Statement by the Premier Willies Mchunu after the sitting of the Portfolio Committee on the Office of the Premier
We wish to thank the chairperson and members of the committee for convening this meeting. Equally, we express our appreciation to the members of the committee for their attendance.
We acknowledge the fact that this is the first meeting of the Portfolio Committee on the Office of the Premier since we presented our Budget Vote.
We believe that it will be appropriate to thank all the members for the guidance provided to me as an executive authority, and to the entire management in the Office of the Premier.
Importantly, the debate on the budget vote was dignified with members of the committee carrying themselves in a matter befitting the image of the legislature. During my acceptance speech I offered to work with all members of this house across all political lines and preferences.
Each time, I interact with all of you as members of the portfolio I always appreciate your sincerity and genuine concerns about issues of governance. I certainly know that I can count on the support of all members of this committee as together we work on the government’s agenda and priorities over the last two years of this term of office of this government.
Importantly, we all agree that the Office of the Premier has a fundamental responsibility of ensuring improvement in service delivery, fighting poverty, unemployment – crime – corruption and promoting rural development, and revamping our health and education systems.
The fact that I am here this morning is a reflection of the importance you all attach to the issue of accountability. We undertake to use our power and executive authority bestowed by our people solely for their upliftment and realisation of a better life for all our people.
These are huge responsibilities but with the support of members of this committee, the legislature, our partners in the labour movements, business community and civil society, as well as the citizens, our duty will be made easier.
Bi-elections in Nquthu
Chairperson, at this stage I want to reflect on the recent bi-elections in Nquthu. No words of gratitude will suffice to thank the people of Nquthu for the successful, peaceful, free and fair bi-elections.
As leaders of all parties and the Government of KwaZulu-Natal in this Legislature, we need to thank all the voters who voted for our different parties in the exercise of their democratic right and freedom of choice. Those who were elected across all political parties must accept each other as the credible and collective voice of ordinary members in Nquthu.
We are therefore calling upon all councillors to put aside their narrow political interests and work towards together in the interest of the voters. The executive council will be receiving a detailed briefing from Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs on the processes to be undertaken to constitute the municipal council.
South Africa is respected throughout the world for its stable democracy. This country remain an inspiration to many within and outside our African continent. KwaZulu-Natal Province for its part should make a contribution in sustaining freedom and democracy.
Therefore, we have a responsibility, as leaders representing the aspirations of many of our people, to ensure political stability and socio-economic development.
Despite the challenges of our times, we want to make the call for the leaders across sectors of our community and citizens of our province to unite and work hard to create a stronger province economically and socially.
At all times, we need to commend the pioneering work done by the First Premier Dr FT Mdlalose and His Excellency President JG Zuma in initiating peace in this province. Siyabonga
The prevailing climate for free-political activity in Nquthu is a marked improvement from what characterized that area ahead of the previous elections starting with national elections in 1994.
Even more humbling was the mood of optimism that we detected during the election campaign. The high hopes were unmistakable amongst all our people in the area as they interacted with leaders of different political parties. Once again, went to say congratulations to the people of Nquthu and all political parties that participated.
Rape and murder of women
We wish to report that the Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula was in the province to deal with issues of safety and security in the province. We want to increase the capacity of police to deal with crime across the province.
Over the past few weeks there have been feelings of gloom and doom following the brutal murder of innocent women, especially young girls some from KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Our quest for freedom cannot be complete if our country is plagued by social ills which have become so endemic in our society such as child molestation, rapes and murders.
While the law is currently taking its cause, we call on communities to stand up and unite in a public display of disapproval of this sheer brutality.
The spirit of civic responsibility and pride which leads to citizen, especially the youth, to respect and obey the law and value human lives must be built throughout the province. Without this, reducing social ills will remain a huge challenge.
The Democracy Support Unit and Office of the Status of Women and Children in the Office of the Premier, working with Social Development and other departments, will rollout community based programmes to mobilize society to stand up and protect women and children. These activities will be mainstreamed into the activities managed at ward level through the War Rooms.
We are also mobilized various government departments to attend to issues such as the welfare challenges of vulnerable children including abused and orphaned, youth in distress, homeless children, those from unstable families and those in conflict with the law in order to create safety nets to save them from joining the pool from which hardened criminals recruit.
There is a strong role of parents, leaders of society including traditional and religious leaders. Through the Moral Regeneration campaign we want to emphasize the teachings from the families to focus on human values of respect and caring for a fellow human being.
Our message as government is that normal socialization is about creating a human being capable of showing and sharing affection, warmth and friendship. It is such individuals that will create a caring and humane society that we desire.
As government we want to send our deepest condolences to the families of the affected victims. The MEC for Social Development Weziwe Thusi has been in touch with the families and provided much needed assistance.
We want to appeal to the members of this committee and leaders of political parties in the legislature to work together to mobilize all leaders of society and communities. We call on mayors and councillors across all municipalities in the province to be actively involved in the fight against this act.
It cannot be correct that families of rape victims are not even visited by elected representatives when their loved ones have been exploited. This is a serious indictment on all of us as leaders. If society does not protect women, our country is headed for the doldrums.
Social Cohesion Summit
We call for restraint in various communities such as KwaMashu where there have been sporadic xenophobic attacks.
We wish to announce that the Social Cohesion Summit will take place at KwaMashu Christian Centre this Thursday starting from 09h00 in the morning.
You will recall that on the 6th April 2016, the provincial government released a report of the Reference Group on Migration and Community Integration and a report of a Study Group that was assembled to investigate the causes of xenophobic attacks and threats to Social Cohesion.
The mandate of the reference group was to assess reported causes and socio economic impacts of attacks against foreign nationals. The focus was on attacks that took place between March and May in 2015. The reference group was asked to consider the successes and shortcomings of past-and-ongoing initiatives for reducing tensions between communities and outline immediate and long-term solutions in response to the violent attacks.
The reference group adopted a multi-pronged methodology to conduct its inquiry. This comprised site visits to affected areas, the convening of consultations, focus groups and interviews.
The reference group identified the following consequences of the violent attacks against foreign nationals:
- Structural – legacy of apartheid has left South Africa with deep structural disparities including high levels of unemployment, poverty and increasing inequality. These difficult socio-economic conditions, prevalent in KZN, are not in and of themselves causes of violence but they create tensions that may lead to violence.
- Institutional – A lack of accurate data on the number of foreign nationals living in the province contributes to the negative and common believe that foreign nationals are flooding the country. The reference group believes that deficiencies in policy implementation contributed to the dynamics underpinning the violent attacks. South Africa’s Immigration and Refugees Acts, although comprehensive on paper, have not been implemented fully. Immigration Act does not account for the unique circumstance of many undocumented foreign nationals already in SA. The Refugee Act although progressive but is not supported by necessary administrative capacity to regulate, monitor and protect all who seek refuge.
- Societal - Locals are unaware of the histories, cultures and personal experiences of foreign nationals currently residing in the province. This is compounded by many locals unaware that South Africa’s Bill of Rights and the constitution protects all persons in the country and that there are distinctions between the different categories of migrant permits.
In addition, the Reference Group found amongst others the following:
- The outbreak of violence against foreign nationals in KZN was the result of the deliberate efforts of select individuals, some of whom had interests in the informal trading sector, to drive away competition by foreign national-owned business. These attacks sparked the outbreak of widespread incidents of criminality, violence and looting of properties owned by foreign nationals.
- The longer-term causes underpinning the outbreak of violence are multifaceted and complex. The triple challenges of poverty, socio-economic inequality and unemployment contributed to an environment of heightened tensions within and between many communities. The resulting tensions have been exploited by individuals or groups with narrow self-interests and this contributed to violence.
- Many communities throughout KZN were unaffected by the outbreak of violence. The reference group found that in KwaDukuza local communities and foreign nationals promoted ongoing dialogue and lived side-by-side in harmony.
- The majority of allegations against foreign national traders, in respect of business practices, have been found to be perceptions not based on facts. For example, far from receiving preferential treatment on religious grounds, the reference group found that a number of foreign national traders participate in a cooperative pricing scheme open to everyone. Another example is the allegation that foreign nationals do not register their businesses, whereas consultations with the relevant government institutions highlighted that foreign national businesses are more likely to be compliant.
When we released the report I was the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison. As members of the executive council we committed ourselves to implement the recommendations of the Reference Group.
Some of the recommendations include the following:
- Innovative solutions to reduce tensions in the small and informal trading sectors
- Developing and Enhancing National Policies on Migration
- Strengthen re-integration through more collaborative approach
- Educating civil servants on the rights and documentation of foreign nationals
- Upgrading of physical infrastructure of KZN’s border areas
- Education based campaigns to promote more cohesive and sustainable community relations
- Long-term investment on skills development from early childhood, primary, secondary, high school to tertiary level.
Importantly, I wish to remind members of this committee that the provincial executive committee also appointed a Special Committee on Social Cohesion which comprised of the following people:
- Professor Paulus Zulu – Chairperson
- Prof Cheryl Potgieter
- Mr Paddy Kearney
- Mr Vasu Gounden
The investigation of the committee shown that structural threats present urgent challenges to mutual acceptance in this province and this is one of the definitive goals of social cohesion.
The committee observed that many of the participants during its investigation placed emphasis on class standing and socio-economic issues as well as racial dynamics as important mediums of self and communal identification.
Without going into details, I wish to highlight some of the threats to social cohesion as articulated by participants during an investigation by this committee.
Unequal access to quality education: challenges in terms of individual access to institutions as well as quality education within the primary, secondary institutions remains central to perceptions of threats to social cohesion.
The urgency of reducing socio-economic inequalities emerged as central to the pursuing of greater social cohesion in KZN.
Infrastructure deficits: Participants noted that the spatial legacies of apartheid in KZN have yet to be resolved and continue to exacerbate tensions that threaten social cohesion.
Despite best efforts by government to increase the provision of houses, increase spending on infrastructure and commitment to ensuring reliable provision of basic services, participants perceived continued inequalities within KZN townships, peri-urban communities, shacks and transit camps as cause for concerns.
Racialized economy: The racialised and inequitable economic competition perceived by the people of this province was central to the discussion of social cohesion. Participants expressed serious concerns and reservations about existing structures and policies especially related to government procurement.
Participants questioned the repeated awarding of tenders to select individuals and companies suggesting that what should be an equitable and fair process is instead characterised by pervasive and political patronage.
The Social Committee on Social Cohesion recommended the following:
- Revitalizing policy provisions to promote more equitable economic development – central to this is the building of inclusive and equitable economy. This requires appropriate skills base, the injection of financial capital into SMMEs and greater partnership between SMMEs and big corporate.
- Developing a more transparent and equitable tender system: Greater transparency regarding the awarding of tenders is required to undercut ant suspicion of corruption or wrong doing in the area of government procurement. Transparency and merit should underpin the tender process right to the awarding of tender and reasons should be publicised for the failure and success of the bids.
- Promoting peace, education, building a culture of mutual acceptance and encouraging trauma healing – Government should provide resources for peace education programmes involving communities.
- Revamping the provinces social cohesion strategy – KZN government should undertake a multi-stakeholder dialogue towards the development of a medium term provincial strategy for social cohesion. The strategy must take into account, cultural, social, political and economic dimensions. Critically, the provincial government should undertake a 20 year review highlighting key achievements.
- Strengthening communication and dialogue in KZN – The KZN government should strengthen its communication with its citizens especially during period of policy formulations. There should be a greater focus on social media and mainstream media to bridge the gap between government and its citizens.
- Dialogue with societal institutions and stakeholders that can strengthen social cohesion – these includes religious leaders, academic institutions, big business, community leaders, political parties and the media.
This summit should be viewed within the context of the implementation of the recommendations of the structures I have highlighted.
Members of this committee are invited to attend the Summit. We are must all work together to unite the people of KwaZulu-Natal behind a common vision.
Acting Director General
Chairperson and members of the house, the last issue I would like to highlight is that of the Acting Director General. Mrs Primrose Khumalo has been acting for the period of a year now.
According to the government prescripts, SMS members should not act for a period exceeding a year. We want to therefore inform members of the committee that Mrs Khumalo will serve for the last time as the Acting Director General tomorrow 31 May 2017.
I wish to draw the attention of the members of this house to the fact that the process of appointing a Director General is underway. I can put it on record that the shortlisting processes has also been undertaken.
While this process is unfolding and nearing its completion, I wish to indicate that another Deputy Director General will be appointed to act for a period of two months. The new Acting Director General is Mr Zakhele Mnqayi.
It should be noted that since 2014 we have been head-hunting a Director General to no avail. We advertised the post but there were no suitable candidates. But in our recent shortlisting there were qualified candidates and we are hopeful a suitable candidate will be identified during the interviewing process.
365 Days in Office
Tomorrow I will be finishing 365 days in the office. I want to take this opportunity and express my appreciation to you for the support over the past months.
Over the next months we undertake to strengthen partnerships all leaders of society outside the legislature.
We will maintain good working relations with political parties and we undertake to ensure regular confidential briefings in the legislature with leaders of political parties on matters of service delivery. These includes IFP, DA, EFF, MF and leaders of parties outside the legislature.
We want to emphasize that our energies as members of the executive council will be channelled towards ensuring an equitable distribution of economic opportunities in order to uplift our people who are leaving below the poverty line.
I thank you.
