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Speech by Premier Stofile at the International restoration convention
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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
SPEECH BY PREMIER STOFILE
AT THE INTERNATIONAL RESTORATION CONVENTION:
WORD OF FAITH CHRISTIAN CENTRE
 ON 7 DECEMBER 2000



Executive members of the Word of Faith Christian Center, fraternal delegates, members of the international community and distinguished 
guests, allow me to record on behalf of Executive Council and the Eastern Cape Government our profound gratitude for the unprecedented 
opportunity to address such a prolific convention of the Community of Faith. We congratulate you on this historic initiative, and wish you 
Gods every blessing on your deliberations and ministries.

There has never been a time like this in the history of South Africa. A country torn apart by the racial/ethnic and gender stratification 
of the apartheid legacy, with its policies of social engineering designated to keep the majority of the countrys population in socio-
economic, cultural, religious and political diaspora. There has never been a time like this when all South Africans, (black and white, male 
and female, able and disabled) can celebrate a unitary democracy elected by the people for the people. There has never been a time this 
when Government could convene in partnership with the religious fraternity to deliberate on the challenges facing the nation and discern 
the will of God for the people. There has been never a time like this when people of different nationalities and cultures could meet 
without the need for a special permit or the fear of incarceration or interrogation. There has never been a time like this when the words 
of Paul to the Romans (8.35) could be considered more appropriate. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or 
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril, or sword ? &#133;In all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ 
who loved us

Notwithstanding prevalent criticism from certain corners (D.A) the Government of National Unity has come a long way in redressing the 
historical imbalances of the past over the last six years. These include inter alia:

The establishment of the worlds most democratic Constitution, including legislation prohibiting racial, gender, disabled and labour 
discrimination.

* Establishing national unity and reconciliation, freedom of speech and association.
* Provision of housing, electricity, and water for millions of South Africans, particularly for the rural poor.
* Transforming provincial and local administration, creating new departments and accelerated service delivery closer to the communities 
that need it most.
* Adoption of the Batho Pele principles and the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy to ensure an efficient and effective civil 
service.
* This includes the implementation of a job creation strategy (RDP), meeting the basic needs and investment in people, (GEAR) the 
sustainable use of natural resources, rural development and crime prevention.

Much as a great deal has been accomplished in a short space of time (compared to the fifty years of governance by the Afrikaner Nationalist 
Government), a number of daunting challenges still confront the government of national unity.

UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION

The monthly household expenditure/income in the Eastern Cape Province (the poorest province) ranges fro mR746 in Elliotdale to R3375 in 
Port Elizabeth, according to Statistics South Africa and the World Bank.

The present rate of unemployment (as high as 43% in some rural areas) could be attributed to the current exchange rate, the rapid increase 
the price of fossil fuel, insufficient foreign investment, the refusal of large segments of the private sector to participate in the 
governments macro-economic reforms and the skewed distribution of economic resources. South Africa is currently a political but not an 
economic democracy. The government Growth, Empowerment and Redistribution policy seeks to redress economic imbalances by reducing 
inflation, increasing investment incentives, the redistribution of income and the establishment of poverty alleviation projects in all 
departments. Government alone cannot accomplish this objective.

The Church has a unique responsibility of stewardship as contained in Matthew 25:35 I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and 
you gave me drink&#133;I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me. What is 
theological or morally wrong, can never be economically right. The Church should increase pressure on World Bank to abolish the foreign 
debt of the apartheid economy that has now become the responsibility of the institutionalized oppression and colonialism. Moreover, 
religious fraternities could encourage foreign investment and economic equity among multi-national companies.

HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC

Current statistics indicate that in South Africa 22% (4.5million) of the population are HIV positive, compared to 0.4% in 1990 and 18% in 
1999. By the year 2010 the country will have ten million orphans emanating from AIDS victims. Government has adopted a multi-sectorial 
approach to the pandemic by establishing the Provincial Aids Council. This approach emulates the national strategic guide on HIV/Aid that 
includes:

1.  Prevention

This includes education campaigns and the improvement of managing sexually transmitted diseases, infections and tuberculosis

2.  Care and Support.

Health care practitioners are presently experimental drug to reduce mother to child transmission and in the cases of rape victims. 
Religious fraternities can provide volunteers for counseling, and assist in providing expensive medication.

3.  Human Rights.

Victims of HIV/AIDS also need legal representation to protect them against victimization.

4.  Research, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Government has adopted an integrated approach in the monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS patients that includes aids co-ordinators who 
can be provided and funded by religious fraternities. This will appropriate the great commission contained in Isaiah 61. &#145;The Spirit 
of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the 
brokenhearted&#133;To comfort those who mourn&#133;to give them beauty for ashes.

CRIME PREVENTION/ANTI-CORRUPTION.

Crime prevention and unemployment are inextricably linked. A reduction in unemployment should lead to a reduction in crime and increase 
foreign investment.

Governments crime prevention strategy seeks to:
* Increase the visibility of the police services
* To employment more law enforcement officers from disadvantaged areas (job creation)
* Operation crack-down is an initiative to reduce crime and promote road safety..
* To promote the involvement in combating crime. Religious leaders should promote the doctrine of Imago def to inculcate the value of 
human life and respect of property.

WOMEN/DISABLED AND YOUTH EMNPOWERMENT

Much as government has a role in the empowerment of women/disabled and the youth of our society, the religious fraternity has a primary 
role in promoting the equality of all Gods creation. Women are partners in the creation narrative of Genesis, and should therefore be 
treated with integrity and respect. It is men affiliated to religious communities who time and again commit domestic violence and sexually 
abuse on their children. We preach that women where created second and sinned first, thereby perpetuating the theological fallacy of 
patriarchalism. Women, youth and the disabled should be posited at the center of Gods redeeming love, and not on the periphery.

I would like to conclude with a prayer by Michael Quest:

It is hard to be alone Lord..
 A body made like others, ready for work,
 A heart meant for love,
 But I have given my all Lord.
 Its hard to love everyone and claim no one.
 It is hard to shake a hand and not want retain it.
 It is hard to be nothing to oneself in order to be everything to others.
 Its hard always to give without trying to receive.
 Its hard to seek out others and to be unsought oneself.
 ts hard to suffer from sins of others and yet be obliged to hear them.
 Its hard to sustain the feeble and never be able to lean on one who is strong.
 Its hard to be alone Lord,
 Alone before the world,
 Alone before suffering, death and sin.
 Child, you are not alone,
 I am with,
 I am you

For I needed another human vehicle to accomplish my Incarnation and Redemption.

And out of all eternity, I chose you.

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