;

THE LOVE

THE DEDICATION

THE COMMITMENT TO THE COURSE

You are the embodiment of selflessness, you epitomize the true revolutionary, and I m even tempted to say I can trust you with my life. Please part this on to the next generation of employees in the department. Your long and hard hours of labor are invaluable and I trust that you have set the example for many more employees to share in your dedication and commitment and to follow in your footsteps.

I THANK YOU

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Office of the Premier 
Private Bag X5016 
Kimberley 
8301

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