continued from above

Already a lot is being done to promote this type of society by both government and civil society. The enthusiastic manner in which the Moral Regeneration Movement is being established in various communities indicates the seriousness with which various neighbourhoods take the strengthening of the soul and the character of our nation.

The work of the MRM is fundamentally about rescuing our public morality from apathy and indifference, by, for example, encouraging ordinary people to speak out against those crimes that thrive on silence.

Given that it is impossible to police every household every hour of every day, it is the responsibility of all citizens to work together to make our neighbourhoods free of such crimes by breaking the silence.

Our homes, families and communities are the first line of defence to safeguard our collective morality and to protect our children.

Targeting children at an early age in positive campaigns in this regard is critical. Government, through the Department of Education, runs a special programme on race and values in education which is aimed at promoting the Constitution and good citizenship.

This equips school children to learn the values of equity, democracy, reconciliation and unity in diversity in their ethos, policies and practices.

Government also has in place a family programme aimed at equipping families to play an effective role as fundamental building blocks of values and morals in society.

We urge the religious sector to intensify its good work among families as well, to contribute to this programme. Critical messages need to be provided to the youth focusing on alerting them to the dangers of crime, substance abuse and general deviant behaviour.

We must also keep repeating messages raising awareness about the need to eradicate the abuse of women and children and the general disregard for the human rights of others.

Ladies and gentlemen, we must congratulate the people of our country for the brave manner in which they are already tackling domestic violence and child abuse.

The media attention given to such offences arises from the fact that people are no longer afraid to come forward. We urge more to do the same and make our country safe for our children.

Also important is for us to permanently eradicate abuse through consciously changing the manner in which we raise our children, in particular by changing the messages we impart to them.

If we continue to make boy children feel that they are more important and superior, and for girl children to feel subservient, we are raising a society of perpetual inequality which is fertile for abuse.

We therefore face the challenge of nurturing our children to become neither abusers, nor potential victims of abuse. We need to invest in nurturing, protecting and educating our children, for that is an investment in building a strong successful nation.

Esteemed guests, in only a few weeks we will be launching the campaign of 16 Days of Activism against crimes directed at women and children.

This period serves as a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play to build safer communities for women and children.

From 25th November, to International Human Rights Day, on 10th December, we should all raise awareness levels to greater heights, and reduce the space for those who abuse children, including those who have no disregard for the lives of children.

From the Cape Flats to Khayelitsha to various other parts of this province, we need to come out during the 16 days to tell gangsters, criminals and all who prey on defenceless women and children that their time is up. Each year the South African public displays quite openly, its total rejection of this type of behaviour.

During my visit to Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats in June last year, I was horrified at the manner in which children were being killed in crossfire by gangs. I am pleased that since that visit, the provincial government mobilised the community in various forms to enhance the healing process for the parents who had lost their children.

Our police service also acted swiftly and arrested a number of suspected drug kingpins, who have been charged with murder, dealing in drugs, intimidation and armed robbery. These cases are being heard in various courts here in Cape Town.

Ladies and gentlemen, another manner in which we could take the promotion of public morality further is in the battle against HIV and AIDS.

We have seen the destructive capabilities of this virus, especially on children. It is our collective duty to talk openly about the disease and increase the messages of prevention, while providing love, care and support to those who are infected or affected.

With regards to orphans of AIDS, our collective morality teaches us that "ANY CHILD IS MY CHILD". We need to live true to this message and assist in whatever way we can to provide support and give affected children a second chance in life.

As government, we are playing our role through providing support grants and many other kinds of social assistance to child-headed households and orphans. We know that the religious sector plays a key role in this regard as well.

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, in honouring Archbishop Tutu, let us keep his compassion and love for peace alive by our active pursuit of the very values he and the multitudes of others have so valiantly fought for and continue to fight for.

We must continue with the task of building loving, caring and safer communities in which people respect one another, and recognise each other's humanity and importance.

Let me also once again congratulate the Western Cape Provincial Council of Churches for instituting this annual lecture, which will each year, contribute immensely to the national discourse on building a successful and prosperous nation.

Given that building a cultured and self-respecting nation is a process and not an event, this annual Desmond Tutu Lecture is certainly one of the building blocks in this noble process of nation building.

I thank you.