28 February 2007
Plans are at an advanced stage to roll out the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
crime-fighting strategy announced recently by Premier Sibusiso Ndebele. This
emerged in the provincial Cabinet meeting held in Pietermaritzburg today.
Premier Ndebele announced the strategy in his State of the Province Address
on 14 February this year in which he called for a popular united front against
crime in the province. He said a core of volunteers would soon be deployed
under the supervision of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the
province's drive to curb crime. Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Cele
told the cabinet that the crime-fighting strategy "has had meat put to it" and
that the rollout should begin in March, this year.
"This is a serious call by government and as government we will go to
communities ourselves to effectively roll out this popular front against
crime," said Ndebele.
The Cabinet also considered the province's final Fiscus Framework. MEC for
Finance and Economic Development Dr Zweli Mkhize is expected to deliver his
Budget speech tomorrow, (Thursday).
At the same meeting the Cabinet also expressed concern at what it referred
to as "unprofessional reportage" of serious issues by the media. Citing the
print media coverage of the use of the blue light by official motorcades, the
Cabinet felt while there could be genuine concerns about its usage, the issue
has been politicised and smacked of racial undertones. Stories around the issue
were totally unbalanced and lacked accuracy, the Cabinet felt.
On addressing the provincial housing backlog, the Cabinet gave its support
to an innovative type of intervention from Germany called Innovida. The support
was however subject to compliance to South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)
and National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) stipulations. A
Government delegation recently visited Germany to test the product and make
recommendations. The delegation found that the product had a faster
construction turnaround as compared to the brick and mortar houses. It also
found that besides the job creation aspect of Innovida, the product was
durable, safe and could help address the housing backlog in the province in
three years if implemented.
As part of efforts to strengthen the structures of traditional leadership in
the province, the Cabinet officially recognised five new Amakhosi across the
province.
Premier Ndebele also called for the revitalisation of the Boy Scouts
Movement in the province as part of mass mobilisation for good moral upbringing
and self-actualisation of young people.
For further information, please contact:
Mandla Cecil Msomi
Cell: 072 6710 775
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
28 February 2007
