We do so with a firm resolve that the ravaging effects of poverty, particularly amongst black women and youth in the rural and urban areas, must become the thing of the past. Programmes such as the one that we are launching here today, bear testimony to our commitment to put words into actions and bequeath our communities with facilities and resources to improve their quality of life. In order to respond to the needs of the people, we have to work in partnership with communities as well as the private sector. This programme is a good example of working together. Unless as South Africans, we all dedicate ourselves to the eradication of poverty and under-development, our good intentions to make South Africa a better place for all will never be realised.
Poverty manifests itself in many ways and affects our people differently.
Some of these manifestations of poverty are unemployment, hunger, illiteracy, crime, lack of infrastructure and lack of access to basic social services including clean drinking water, electricity, health amenities and education. The universally accepted key element of poverty is that poverty denudes one of self-esteem and dignity. We therefore have a responsibility to fight this disease of poverty that afflicts millions of our people. As a democratic country founded on the sanctity of intrinsic human value and worthy of government and all the concerned people of South Africa, we should work together to eliminate economic disparities and social inequalities. Programmes such as the Community Based Public Works Programme are an important element in our fight against poverty.