OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE THIRD SESSION OF
THE
(Address
by the hon Premier of the
The HON PREMIER, Ms I W DIREKO: Hon Acting Speaker, hon
Members of the Executive Council, hon Members of the Legislature, hon Members
of National Parliament, Permanent Delegates of the National Council of
Provinces (NCOP), hon Mayors and Councillors, Marena le Dikgosi (Traditional Leaders), distinguished guests,
ladies and gentlemen.
When we first assumed office six years ago, we inherited a dismal, but challenging situation, which demanded that our Government and society as a whole should engage in the sustainable process of fundamentally transforming our Province.
The main features of our inheritance remain, amongst others:
• High
levels of poverty;
• High
levels of unemployment;
• Low
levels of economic growth;
• A
racially divided Province; and
• Acute socio-economic inequalities,
which resulted in the dis-empowerment of mainly blacks in general, and African
women in particular.
This legacy of centuries of colonialism and apartheid is to be seen within the context of the African Renaissance and unprecedented levels of globalisation.
The leading force in the African Renaissance movement, President Thabo Mbeki, once declared that:
An essential and necessary element of the African Renaissance is that we must take it as our task to encourage her (meaning Africa), who carries this leaden weight, to rebel, to assert the principality of her humanity – the fact that she, in the first instance, is not a beast of burden, but a human and African being.
According to him:
The simple phrase – we are our own
liberators! – is the epitaph on the gravestone of every African who dared to
carry the vision in his or her heart of
The responsibilities imposed by the President's assertions demands that our new phase of struggle be to rebel against backwardness, poverty, ignorance, disease and to ensure that our country and our continent benefits from the developmental possibilities implied in the progressive rebellion suggested by the African Renaissance. This is why we should support the Millennium Africa Renaissance Programme.
In our march to ensure
The choice for countries of the south is not whether to engage in globalisation or not, but how to engage with it. It is essential for governments and people to engage with the process critically, to re-shape and re-direct its impact. The objective must be to enhance citizens’ incorporation and access to the benefits of globalisation, while minimising polarisation and social exclusion, and mitigating these effects when and where they do occur.
Observing the above injunctions in
response to the African Renaissance and globalisation requires a totally new
effort in building a new
Such a vision must inform us when we appoint our MECs, Members of the Provincial Legislature, Heads of Departments, and public servants. It must also inform our interaction with our principal stakeholders, particularly the ordinary men and women whose poverty-stricken circumstances require decisive action from the Provincial Government.
A Free Stater who upholds high moral values, and respect for the law. A reliable and conscientious worker, who makes his contribution in the building of the economy. A tolerant Free Stater who jealously builds a non-racial and non-exploitative society.
The question, then, becomes what have we
done so far in the building a new
Today, significant progress has been achieved in line with our promise and commitment to deliver a better life.
We developed and launched the Provincial Strategic Plan through which the following was achieved:
We
developed a new vision, which demands of us to be a unified
In pursuit of this vision, we agreed on three clear priorities, which are:
• The provision of
infrastructure and housing;
• Job creation and
economic growth; and
• Human resource development – because it is in developing our human resource that we are guaranteed of success in our efforts to create a better life for all.
The highlights of the process of
implementing our Strategic Plan reflects our commitment to an integrated
approach to service delivery. One of our
key deliverables was the launch of our Provincial Poverty Eradication Strategy
on
Our
multi-pronged approach to poverty alleviation saw us approve R3 million
allocated to five projects in Maluti-a-Phofung, and the southern
Through our Community-Based Public Works
Programme (CBPWP), we will focus on identified pockets of poverty within the
rural areas and target female households with dependants. We can only be happy if our rural people are
allowed to catch up with us. Then we
shall have achieved true liberation from poverty. We have started with the
In Thaba ‘Nchu we have started with major maintenance of main connecting roads to adjacent areas by regravelling and blading. Through this, a number of temporary jobs were created.
We have dealt with most potholes in the provincial road network and we are now focusing on, amongst others, rehabilitating the Ficksburg-Clocolan road.
We have allocated R2, 6 million with
which our Departments of Public Works, Roads, & Transport, and
Environmental Affairs & Tourism will develop six tourism routes. These are the
I am also pleased to announce that for the first time in many years we have an infrastructure allocation dedicated to the maintenance and construction of our road network and buildings.
Following its projection to have 8 000 to 10 000 completely constructed houses per annum, I am happy to announce that the Department of Local Government and Housing has, from 1 April 2000 to date, completed 10 507 houses, which are spread across all towns in the Free State. Of this figure, 1 200 houses were realised by more than 32 well-established Housing Support Centres in the Province. These Housing Support Centres ideally provide bigger structures than the normal 40 square metre houses and are largely women-driven.
Like all Free Staters, the Provincial Government is very concerned about the low level of economic growth and the small number of jobs available in the provincial labour market. In addressing this concern, our Department of Agriculture needs to speed up the process of land reform in partnership with the Departments of Land Affairs and Public Works, to ensure that the Community Support Project Fund initiates farming projects and creates jobs for our rural communities. We need to help them to dip their buckets where they are. In partnership with commercial farmers, the Agricultural Union and local institutions in the Province must develop an Agricultural Investment Strategy to ensure that our products become competitive in overseas markets, particularly in terms of price and quality.
Such a strategy must assist us to improve our performance in the agricultural sector, increase the number of black commercial farmers and create agro-industries within the Province.
The above initiatives will be complimented by our efforts to attract capital and investment through tourism marketing, and the exhibition of the various products and business opportunities in the Province in forums such as the South African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX).
I am pleased to announce that at the last
SAITEX held in October 2000, where 798 exhibitors - of which 76,5% were
international exhibitors - exhibited their wares, the
In addition, the Provincial Government will
establish manufacturing advice centres in the south west
In January of this year we launched the
We have successfully restructured our Provincial Youth Commission, to bring it in line with the restructuring of the National Youth Commission, and to ensure that it becomes more effective and efficient. The restructuring process will have the effect of making more money available for youth development programmes as a result of reducing the number of commissioners. The appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Commission will ensure more efficiency and independence.
The Provincial Government has established a Multi-Purpose Centre in Namahadi in Qwaqwa, which minimises the burden on the already poverty-stricken members of the communities in Qwaqwa – it cuts off unnecessary travelling, because referrals happen within the same centre. We aim to launch three multi-purpose centres this year in Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu and Phuthaditjhaba. The last two will be launched in 2002 in Trompsburg and Zastron.
With regard to HIV/AIDS, we have established the Provincial AIDS Council, through which an AIDS Education and Awareness Campaign is being implemented. Since we all agreed that this is one of the biggest threats facing this Province, and the nation as a whole, no stone should be left unturned in fighting this scourge.
The Provincial Government has established
pilot research areas for the treatment of HIV-positive pregnant mothers in
We have also resolved to establish a Directorate on HIV/AIDS whose sole responsibility will be to co-ordinate all inter-departmental activities and initiatives on HIV/AIDS.
Our commitment to co-operative governance saw the re-launch of the Provincial-Local Government Forum (PROVLOC), which created a platform for us and local authorities to deal amicably with issues of mutual interest. To ensure a united Province with unity of purpose, it is my intention to invite all Executive Mayors into this forum, which will meet regularly to discuss strategies to deal with issues relating particularly to poverty and integrated development programmes.
I also hope that PROVLOG will be an appropriate forum to deal with environmental issues and promote the notion of a clean and healthy environment with the hope of ensuring ecologically sustainable development and proper use of our natural resources.
In implementing our strategic plan, we
have established a Provincial Transformation Forum, which recommended that the
Provincial Government should convene a Provincial Dialogue on Racism. I am happy to announce that the Executive
Council has given approval for the Office of the Premier to immediately start
convening such a gathering. When peace
reigns among the people of the
We all know our historical past. I also do not have to remind you that racism did not die with the establishment of the new Government. It is important therefore that we create an opportunity to discuss and develop consensus on how to rid our Province of this affliction of racism, as well as implement the recommendations of the recent National Conference on Racism.
Some
of you will recall the dire financial crisis that our Province was in during
the 1998/99 financial year. I am happy to
remind you that during the 2000/01 financial year our management of the
Provincial fiscus improved significantly.
We even managed to accumulate a surplus for the first time in many years
and we were able to pay our debts.
[Applause] While we are looking
after the Province’s rands and cents, the millions will look after themselves.
I want to assure everybody who does business with us that we will continue to improve the way we handle our finances, and ensure that none of you are compromised in any way. It is my intention as Head of this Province that...
*...nobody will pocket the taxpayers’ money.
#It is with great pride that I congratulate our Department of Education as well as students and parents for their commitment and hard work in ensuring that our Matric results showed an improvement of 10.6 % compared to the previous year. [Applause] This demonstrates that our pursuit of our human resource development’s strategic priority is beginning to bear some fruit. Whilst this is not enough, I must hasten to warn teachers, because I shall continue making my rounds in schools. It did not end in January. It is going to be a continuous process. I will continue and I would like to assure you of my personal support and that of the goodwill of many Free Staters to ensure that we do even better in this year’s examinations.
During 1999, a total of 151 dysfunctional schools were identified. This year this figure has been reduced to 126 schools. Our efforts in improving the management of these schools will include filling many vacant deputy principal, heads of department and administrative staff posts. We will also strengthen School Governing Bodies, School Management Teams as well as Representative Councils of Learners.
Our Department of Health will establish the Mangaung Health Centre, which will provide 24-hour services, as well as emergency and maternity services. It will also focus on reducing backlogs in cataract surgery. This will be with the purpose of reducing the number of people who become blind due to cataracts.
The payment of social grants is one of our methods of sustaining the lives of our poor people. To protect the integrity of this system, through our Department of Social Welfare, we started a re-registration process aimed at distinguishing between those who qualify for these grants and those who did not. This process was finalised in July 2000 and out of a total of 199 719 beneficiaries, we established that 3 348 did not qualify. This exercise resulted in savings of about R22 million.
We also identified a backlog of 54 000 applicants who were not on the system. To date 51 000 of these applicants have been re-entered into the system and we will soon wipe out the remaining backlogs.
We have successfully implemented the demarcation process and we now have a Province that is divided into five regions. The recent municipal election results signal the complete transformation of all tiers of Government.
Through our Department of Local Government and Housing, we will undertake a number of initiatives to consolidate and strengthen the outcome of the transformation of Local Government.
We are fully aware of the need to continue building the capacity of municipalities in order to improve their performance. We will continue with our Project Viability Initiative to monitor the viability of municipalities, and build their financial management capabilities. Just remember that that money is the taxpayers’ money and it must be managed properly. We will also provide the necessary management support and contribute to the training of new councillors to enable them to perform duties attached to their new offices.
I hope that new councillors will lead the promotion of timely payment of accounts for services rendered by municipalities. We must pay for our services. It does not matter who and where you are. I also expect that the Executive Council will soon be informed about the finalisation of a framework for free water and electricity supply to the poorest of the poor in our Province.
This year, the Year of the African Century, we must ensure that all our people are free to practice and profess their customs, culture and beliefs, and yet feel a sense of belonging to the Province, country and the continent. Through our Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, we will be hosting and launching Indigenous Sports in the first quarter of this year.
As a commitment to the further development and celebration of our culture and traditions, the Mangaung Cultural Festival (MACUFE) will be revived and will take place in September. We will also be hosting the third international Grand Prix at our Phakisa Racetrack. [Applause].
Since this year is also declared as ‘The Year of the Reader’, my plea to all leaders and fellow Free Staters is to visit our libraries and inspire the youth to use these facilities, because information is power.
Our strategy of embarking on an intelligence-led crime prevention strategy in partnership with local communities and the private sector is bearing fruit. We will continue to implement social crime prevention strategies and uproot corruption with the involvement of the private sector. It is not the Government that should be the watchdog. It is not the Legislature that should do this job - it is you ordinary men and women.
You are the custodian of what belongs to this Province and are obliged to keep your eyes and ears open and also open your mouth to tell the truth without any fear of victimisation, rather than keeping quiet and gaining cheap popularity – because cheap popularity in my experience, does not last. As members of our community, the ball is in your court.
The Free State Provincial Government
remains accountable to the citizens of the
In my travels throughout the Province, one of the issues that was consistently raised, was the slowness of our departments in delivering services. When you have a meal every night just remember the ordinary men and women who depend on you to deliver services and do not have a restful night if you do not achieve this. It is your responsibility as a leader in this Province to care. This makes me realise that the transformation of our departments is far from complete.
During
the course of this year, we have to deal with the following challenges:
• We
have to improve stability in our departments by ensuring effective and
efficient political and administrative management;
• I have studied the various developments with regard to matters relating to boards of the Free State Provincial Government and I will make an announcement in due course;
• We have to improve relations between departments and the Provincial Legislature, particularly in terms of information flow and responsiveness to queries and needs of both parties – no man is an island. We need to work together as a team;
• We
have to improve our planning and operational ability to meet targets and
deadlines;
• We
have to improve the quality of our supervision and management - that is your
business as managers;
• We
have to improve capacity to monitor and evaluate the achievement of our
targets. It must not be business as
usual; and
• We
will continue to ensure that our programmes and projects focus on our
poverty-stricken districts such as Thabo Mofutsanyane and Xhariep. Members of the Executive Council will
elaborate on this matter in their Budget Speeches.
Achieving the full development of the
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people of this Province for their continued and valued support to the Government and its programmes. To the Members of the Executive Council, Members of the Legislature, the Director-General and Heads of Departments, as well as to each and every public servant: My appreciation for your dedication and hard work in the interest of the people of this Province. This Province must be reborn. It must succeed and we will succeed.
In
instilling hope to the people of the
I
ask For I love life;
I
ask;
Let’s
dare to be different;
In
this time;
Here
where life has become a dangerous species;
Made
so;
By
plenty and wretched poverty;
Let
the wretched of our time;
The
men, children, the women;
Who
witness the sun rise and the sun set;
The
moon climb and the moon fall;
The
star twinkle and fade;
Every
day every hour bewildered by life;
Let
them see in our eye;
Our
dare for the mighty;
Let
our eye in its unshakeable belief teach them to catch a fish; and to refuse to
be given it.
I thank you. [Applause]
______________