Kliptown, Soweto
17 June 2005
Ambassador Toshinori Shigeie
H.E. Mr. Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, Chairperson of the NCOP Mrs. Doris Fakude, Project Coordinator of the Skills Development Cooperatives, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
I am very happy to be here this morning in Soweto to attend on behalf of the Government of Japan the ceremony to handover the donations to the Skills Development Cooperatives in Kliptown. We are particularly honored to be joined in this celebration by the Chairperson of the NCOP, H.E. Mr. Mahlangu. My government has noted his presence with much appreciation.
Now I am pleased to officially handover 1 vehicle, 2 industrial ironing boards and 13 industrial sewing machines (valued approximately R160,000) provided through the Government of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme. This follows our initial assistance of 15 industrial sewing machines provided in 2003.
For three reasons this is a very important occasion and the project is a very important one for us.
Firstly, Kliptown has a special place in the history of the new democratic South Africa. It is the place where the vision of a new government for this country originated, leading the ensuing freedom struggle. It still continues to inspire this country and its people. Japan feels very fortunate to have been working in Kliptown with people there on this project.
Secondly, Japan has always considered job training as one of the priority areas in our development assistance programs. Japan not only considers people as targets or beneficiaries of assistance, but also as “promoters of development” in their own societies. We therefore pay special attention to the importance of empowering people to become self-reliant and to acquire jobs. This means providing vocational training in order to realize the potential of people and to maximize their ability. In this respect the achievements and activities of the Skills Development Cooperatives are commendable. That is why we have decided that we should be of help to them. Under the leadership of the Project Coordinator, Mrs. Doris Fukude, and the two founders, Mrs. Thandi Makwakwa and Mrs. Ann More, the Cooperatives launched sewing training and income-generating projects in 1981 and have since then promoted the skills development of unemployed people, especially that of women in the Kliptown community.
The third reason why this is important for Japan is the involvement of Mrs. Chikage Oogi, President of the House Councilors of Japan, the late NCOP Chairperson Mrs. Joyce Kgoali and the present Chairperson Mr. Mahlangu. Mrs. Oogi visited the Cooperatives in Kliptown last September when she was in this country at the invitation of the NCOP and she, together with Mrs. Kgoali and Mr. Mahlangu, much encouraged this project of assistance. I am asked to convey her following message to you:
“My visit to your training site and the pleasant talk with you last September are still vivid in my mind. I really appreciate the attendance of the Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr. Mahlangu, and am very pleased to know the realization of official hand-over of sewing machines, ironing boards and a vehicle. I pray that this equipment will assist in your further brisk activities and in achieving economic independence of women in South Africa. It is also my pleasure that our assistance remains in your mind as a symbol of cooperation between the people of South Africa and Japan.”
When she visited the Cooperatives last September, she not only enjoyed talking with the members, but also joined in dancing and singing with them.
I would like to pay special tribute to the late Madame Joyce Kgoali. When she heard of this project for the first time, she demonstrated a great deal of interest and support for it as an important project for empowerment of women in her birthplace, Kliptown.
I believe that the people of Japan are proud to be of assistance with this project in Kliptown. And may I conclude by expressing my sincere wish that our assistance will continue to make a contribution to the women in Kliptown,and that the friendship between the peoples of Japan and South Africa will continue to deepen in the years to come.