MOTIVATIONAL TALK TO EMPLOYEES
CLLR PHALADI AUDREY SAKU – EXECUTIVE MAYOR
NGAKA MODIRI MOLEMA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
INTERNATIONAL WORLD AIDS DAY
THURSDAY 01 DECEMBER 2011
08H00
Colleague councillors present here this morning;
Senior Management of this institution;
All employees;
Dumelang!
Today is the World AIDS Day. When I was asked to come and give a word to all of you
– I thought that maybe I should allow the Communications Unit to prepare a thorough
speech for me. But then I thought – why should I have a fully prepared speech to speak
to my own colleagues? And that, prompted me to scribble down the following ideas that
I would to share with you.
2011 marks the 30 year anniversary since the identification of the virus known to cause
AIDS. Let us not again waste time in denial, poltical rhetoric and foolish ignorance.
HIV/AIDS is a reality – and we need to treat it seriously. Most of us here – are either
affected or infected by this scourge.
Bagaetsho – the thought of contracting this dreadful disease should not only come as a
shock to any individual, but this should further encourage us in seeking ways of beating
this virus. The truth is that – the scourge of HIV/AIDS further burdens institutions when
infected employees stay away from their respective work stations for longer periods.
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In our case – the virus will further burden the delivery of services to our people. It is
against this that we should establish relevant structures in providing support to our
infected and affected colleagues. Our employee assistance programme should be wellcapacitated to deal with issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS.
I’m hopeful that in the near future – voluntary testing for HIV will be a common norm to
all employees of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality. It is through knowledge of
this disease that we can learn to take precautionary measures in preventing the
infections.
I would further like to urge all colleagues to stop idolising this disease. HIV/AIDS is like
any chronic disease and all members infected should be discriminated against. The
stigma attached to this disease is very old-fashioned and family and institutional support
is now crucial in helping other people through this process.
Colleagues - it seems that there is one common issue that most entities and especially
the individuals responsible for employee wellness initiatives are battling with and that is
the effectiveness and uncertainty of the future of employee wellness and HIV
interventions in corporate South Africa. And we do not need that uncertainty here.
Coupled with our new strategy adopted by Council in the recent past – we should strive,
as an institution – to preach the government’s ABC precautionary measures.
Colleagues please abstain from sex, especially unprotected sex. We should always
encourage each other to be faithful to our partners. Or if you feel that the heat is
unbearable for you – the please condomise. We must always reserve packets of
condoms in our restrooms and other visible and accessible places for colleagues to use
when in dire need.
This year’s theme for the World AIDS Day is “Getting to Zero”. Zero new infections.
Zero discriminations and Zero AIDS related deaths. I do not wish to speak at lengths
with you colleagues on this disease. I know that you have access to information
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pertaining to the disease – and that this disease took many of our beloved one away to
ignore.
Let us also appreciate the efforts taken by all of you colleagues in exercising – like this
n=morning and every Friday. Leading healthy lives is the only way we can beat this
disease.
To the team that organised this gathering – thank you very much, this is indeed a very
good start. We hope that in the coming year – there will be many systems in place to
offer education, support and face the reality that AIDS is here.
Let this intiative live beyond this occasion here – and on behalf of the Council of this
municipality, we are here and would like to offer support about this disease.
Ke a leboga.
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