THEY are adorable. The most adorable creatures that keep the fires burning in this country. They have played their role in the advancement of a free society.

They are our mothers, our sisters and wives. We salute the nation's treasures. Abomama in sport. Siyabonga for the good results you keep bringing to us as a nation. Thank you Banyana Banyana, thank you the Smoothies (the SA female hockey team).

We have said it before that sport plays a critical role in the promotion of healthy living and an active society. Sport is an instrument for nation-building and reconciliation.

That is why the government and people of Burundi invited us previously to help them in the promotion of national reconciliation through sport. Sport, indeed, can play an immense role in national healing processes, not only in South Africa but around the world.

Other nations have witnessed the global picture of former president Mandela, the late sports minister Steve Tshwete and former Bok captain Francois Pienaar, especially those countries that needed help through sport.

We are a nation of nations. We are part of the global community. We are part of the nations that promote healthy living. We are an active nation. Our work can be witnessed through the successes of the two female teams, Banyana Banyana and the hockey squad, the Smoothies.

We are proud of their achievements, they have placed South Africa on the world map. We made international headlines, with the South African flag being one among the nations of the world.

Ladies and gentlemen, International Women's Day is celebrated every year on March 8. Many events are organised not only on this day, but throughout March to celebrate the achievements of women and girls. Women play an invaluable role in today's global sports industry, as well as in inspiring girls and young women to participate in sport, which has profound individual and community benefits.

To commemorate and highlight the important role that women play in sport today, Sport and Recreation SA will be honouring the national women's football team, Banyana Banyana, and the women's hockey team. Both teams have qualified to compete at the Olympic Games in London in July. We will use the Human Rights Day celebrations to acknowledge women and their achievements by hosting a dinner for these doyens of sport.

With Banyana Banyana, we are hopeful that they will do us proud in football like the team of Sydney 2000 did for us. That was a memorable event, which we will relive this year in London. We are confident.

A host of activities to mobilise support for the women's teams will take place prior to the match and on other days in March. Road shows will be held through townships so that all South Africans are mobilised to support the teams on the Road to London. The hockey team will be running coaching clinics in the townships around Gauteng.

We will as part of our appreciation and as part of the celebration of the women, host these heroines and symbols of victory in the country, through a night of talk, music and food. Their achievements have inspired many of our women by their focussed energies, dedication and discipline. We will also appreciate the role many of our men played in supporting and motivating women, especially those technical team members who continue to produce quality results for the country.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the many women who serve the country on various international organisations and most importantly applaud the achievements of Fran Hilton-Smith, team manager of Banyana Banyana. Hilton-Smith has been appointed to the Local Organising Committee as match commissioner for the Women's U-20 World Cup that will take place in Japan later this year.

We celebrate the lives of other women in sport: Hajira Kajee, Sasa Mahlangu, Natasjia Tshiclas, Ria Ledwaba, Caster Semenya, Ntambi Ravele, Mimi Mthethwa, Blanche de la Guerre, Zanele Mdodane, Pietie Coetzee, Marsha Marescia and many more beautiful people that keep on beautifying our country.

Let me also proudly thank those ladies in media, especially in sport journalism - Lebo Motshweli, Mahreen Chenia, Ntombi Moleme, Cynthia Tshaka, Linda Moroetsene, Mabasotho Lenkoe, Thato Moeng and all those beautiful scribes of our land.