KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu has appealed to government departments at all levels to co-operate in order to ensure that communities benefit from the government infrastructure projects. He was speaking during the launch of Inkululeko Development Project in Ndumo, located between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique. “If you are a visitor and you drive around Umkhanyakude District Municipality, especially in Ndumo, you cannot help but notice that there is construction taking place.”
“This construction forms part of government’s Inkululeko Development Project. Just like any part of the country, the people of Umkhanyakude must taste the fruits of democracy. They must have something that should make them feel that they live in a free and democratic country.”
“We are gathered here to celebrate the end of apartheid and the dawn of Freedom in the land of ancestors. I must hasten to point out that it is our view as government that true freedom that coexists with under-development and deep poverty is not true freedom.”
“There can be no freedom for some and not for all. There can be no freedom for people in urban areas and no freedom for people in rural areas. The President of the Ruling party, Mr J.G Zuma always states that as long rural areas remain underdeveloped, the whole country cannot be said to be free.”
“The inequalities amongst our people mean that we have to utilise our political freedom to attain emancipation for the majority that remains side-lined and marginalized. To meet your needs, the provincial government adopted an integrated approach involving all government departments in order to bring development to you.”
“The provincial government has invested R1.5 billion towards the provision of social infrastructure in Ndumo. We increased infrastructure spending from R9.7 billion in 2008/09 to R10.9 billion in 2009/10 and to R12.7 billion in 2011/12.”
“The largest portion of this expenditure is going to the department of transport for road construction and maintenance as well as Human Settlement Department for the provision of decent houses and for the overall development of human settlements.”
“Education and Health departments have received the bulk of money for the building of schools, clinics and hospitals. Importantly, government appointed an Infrastructure Crack Team to ensure that this money is used properly.”
“We have emphasised the need for co-operation between the Provincial Government and all 61 municipalities in the province for these funds to facilitate job creation. We require councillors to work together in municipalities to properly plan for all infrastructural needs of their communities. During the implementation of these plans, it is the local communities who will be employed.”
“It is through the construction sector that this government has been able to create job opportunities for thousands of people in rural areas through the Expanded Public Works Programme.”
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