Z Skweyiya: United Nations General Assembly Informal Thematic Debate on
Development

27 November 2006

"Partnership towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):
Taking Stock, Moving Forward"

Chairperson,

As a responsible global partner within the United Nations system and its
specialised agencies, South Africa's participation in the international fora is
primarily in response to the challenges that are central to the future of all
of humanity and that pose a threat to global political and economic stability
and security.

South Africa recognises that in order to achieve a better life for all,
poverty eradication and overall development must be pursued from a global
perspective. We therefore strongly supported the holding of the 2000 Millennium
Summit and the 2005 Millennium Review Summit which led to the adoption of the
Millennium Development Goals and the assessment of progress made towards their
achievement respectively.

We believe in the need for global partnerships within the United Nations
system, as our collective efforts towards eradication of global poverty can
only be achieved if each and every Member State of the United Nations fulfils
its commitments according to the means and the resources at its disposal.

The MDGs have become a well considered and recognised international
development benchmark by a broad range of national and international
stakeholders including Governments, Civil Society, International Financial
Institutions and the United Nations System. Such an unprecedented universal
consensus on a development agenda begs for an equally unqualified commitment
for its implementation.

Our participation in this thematic debate today is aimed at strengthening
partnership for the achievement of the MDGs by reviewing progress on the
implementation of internationally agreed upon development objectives. The
weakness in the global partnership for development, characterised by amongst
others, the almost-collapse of the Doha Development Round, a lack of
implementation of the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development and the
gross neglect of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
Johannesburg Plan of Action could be reversed by increased dedication and a
restored political will.

In strengthening its commitment in pursuing the global partnership for
development, South Africa recently hosted the launch the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) 2006 Human Development Report with the theme Water
and Human Development. The report was launched in South Africa in
acknowledgment of the efforts that South Africa has made to promote access to
safe water and sanitation.

In addressing the launch meeting, President Thabo Mbeki reminded us that
"Today's development is as much about people as it was in the 1990s," when the
first Human Development Report was published. He expressed the belief that the
report will make a valuable and constructive contribution to the global efforts
to achieve people-centred sustainable development. The Human Development Report
2006 must therefore also help us to respond to the concern expressed by Head of
State and Government at the 2005 World Summit that globally and especially with
regard to Africa, disparities and inequalities continue to persist and even
grow.

In Africa we are working to respond to the many challenges facing the
continent through the developmental programme of the African Union, the New
Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). NEPAD seeks to engage different
sectors to mobilise internal and external resources for the sustainable
regeneration and expansion of the full spectrum of human capability in the
continent. We all need to focus on concrete programmes to accelerate
development in Africa and to prevent it from sinking further into poverty and
underdevelopment. We cannot merely accept the situation that Africa will not
achieve the MDGs by 2015. We have the responsibility to end the rhetoric and to
form a global partnership that would ensure that all human beings on the
continent live decent, humane and prosperous lives.

In acknowledgement of the centrality of people in development, South Africa
enshrined in its Constitution, a Bill of Rights that provide for economic,
social and cultural rights as essential elements for eradicating poverty and
underdevelopment. In 1994, when the new democratic government came into being,
we set ourselves many targets similar to those articulated in the Millennium
Declaration. To date our pre-eminent objective is to fight poverty and
deprivation and to expand the economic opportunities of our citizens.

Chairperson,

In South Africa, we face unique challenges derived from the historical
imbalances in wealth distribution that have resulted in two economies, that are
said to be structurally disconnected and place a limitation on the economic
trickle-down effect that should otherwise result in poverty reduction. However,
the 2005 South Africa Millennium Development Goals Country Report clearly
indicates that South Africa is well on course to meet all Millennium
Development Goals and targets. In fact, the current assessment of our
performance suggests that we have already met some of them.

On MDG 1 South Africa has embarked on programmes aimed at sustainable
development, eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by providing social
assistance grants, financial allocation for which increased nearly 4 fold
between 1994 and 2004. Other job-oriented government interventions to address
extreme poverty included the labour intensive Expanded Public Works Programme,
the Agricultural Starter Pack Programme and the Comprehensive Agricultural
Support Programme.

On education, (MDG2), there has been a steady increase in budget allocation
making it the single largest item at 6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As a
proportion, this is amongst the highest in the world. The net primary enrolment
rates remains at about 95,5% and secondary participation rates are currently
approximately 85% indicating increases of about 15 percentage points since the
early 1990s. Other supportive government intervention includes the roll out of
"No-fee" Schools Policy and the National School Nutrition Programme.

On eliminating gender disparity in education (MDG3), girls outnumber boys in
secondary school enrolment and overall in tertiary education the female to male
ratio has risen to 115:100. This indicates that a large proportion of females
continue to benefit from primary and secondary education. Our progressive drive
for gender equality is motivated by the belief that women's empowerment is an
effective way to combating poverty, hunger, and disease within the framework of
sustainable development.

To reduce child mortality (MDG4), we have rolled out the free healthcare and
nutrition programmes for all children under the age of five. The effects of
these programmes have been to reduce infant mortality due to lack of nutrition
from 45 per 1 000 live births to 30 per 1 000 live births. However, these
achievements are undermined by the impact of HIV and AIDS on child mortality.
The current figures indicate that HIV and AIDS has increased child mortality to
the ratio of 60 per 1 000 live births. The immediate challenge for South Africa
is to find an effective and efficient way of intervention that will minimise
the impact of HIV and AIDS on child mortality.

In an attempt to get a clear understanding of the cause of the unacceptable
maternal mortality rate (MDG5) we instituted the "Confidential Inquiry into
Maternal Deaths." Regular reports on causes of death and interventions are
produced in an effort to reduce the number of maternal deaths. This resulted in
both better surveillance and better understanding of the causes of maternal
deaths. However, the non-pregnancy related infections, including AIDS, have
increased in the current triennium. In order to address this, the government
has developed a set of recommendations including improving use of treatment
guidelines and protocols, improving referral systems and emergency medical
services.

Chairperson,

HIV and AIDS (MDG 6) is the single most challenging issue that we face and
we are engaging a multidimensional approach to find suitable and effective
solutions towards reversing its spread. On tuberculosis, malaria and other
communicable diseases we have managed to consistently reduce the cases of
infections through the malaria and tuberculosis national Control
Programmes.

In terms of ensuring environmental sustainability (MDG7) we have focused on
prioritising people's needs while safeguarding the country�s natural assets.
The range of legislative, policy and institutional developments that have
occurred over the last twelve years have brought about a new environmental
management approach, based on the recognition of the contribution made by the
country's biological resources in relation to food security, science, the
economy, cultural integrity and well-being. In its developmental approach,
South Africa highlights three important policy approaches which are (1) a clear
national plan with well defined targets, (2) a strong national regulatory
framework with power devolution to local authorities and (3) constant
monitoring of performance and progress. This approach has contributed to the
increase in the standard of living and in particular within the area of
provision of houses, water and sanitation.

Chairperson,

MDG 8, a global partnership for development, is also the main focus of our
gathering here today. As one of the G20 countries, South Africa shares the
commitment toward achieving the MDGs and 2007 will be a significant year when
South Africa chairs the G20 and will exercise its stewardship to continue to
pragmatically develop the global partnership among the developed and developing
countries.

In the increasingly globalising and interdependent world economy, a holistic
approach to the interconnected national, international and systemic challenges
of financing for development and gender-sensitive, people-centred development
in all parts of the globe is essential. Such an approach must open up
opportunities for all and help to ensure those resources are created and used
effectively and that strong, accountable institutions are established at all
levels. To that end, collective and coherent action is needed in each
interrelated area, involving all stakeholders in active partnership. It is
important that all of us share in the prosperity that globalisation has to
offer, thereby ensuring a prosperous and equitable world that would become more
stable and secure.

This Thematic Debate on Development today is a crucial event by which member
states are reminded of their international commitments to sustainable
development through the MDGs. Today, we have also reviewed and monitored the
progress we are making in implementing these commitments. Let this debate today
serve to guide us all as humanity strives to achieve a just and fair world in
which the fundamental human right to development is a reality to all. Let this
be our common goal.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Social Development
27 November 2006