MAHIKENG MAIL - RATLOU – “Your courage cultivates success, because if you were not courageous enough, you could have not realised your dream, potential, passion for the better future and you could not achieve what we are today celebrating as your first step in the right direction.”
These were sentiments expressed by Ratlou Mayor, Cllr Matlhomola Jafta, during the annual graduation ceremony of employees in the municipality last week at the Black Rock Resort in the region. He said the graduation marked the beginning of the graduates’ endeavoured careers, because of the dawn of the new era in which Information Communication Technology (ITC) has become a way of life.
“Through ICT, we are able to do many things like enhancing connectivity which facilitates real-time communication globally and supports collaboration across distances through platforms like video conferencing.
“ICT also enhances data management which enables the collection, storage, and analysis of large data sets (big data); improves decision-making through data-driven insights; Automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) which automates repetitive tasks, increasing efficiency, powers AI applications for predictive analytics, personalisation, and smart technologies which fuels the development of IoT (Internet of Things) devices, creating smart homes, cities and industries,” elaborated Jafta.
He noted that E-commerce and Digital Economy were other benefits derived from the ICT by way of transforming retail and business models through online platforms and expanding market access for businesses and consumers.
ICT also, according to Jafta, enhanced Education and Learning – supporting online learning and digital classrooms and increasing accessibility; Healthcare Innovations, enabling telemedicine, remote monitoring and health data management plus improving patient care and access to medical services.
Lastly, ICT also enhanced job creation and transformation by generating new job opportunities in technical sectors and required reskilling and up-skilling of the workforce to adapt to new technologies, according to the Mayor.
“Currently, we are in trying times of our socio-economy and it is difficult for both our domestic and export goods. Our local economy is facing the biggest ever challenges due to unstable markets, currency and climate change.
“These challenges combined with challenge of feeding a growing population in a country where climate change is continually increasing the pressure on dwindling natural resources and our response to this challenge is to produce better and smatter designs, hence we are talking ICT today,” conceded Jafta.
He added: “What is interesting to me today is that, we have commenced a new form of struggle, struggle for equal education for all, a sublime struggle that will lead our country to prosperity and greatness. As a country, we have indeed learned our lessons and need no longer go back to where we were.
“Graduation is a key point in every student’s life. It marks the completion of a milestone in the academic life. It also signals the commencement of the graduate’s professional life.”
He said South African citizens needed to honour heroes and heroines who tirelessly fought for freedom as the country marked 30 years of democracy as an illustrious period that will forever be engraved in people’s hearts. “An era that we proudly explain to our children and that they in turn will relate to their grandchildren from generation to generation, the glorious and historic struggle won through perseverance and priceless sacrifice by men and women of higher stature,” he said. “My last words to you will be, don`t go out there and increase the numbers of the so-called unemployed youth, go out there and be creative, source funding and start your new small Internet café or outlets, go out there and be self-employed, be employers and not employees,” concluded Jafta.
Guest Speaker Dr Mosepele quoted Dr Myles Munroe, saying “Leadership is not about control but service. It is not about power but empowerment.”
She commended graduates for making the right career choices and encouraged them to plough back into their communities and care for their resources.
She implored parents to take part in the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill - signed recently by President Cyril Ramaphosa, by praying for their children and praying to God for wisdom in embracing them with love and that they should honour parents.
