10 February 2006
North West Premier, Edna Molewa says the gap between the First and Second
economies would be bridged through among others, the Expanded Public Works
Programme (EPWP).
Premier Molewa said this during the State of the Province Address on Friday,
10 February 2006, in Mafikeng.
She said the Modimola project is in full swing. "Phase two of this project
consists of rural road construction, road reserve maintenance, on-bicycle route
patrols for stray animals and small bridges."
Molewa says the third phase of the farming project will commence in the new
financial year and will nurture 30 sustainable commercial young black
farmers.
"We believe this is a good example of integrated service delivery among
three spheres of government."
"With the experienced gained in the Modimola EPWP, we have replicated the
project at Modimong in Bophirima, with even bigger massification qualities
which include road construction and household food security," she said.
The EPWP in the whole managed to create 12 937 job opportunities for the
people in North West. The Social Sector alone created 4 024 job opportunities
and infrastructural development sector 8 202 job opportunities, whilst the
environmental sector created 711 jobs.
Molewa says government will continue to upgrade, reseal and construct our
roads in different areas of the province. This includes paving of gravel roads
in rural areas, which work is done through labour-intensive mechanisms to the
benefit of many of young people and women.
She says there is a remarkable improvements in the roads infrastructure,
with about 60 km upgraded from gravel to paved roads in 2005 alone. Some 1 300
km of the provincial road network was successfully transferred in 2005 to the
South African National Roads Agency.
"In 2006, we plan to upgrade another 100 km from gravel to paved. Our roads
infrastructure programme this year will continue constructing, upgrading,
resealing and rehabilitation of our roads," she said.
Molewa says the government has reached final stage of the Taxi
Recapitalisation Programme. "During May 2006 we will finalise the process of
verifying vehicles and routes as well as allocating Operating Licenses to
successful applicants.
"The second phase of this process, which is to register operators who intend
to exit the industry, will begin as soon as the national Department of
Transport makes available all systems of scrapping and registration to the
province," she said.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Monama
Spokesperson North West Provincial Government
Tel: (018) 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
10 February 2006
