Edition December 2024 / January 2025

As the year draws to a close, many of us will take a well-deserved break to spend quality time with our loved ones. This is a moment for rest, reflection and celebration of the significant achievements we have made as a nation over the past year. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the challenges we have faced and the lessons we have learnt.

During this time, I encourage each of us to also reflect on how we can continue to improve and innovate in our efforts to serve our country and its citizens. Let us return with renewed energy and fresh perspectives, ready to tackle the opportunities and challenges that the new year will bring.

While we enjoy the festivities of the season, we must remain mindful of the varying emotions around us. For many, the holidays bring joy and relaxation but for some, especially our matriculants, this time can be filled with anxiety and anticipation as they await their exam results.

Let us extend our support and encouragement to these young people. We should celebrate the successes of those who pass their exams and, through government platforms, encourage them to apply for funding, including the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, in a timely manner to ensure they are considered for funding.

For those who may not have achieved a matric pass, let us offer comfort and remind them that this is not the end of the road. There are government programmes that can help them pursue their dreams, such as the Second Chance Matric Programme, which provides support for learners who wish to rewrite their subjects.

During this period, it is essential for us as government to encourage parents and guardians to be vigilant for signs of distress in students awaiting their results.

We must encourage those struggling emotionally or feeling isolated this festive season to reach out for support. For assistance, they can visit www. sadag.org for a list of contact numbers and resources available to provide help. The festive season is also a time of giving. Let us remember the less privileged, including those who are homeless, and embrace the spirit of Ubuntu by sharing what we have with others. We can make a meaningful difference by donating to shelters, orphanages and other organisations that support those in need.

This year, the festive season comes at a time when many communities are on high alert due to food borne illnesses and fatalities recorded in various parts of the country. These incidents led to the tragic deaths of children and several hospitalisations in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Free State.

Let us heed to the President’s call for collective action and do our part by staying informed, vigilant and responsible. It is our shared responsibility to protect children and other vulnerable groups and prevent further tragedies. We should also report any fake and expired food products to the National Consumer Commission to help safeguard public health.

“By working together, by enforcing the law, by being alert and responsible, we will be able to bring an end to these tragedies,” said the President during his recent national address on the untimely deaths of children due to food-borne illnesses. This period is also a time when many people working in cities travel back home to be with families while others head to holiday destinations. Unfortunately, road traffic fatalities remain one of the leading causes of death in South Africa. As we travel, let us prioritise safety by adhering to traffic rules and ensuring that we use roadworthy vehicles. For those embarking on long journeys, it is important to rest regularly to stay alert.

As always, government will intensify operations through visible and proactive traffic enforcement to help reduce accidents and ensure safer roads for everyone. 

On 1 December, South Africa joined the global community in commemorating World Aids Day. This year’s theme, “Equal rights, equal care”, highlights the call for equal and equitable access to healthcare for all. Government remains commitment to building a more equitable, accessible and affordable healthcare system that meets the needs of all South Africans. Through the National Health Insurance, government aims to achieve universal health coverage, making healthcare more affordable by leveraging economies of scale to reduce costs through bulk purchasing for the entire population.

South Africa has made significant progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This Photo: Mel Poole on Unsplash year, we celebrate 20 years of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), with the largest ART treatment programme in the world, available to all South Africans free of charge.

According to the Sixth South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey 2022, “advancements are evident in the stabilisation of HIV prevalence, a reduction in HIV incidence, and improved treatment outcomes, including increased ART coverage and viral load suppression in line with the 95-95-95 targets”.

I wish everyone a joyful festive season and a merry Christmas to the Christian Community.