Agriculture
29 August 2006
North West Premier, Edna Molewa, said that she was encouraged and heartened
by the visible progress in the Department of Agriculture.
Molewa made these remarks at the conclusion of her visit to the Department
yesterday. The meeting was part of the regular meetings that she holds with
management and staff of all provincial departments. Through these visits, the
Premier seeks to familiarise herself with the progress departments are making
in implementing government's programme of action as reflected in the State of
the Province address. In addition, the Premier gets briefings on the challenges
and constraints confronting departments and how these are being addressed.
These interactions provide a platform for all staff to raise issues,
complaints, criticisms and inputs.
Molewa urged senior managers of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation
and Environment and staff to pay focused attention on service delivery. In
particular, she urged them to locate their work within the Accelerated and
Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) context: "Government
introduced AsgiSA as a programme that will help us realise accelerated economic
growth that will benefit the majority of our people. At the heart of our
mission is the fight against poverty and unemployment," she said.
With regard to internal challenges facing the Department, Molewa said
despite challenges that still remain; she was proud that there was vast
improvement in the management of the Department.
"The faces I see this morning are different from those I saw last year when
I visited this Department. I am happy to see that the spirit of working towards
a common vision and goal is back. Together let us make this Department a
winning team that it has always been."
Molewa commended the MEC, Mandlenkosi Mayisela and Head of Department, Paul
Mogotlhe, for the work they have done to improve delivery and teamwork within
the Department. Among other things, she noted some positive trends in the
Department's expenditure. In addition, vacant posts are in the process of being
filled. She urged them to continue striving towards building a united and
cohesive team. "These improvements will benefit our people a great deal
especially our emerging farmers," she said.
Premier Molewa has already visited the Department of Roads, Transport and
Community Safety as well as the Department of Finance and will be visiting
other departments soon.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Tanana Monama
Premier's Spokesperson
Tel: (018) 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
29 August 2006
