"Sometimes support to farmers is not only financial but also about enabling them through the information that will position them better in accessing markets, and what they need to do in terms of the compliance issues that they have to address."

"The grants that social development gives for social relief, as well as the normal grants given to the elderly and the children and disabled are interventions as part of the social security net so that people do not go hungry."

"Food security is achieved through the capacity to produce and, at the same time, it’s the purchasing power to be able to acquire that food."

"Challenges I faced, on one hand, have been to try and continue with the work that has been done in the past, to resolve some of those where some of the projects were not complete, and complete them. Even though some of them are still outstanding because of the complexities that are there."

"Another challenge is how to position agriculture to adapt quickly in addressing issues of climate change. It is not just about El Niño or La Niña when there are rains or floods. It’s also about new pests and diseases that are emerging and that is a challenge we are working on."

"I had to make sure that the cabinet approved farmer support policy so that it guides the entirety of the sector and provinces."

"Being active in sport is not about having money, this kind of activity of bringing people together to walk as nation is one of the indicators that it is possible for people to organise themselves as communities [to take up walking]"

"More women to engage in sports and called on the government to provide greater support for their involvement."

"We are a winning nation and as a winning nation we need to be healthy. So encouraging our people to be involved in being active and exercising is part of us moving forward as a healthy country."

"Well it is easy to say more, as a politician I would say I wanted more. But for them to be there to participate, we are grateful for the small and the big achievements - we are certainly proud of them,"

"There's no doubt that in the second round, the Paralympians will definitely do well, they never disappoint. But with those who participated here, we are proud of you. It is not always about winning but about representing the country and being able to finish,"

"What ought to happen at the primary schools is that those teachers must give the foundation in reading, but usually that doesn't happen,""

"One of the things we did was to look at the subjects in which learners performed badly. We prioritised them and gave specific training and support to educators to make sure we would see an improvement"

"The primary schools can also get exposure to science, because the money is there. Why not use it"

"When I go to schools now I don't make appointments, and I don't start at the principal's office. I go to the classrooms to see for myself first before word goes around that the MEC is visiting"

"Education is the foundation for this country to move forward. Without education everyone is going to suffer, so I have no alternative, I have got to do this.""

"We need to all work together to ensure women have safe spaces to realise their own potential. Without safety for women, there can never be true women empowerment"

"It is everyone’s goal to realise true equality, equity and empowerment of women, but there is a crucial factor that is required for this to take place: the safety of women"

"The message I want to convey is to create or recreate the surgical system. How do we think globally? What are the best practices in surgery and how do we customise them regionally for Africa?"

"I’ve learned that surgery is not just about an anaesthetist; it’s not about a surgeon; it’s not about a sterile surface. It’s more about a system. We are talking about a system within a system"

"I always laugh my lungs out that this province has this cultural practice of preserving purity through virginity testing as if these young girls wait for Prince Charming riding a white horse"

"I am not corrupt. There are challenges in Koster and yes we could have done better with some services like electricity but I have served my people honestly."

"One of the vehicles torched at the guest house belonged to a guest. Two of the five cars burnt at home belong to me. One is borrowed, another belongs to security and one to a municipal official"

"The burnt guest house belongs to me and the other guest house and the rooms for rental are also mine"

"There is nothing concrete about the protests and service delivery is not an issue in Koster,’’ she said. “I openly accept what happened because I know that they are just personal attacks and nothing more"

"People are saying that she probably has solar… the only thing that I bought with my own money is inverter for my fridge and for my children so that they can watch TV and to charge,”"

"We are coming from a past where it was a luxury to have electricity."

"If that is the case I would really like to apologise to the nation if I came across as someone who is insensitive"

"Let us build solidarity across borders, industries and movements. The future is in our hands. We dare not stop until justice, equality and sustainability prevail."

"Energy democracy and ownership We must ensure that the shift to renewable energy does not simply transfer powerfrom one set of elites to another."

"Social protection and support for affected workers and communities Workers in at risk industries must be supported, including through reskilling opportunities, economic support, and access to new jobs."

"Decent work for all workers As we move towards green economies, we must ensure new jobs are good jobs,that offer dignity, fair wages, and security for workers and their families.."

"The Global South must stand united in our fight for a fair and just climate response. We cannot allow the powerful nations who have historically benefited from the very industries that have caused this crisis, to dictate the terms of our transition."

"Gender equality and women’s empowerment remain central tenets for development in the country, the continent and across the world. However, the nagging claws of gender inequality in the continent continue to impede women from contributing to the development agenda and lending their voice as they are precluded from many development-oriented conversations."

"the equal representation of women and men enhances democratisation of governance in both transitional and consolidated democracies."

"women’s experiences are different from men’s and need to be represented in discussions that result in policy making and implementation. These different experiences mean that women ‘do politics’ differently from men."

"the interests of men and women are different and even conflicting and therefore women are needed in representative institutions to articulate the interests of women"

"women are able to achieve solidarity of purpose to represent women’s interests when they achieve certain levels of representation."

"I believe that when we work together, we are powerful and better able to effect change."

"Through this principle we are able to determine and prioritise collective highest impact tasks and increase productivity thereby achieving priorities we have set for ourselves."

"Building a strong and inclusive economy, improving capabilities of South Africans, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. In a nutshell, using our presence in Singapore to existential domestic challenges."

"It has also been a beautiful experience to learn about the diverse cultures of Singapore at a depth that cannot be attained by merely visiting as a tourist. The summary of my work is best captured by my 7Cs or what I call my mantra in life:"

"women are innovators and creators of wealth. There is nowhere in the world that does not have the hand of a woman involved; this goes right up to the fact that all of us are born of a woman."

"And the reason for this is for us to appreciate that even though we are far apart, we are one people and there’s a lot that we can achieve as one people."

"Remember, everything we do now is for the next generation. We need to leave a legacy that they can be proud of."

"We will make mistakes; a wheel might flatten or even fall off, but we are resilient. We can put those wheels back on and continue our journey to build a South Africa that works for all of us."

"Christian principles guide my personal values and daily decisions and actions, and I strive to live a life that reflects my commitment to God’s will. I am passionate about living out my Christian faith in practical ways, such as helping others and advocating for social justice and ethical practices."

"If it weren’t for the ANC ladies and the pressure they put on the government, females would have been much worse off."

"I believe every person, no matter his/her background, culture, or skin colour, has something to offer. We must embrace this to our advantage, and the government has the responsibility to provide ample opportunity for all residents to be included in making our country the best place to live, work, and play."

"public representatives need to be more involved to attract their constituencies to attend the programmes and government needs to make better efforts to communicate these programs widely, well ahead of time."