T Didiza: Presentation of Independent Development Trust Annual
Report

8 November 2007

Chairperson of the IDT, Ms Pumla Radebe
Members of the board
Chief Executive Officer of the IDT, Ms Thembi Nwedamutswu
Senior government officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

This year, our President in his State of the Nation address again reminded
the country that the social problems that we face cannot be resolved outside of
the context of job creation and poverty eradication. These twin challenges are
at the heart of government's national development agenda.

Furthermore the accomplishment of our development goals is inextricably
linked to the co-ordinated success of the combined efforts at national,
regional and local level. As government we are deeply reliant on the strength
and capability of the all the spheres of government and its related
institutions to work together to implement the range of programmes, designed to
respond to the country's developmental challenges. Excellence in performance
across government sectors and the optimal use of resources is critical, and
non-negotiable.

The release of the annual report by the Independent Development Trust
records an important milestone in our journey towards making a difference and
facilitating development where it is needed most. The release of the IDT's
annual report results are key performance indicators, on the road to reduce
inequality and poverty, especially in the rural areas.

Even after thirteen years into our democracy and despite the concerted and
successful programmes initiated by government, the disparities between South
Africa rural and urban populations remain stark, with rural areas still
recording the high levels of unemployment and poverty. A core concern of
government is to establish initiatives that will ensure sustained growth and
economic development in these areas.

There have been critical interventions, such as a focus on infrastructure
development with an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) bias, interventions
into the economy through Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South
Africa (AsgiSA), Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) and
the jobs for growth programme etc. But by all definitions achieving sustainable
economic development in a developing country is a tall order. However as the
leadership we remain convinced that through investment in communities, capacity
building initiatives and the use of innovative ideas we can achieve our
long-term goals of sustainability.

Looking at the work of the IDT and the successes that it has recorded,
re-affirms my belief that the goals set by government can be achieved. Your
achievements in key development areas are important strides that complement the
work of government.

And I would like to congratulate the board, Chief Executive Officer,
management and staff of IDT for their contribution to development and for
achieving a fifth consecutive unqualified audit financial report. It is a
commendable achievement and is by all accounts worth celebrating. It suggests
that the IDT has established an acceptable benchmark in the management of its
financial resources and overall performance.

The results that the IDT has recorded in making an impact on communities
through their social infrastructure development and capacity building
programmes, is key to achieving its development mission. To say that
infrastructure development is the lifeblood of development is to state the
obvious. No country can record high and sustained levels of growth without
investment in critical infrastructure such as schools, clinics, hospitals
etc.

At the Department of Public Works we have a slogan that says "South Africa
Works Because Of Public Works". With this kind of philosophy, there is no
question that, for a developing country like South Africa, infrastructure
investment must pave the way for growth and poverty eradication. Poverty
eradication and economic development depend on sustained growth, which in turn
depends on productive activities supported by healthy infrastructure.

In addition to economic growth, social infrastructure development has a very
tangible impact on people's daily lives, especially on the lives of the poor
and marginalised. An overarching objective of development and empowerment is to
help marginalised communities become sustainable, accumulate assets and improve
their economic well-being. Measuring the results of programmes dedicated to
such goals is essential to maximising the impact of these programmes whilst
managing and maximising scarce resources.

Given our goals and needs within the country, it is critical that we
evaluate our initiatives and measure outcomes on community development and
economic empowerment programmes. This can be challenging as the outcomes these
programmes intend to achieve, are often quite difficult to measure and may not
become apparent for relatively long periods of time. Initiatives aimed at these
complex economic and social challenges, that are a result of decades of
under-development require much time and economic investment, before the actual
long term goals are achieved. However, I would like to submit to the IDT that
this is the challenge of their work and interventions.

In general however, the IDT also needs to be commended for its consistency
and responsiveness to communities in need. Earlier this year, two of our poorer
provinces viz the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were hard hit by tornadoes in
the area. Recognising the plight of these communities and the need to rebuild
the IDT of its own initiative decided to commit R150 million of its funds to
work on the so-called "Mud Schools Programme". This programme has since been
adopted as a presidential lead programme and National Treasury is considering
awarding R2 billion to the programme of further boost the coffers of this
worthy initiative. For the communities in this area, this initiative will
translate into job creation, safe and improved education facilities for their
children and the opportunity to capitalise on new opportunities. And this is
what communities need: not political eloquence, or robust promises but concrete
interventions that bring about development.

Whilst on the topic of presidential lead programmes, I should also state
that the Hlabisa hospital which we will later tour, was also a designated
presidential lead programme aimed at facilitating development in this part of
KwaZulu-Natal. Today the hospital is up and running, fully servicing the
community of Hlabisa and 16 local clinics in the area. I was also informed that
patients used to wait in long queues for days are now getting the needed
services of qualified personnel, without the long queues. Furthermore, I am
particularly proud of the fact that hospital was able to recruit as much as 14
doctors from the United Kingdom and Germany.

Another positive spin-off of the project is that community members, who
received technical training during the construction of the Hlabisa hospital,
are now working on the construction of the nearby mall. This development
momentum is what is needed to ensure that communities experience maximum
benefit from government programmes.

We need to look at infrastructure investment as an investment in the future
of our people. It is my view that a broad, strategic and comprehensive approach
must ground all infrastructure programmes, so that is able to meet the needs of
today and tomorrow. We must plan for outcomes at the beginning of projects, to
ensure maximum benefit for community development and prosperity.

While the IDT mandate is to support government to achieve its development
objectives and to eradicate poverty, the organisation has come to the
realisation that this needs to be done in framework that recognises the
importance of women–targeted development. Given the deepening feminisation of
poverty, the IDT created a new niche area to facilitate and create sustainable
livelihoods in underdeveloped areas by focussing on women as targeted
beneficiaries in the development process.

The IDT's corporate shift recognizes that women require a concerted
transformative effort, if a quantum and qualitative change is to be effected in
mainstreaming women into economically active members of society. Furthermore
this corporate shift overcomes an important barrier to facilitate development
for women in the economic and social spheres. And more importantly this shift
begins to level the playing field to give women an equitable start.

One of South Africa's award-winning author, Andre Brink writes in his work
'On the Contrary' that: "There is an occasion on a journey to look past
beginning and beyond end," and it is within these parameters that I
congratulate the IDT, as this is what it is doing. It is looking beyond the
narrow, to what can be achieved and this is what we expect from a leading
development agency in service to its people and country.

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Public Works
8 November 2007