Works by MEC H D Yawa, North West Provincial Legislature
10 May 2007
Honourable Madame Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Honourable Premier
Honourable Colleagues in the Executive Council
Honourable Members of the Parliament
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Honourable Executive Mayors and Mayors
Honourable councillors
Members of the House of Traditional Leaders, Batlotlegi Dikgosi tsa rona
Stakeholders and clients
Members of the mass media
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We are inspired by the poem titled the Awakening Age, written by the African
genius, poet and writer, Ben Okri that reads:
"O ye who travel the meridian line,
May the vision of a new world within you shine.
May eyes that have lived with poverty's rage,
See through to the glory of the awakening age.
For we are all richly linked in hope,
Woven in history, like a mountain rope.
Together we can ascend to a new height;
Guided by our heart's clearest light.
When perceptions are changed there's much to gain,
A flowering of truth instead of pain.
There's more to a people than their poverty;
There's their work, wisdom, and creativity.
Along the line may our lives rhyme,
To make a loving harvest of space and time."
According to the White Paper: "Public Works towards the 21st Century", the
mandate of the department is to provide and manage accommodation for line
function departments, property development and management, lead the
transformation of the construction and property industry, policy development,
co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation of job creation through the community
public works programme.
In the last budget speech delivered in this august house, we committed
ourselves to make a difference. I am therefore honoured to present an account
of the how we made a difference in the past financial year and outline our
intention to ascend to new height in the new financial year as we renew our
pledge for a national partnership for a better life for all.
Achievements: Corporate support
1. Financial management
Regular internal audits were conducted to strengthen internal controls and
ensure compliance with regulatory framework.
On the recommendation of the Auditor-General, the department has established
a Dedicated Asset Management Team to look into the existence, rights and
obligations, completeness, valuation and allocation, classification and
disclosure of immovable assets as recorded in the Professional Real Estate
Management Information System (PREMIS). This issue had contributed to the
department receiving a qualified audit opinion during the 2005/06 Audit.
Progress to date that is that identified properties have been captured onto
the system.
A Risk Management Committee (RMC) to address identified weaknesses that
arose from queries by the Auditor-General and the Provincial Internal Audit was
also established. A Risk Management policy and strategy are in place for
implementation and monitoring of the risk management process. A risk
identification and internal control procedures manual is also in place.
Progress performance analysis among others can be listed as follows:
* suspense accounts were cleared on a regular basis
* original and adjustment estimates were done according to the Treasury
Regulations
* debts created under the suspense account were recovered within thirty days
e.g. science and Technology advances
* revenue was reconciled in terms of section 38(1)© of Public Finance
Management Act (PFMA) (Act 1 of 1999)
* improvement on the use of revenue codes by sub-receivers of revenue
* the department conducted investigations with regions to identify rental
defaulters
* successful auctions for redundant furnisher and equipment were held in some
regions
* recycled paper was identified as a new source of revenue and more than two
tons of used and scrap paper was sold.
The departmental Budget Advisory Committee meetings were held on a monthly
basis to ensure integrated corporate financial management and good governance.
The verification of the payroll by paymasters and certification thereof by the
accounting officer was done on a monthly basis throughout the past financial
year. This will continue to be done in the ensuing financial year to ensure
that there are no ghost employees on our payroll.
2. Information management
We made a difference by completing the cabling and connecting Lehurutshe,
Taung, Ganyesa, Vryburg, Madikwe, Mogwase and Rustenburg district offices to
the North-West Provincial Government Network. Officials at these district
offices are thus able to run with automated processes at their workstations.
This will ensure that our services are delivered to our clients at the most
convenient times and locations.
Our departmental websites (both intranet and internet) are up and running to
serve as sources of information for both external clients and internal clients.
Tenders and vacancies within the department are posted on both sites and
updated on a regular basis. We wish to encourage our clients to visit the
website sites on a regular basis as they will find them informative.
In the past financial year we implemented the Systematic Records Disposal
Programme through 31 interns who were appointed for this purpose. They also
gained in terms of skills transfer in this area. The File Plan for the
department developed in relation to National Archives Act 43 of 1996 has been
finalised and submitted to Provincial Archives for approval.
3. Human resource management
As part of development of our Human Resource Plan, we made a difference by
completing the loading of the human resource establishment onto the processed
on the electronic personnel and salary (PERSAL) system and reconciliation of
existing posts and vacant posts as per approved organisational structure.
Corrections was also made to the PERSAL System for link codes to be in line
with the financial coding by allocating programs, sub-programs and cost centres
to posts and components, which resulted in an effective PERSAL/WALKER systems
interface and the extracting of reliable systems reports on statistics for
management.
The payroll procedure was also implemented on the PERSAL system by linking
officials to their respective pay points and identifying paymasters who are
responsible for signing for all payments made to persons under their control.
These measures have made it practically impossible for ghost employees to be
paid without detection.
3.1. Performance management and development
According to the economist John Maynard Keynes, "the greatest difficulty in
the world is not for people to accept new ideas, but to make them forget about
old ones"
Success was registered in the management of performance of employees by
rewarding best performance and providing training intervention to poor
performing employees. The department is however continuously engaged in a
conscious pursuit to "do it better today than yesterday" as a culture that must
underpin the management of performance of workers and improved service
delivery.
In support of implementing a culture of life long learning, we successfully
implemented a Work Place Skills Plan. In response to the Skills Development Act
one of the objectives of which is to assist new entrants into the labour
market, the department has in the past financial year implemented internships
programme comprising of 66 unemployed youth who are diplomats and graduates.
From the practical work exposure, which these interns receive, 11 of them have
already found permanent jobs even before completion of the internship period
after participating competently in interviews.
Another important element of our human resource development is the Basic
Education and Training (ABET) programme. The current ABET program comprises 63
employees who are participating in the literacy campaign which is spearheaded
by the Department of Education. In response to the Provincial Growth and
Development Strategy (PGDS) to address the critical and scares skills as
identified by the construction employees Tradesman Aid between salary level one
and five have undergone recognition of prior learning so that they can qualify
as artisans in different technical fields.
3.2. Special programmes
The department reviewed its policy on HIV and AIDS and has developed
guidelines for management to implement the policy on HIV and AIDS as well as
the minimum standards. High-risk areas have been identified and program
implementation has commenced. One of the key objectives of our approach
consistent with the national strategy is to raise the level of awareness of our
employees. The importance of condom distribution is upheld for those who cannot
abstain or be faithful to a single partner. HIV and AIDS Committees have been
appointed and trained as peer educators.
After the launch of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Campaign led by
Senior Managers and enthusiasm shown by employees, we have allocated resources
for a rollout of VCT programme to all employees in the department. A programme
for the rollout is in place and the service is to be provided on a monthly
basis.
3.3. Occupational Health and Safety
The safety of employees and clients against accidents and diseases in our
work environment is high up on our list of priorities. In compliance with the
Occupational Health and Safety Act No 33 of 1993, Occupational Health and
Safety representatives have been elected throughout the department. Most of the
representatives have already received relevant training. During the year under
review, the department experienced three accidents that led to fatalities. In
this regard the department is working with contractors in order to prevent a
reoccurrence.
3.4. Conditions of services
We have cleared the pension payout backlog and are taking stringent measures
to ensure that no backlog is accumulated again.
4. Legal support services
The department has reduced cases of evictions against illegal tenants in
state owned houses by engaging in alternative methods of dealing with the
problem and a result, 20 tenants signed lease agreements and thus their
occupancy was regularised. Nine tenants opted for out of court settlement and
vacated the premises out of their own volition.
We are also pursuing legal processes against rental defaulters and hope to
finalise all these matters in this financial year.
There has been a significant improvement in relations between the department
and all recognised trade unions in dealing with matters mutually affecting the
department as an employer and trade unions on behalf of employees.
This has been achieved through scheduled quarterly meetings held throughout
the year to deal meaningfully with issues.
Forty four misconduct cases were finalised during the past financial year.
The majority of these cases 27 being cases of absenteeism.
There are interventions between the departmental Employee Assistance
Programme and the affected employees to deal with the various causes of
absenteeism, which mainly relate to socio-economic problems encountered by
employees of the department.
5. Supply chain management
Out of the total tenders of R481 145 000 awarded in the last financial year,
R413 454 000 were awarded to the historically disadvantaged. Tenders awarded to
companies owned by women received 23% of the total amount of tenders awarded to
the total value of R110 330 000. Tenders awarded to youth is still a challenge
and only R646 000 valued of tenders were awarded to youth which make up 0,13%
of the awarded tenders.
The progress with regard to empowerment of women can be seen in the 23% of
tenders awarded to women against the previous financial year of 15%.
This department commits itself to service delivery with the average
turnaround to pay our contractors and suppliers being 14 days. This period
includes the verification of the payment certificate up to the payment to the
contractor. I should emphasise here that this was achieved for projects
belonging to the department of public works.
The department successfully rolled out the new inventory management system
to regional and district offices during the previous financial year. The only
outstanding offices, Ditsobotla and Ganyesa are due to the lack of Telkom
infrastructure. This system is intended to ensure effective and efficient
control on the inventories of the department.
6. Property and asset management
The department continues to carry out its mandate to ensure optimal
utilisation of state properties as well as to ensure that unused properties are
disposed off as per the Land Administration Act of 2001.
For the financial year 2006/07, we sold of a total of 55 houses and netting
the province revenue amounting to R5 567 591,40. This brings the total number
of houses sold to date to 118 and the total revenue derived since the beginning
of this exercise to R13,1 million.
Furthermore, in a strive to ensure that the fixed asset base of the province
remains solid the department see to it that as part of optimum utilisation of
state owned properties alternative use is sought such as leasing to
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or devolution to local authorities.
6.2. The Provincial Immovable Asset Register
We remain conscious of our accountability as far as provincial immovable
assets are concerned. It is in light of this obligation that the department has
established an Interdepartmental Project Team with a view to update the system
through the use of information obtained from municipalities, the Deeds Office
and client departments in the case of new infrastructure.
The team embarked on an asset verification exercise and the allocation of
facility numbers. The total number of fixed assets captured on Property and
Real Estate Management Information System (PREMIS) rose from 4 300 to 5 145 as
a result of the exercise.
The department also undertook a valuation of residential properties across
the province in compliance with requirements of the PFMA as well as to ensure
that these properties are captured at the current market value
6. 3. Landscaping
The department invested in landscaping projects to enhance physical and
aesthetic environment of government building. The Garona East Landscaping
Project is at completion stage and this improvement will change the face of
Garona forever.
The next phase of the project will be extended to cover northeast portion
where landscaping and extension of the public parking area to the Legislature
will be done.
6.4. State house rental defaulters
While the department attempts to fully utilise all housing assets under it
is control by leasing them out to government employees and some private
tenants, it has emerged over the years however, that despite the reasonable
cost of rental and the homely atmosphere we have tried to create in doing so,
there is a lot of rental defaulters. To ensure optimum revenue collection from
these lease agreements, the department has embarked on a process of handing
over these defaulters for debt collection. The department simply cannot sustain
any further uneconomic utilization of these assets.
7. Buildings / capital projects
This function is the core function of the department. In the 2006/07, the
Departments of Health and Education were our main client departments in the
provision of public infrastructure.
7.1 Projects for the Department of Health
7.1.1 Hospital Revitalisation Programme
On the mandate of the Department of Health, the department is engaged in the
construction of the R200 million Moses Kotane Hospital and R190 million Vryburg
Hospital. Both projects are part of the Department of Health's Hospital
Revitalisation Programme.
Progress at the two hospitals is as follows:
7.1.1.1. Moses Kotane
Construction of Staff housing was completed in April this year at the 200
bed Moses Kotane Hospital. The remaining phase, i.e. the construction of the
main hospital building is still on going and anticipated for completion by end
January 2008.
The construction of the main hospital building was delayed by onsite labour
dispute, which has since been resolved after intervention by the
department.
7.1.1.2. Vryburg Hospital
The staff housing building phase of the project at the 120-bed district
hospital is nearing completion though it is behind schedule due to the change
of scope that we have had to effect. According to the revised programme, this
phase is targeted for completion by the end of June 2007.
The construction of the main hospital building is on going and anticipated
for completion by July 2008.The delay to this phase is as a result of late
information from the civil structural engineers to the contractor. This is
unfortunate and unacceptable. The department has intervened to ensure
commitment from all parties to avoid further unnecessary delays to the project.
The situation is being closely monitored.
7.1.2. Health building programme
This programme consists of 52 projects
We have completed Boitekong Health Centre, Disaneng Nursing Home and seven
clinics under the clinic building programme namely Setlagole, Vrischgewacht,
Colridge, Mothotlung, Swartdam, Austrey and Bona-Bona clinics.
Setlagole Clinic was officially handed over to my colleague, the MEC for
Health for official opening on the 12 September 2006. Dates for the handover of
six other clinic have been finalised with the Department of Health.
We are currently engaged in the construction of Mmabatho Nursing College,
and Itsoseng Health Centre. We expect to complete both projects in this
financial year because Itsoseng Health Centre is ahead of schedule.
Extensions to Bloemhof, Christiana, Ganyesa, Potchefstroom and old
Swartruggens hospitals are under construction and are to be completed in the
2007/08 financial year.
Due to financial constraints, the client department has directed that we put
the following Projects on hold:
* Klerksdorp Nursing College
* Brits and Jubilee Hospital
* Klipgat, Madikwe, Tlapeng, Mmamutla, Derby, Bakubung, Kgakala, Segametsi,
Blydeville clinics
7.2. School building programme
The poem "The Harvest" written in 500 BC by an anonymous Chinese poet
highlights the importance of educating the people. It asserts:
"If you are thinking a year ahead, sow seed.
If you are thinking ten years ahead, plant a tree.
If you are thinking one hundred years ahead, educate the people.
By sowing seed once, you will harvest once.
By planting a tree, you will harvest tenfold.
By educating the people, you will harvest one hundredfold."
During the past financial year, we contributed towards the provision of this
important service through our involvement in 19 school building projects on
behalf of the Department of Education. Our involvement contributed towards the
reduction of inherited classroom backlog, the eradication of the "learner
under-trees phenomenon" and the platooning system.
In making a difference, we completed 12 schools of the 13 schools that had a
combined contract value of R82,1 million that constituted the 2005/06 School
Building projects. Due to non-performance, the contractor for Thea Morafe
Primary School was ultimately terminated and a new contractor was appointed.
Since the appointment of the new contractor, the Project is on schedule and
progressing well. Thus far three blocks of classrooms have been roofed and we
expect the project to be completed by end of August this year
The six schools under the 2006/07 School Building Programme are still under
construction. The five months delayed payments from the client department has
adversely affected performance of contractors engaged in the projects. Despite
this challenge, satisfactory progress has been registered at Rrapoo, Mocoseng
and Henryville Primary Schools and we expect to deliver these schools in the
next two months.
We have strengthened monitoring and supervision to ensure that Kamogelo
Primary School, Agisanang and Tswaing Secondary Schools are completed by
December 2007.
We are finalising planning and design for five schools. We will be going on
tender before the end of May for three schools as mandated by the department of
education for execution in the 2007/08.
7.3. Infrastructure projects for other client departments
7.3.1. Secure Care centres for the Department of Social Development
Madame Speaker, allow me to quote from the statement of our astute leader in
the liberation struggle, African National Congress (ANC) President Oliver
Reginald Tambo at the opening of the Harare Conference in 1987: "We cannot be
true liberators unless the liberation we will achieve guarantees all children
the right to life, health, happiness, and free development, respecting the
individuality, the inclinations and capabilities of each child. Our liberation
will be untrue to itself if it did not among its first tasks, attend to the
welfare of the millions of children whose lives have been stunted and turned
into a terrible misery by the violence of the apartheid system."
In pursuit of government's programme to provide residential care facilities
for youth in conflict with the law; the department has in executing the mandate
of the Department of Social Development completed the construction of
"integrated one stop centres" in Matlosana and Mafikeng. Jobs were created
during the construction of both centres.
The R20,9 million Matlosana Secure Centre was handed over for official
opening on the 26 April 2007 .We are engaged in consultation with my colleague,
the MEC for Department of Social Development to finalise the date for the
handover of Mafikeng Secure Centre.
We have appointed the contractor for the construction of the third secure
care centre in Rustenburg. I am happy to report that work on site commenced as
from 12 September 2006 and progress to date is impressive. We expect the 12
months project to be completed on time as brickwork on the project is already
at roof level.
7.3.2 Traditional Council offices for the Office of the Premier
Madame Speaker, as Ben Okri asserted in the poem quoted earlier, we are all
richly linked in hope, woven in history, like a mountain rope. Traditional
leadership occupied the foremost trenches in the struggle against colonial
invasion, which sought to subjugate the African way of life and destroy our
culture, customs and traditions.
Historically, the values and characters of the institutions of traditional
leadership were informed by the courage, humility and dignity of Cetswayo,
Sekhukhuni, Moiloa, Montshioa, Mankuroane, Manotshe, Galeshewe and may other
heroic leaders of our people who fought long and bitter wars in defence of the
land of their birth.
The support that government continues to give to traditional leaders and
their institutions, reaffirm our belief that they have an important role to
play in the context of our developmental state. That like a mountain rope, the
history of our people is woven and that together we can ascend to a new height.
Through the provision of infrastructure to traditional councils, the ANC
government is renewing the pledge to traditional leaders for a national
partnership for a better life for all.
We were mandated by the Office of the Premier to construct traditional
council offices for Batlhako Ba Matutu in Mabeeskraal and Bataung Ba Ga Hlalele
in Maboloka in the 2005/06 financial year.
The Offices for Batlhako Ba Matutu was completed in February 2006, i.e. two
months ahead of schedule. The handover of Bataung Ba Ga Hlalele offices is
delayed by payment dispute between the main contractor and Community Based
small medium micro enterprises (SMME's) and outstanding finishing touches.
In the 2006/07 financial year, we were further mandated to construct
traditional offices for Baphiring Ba Mabalane in Mabaalstad, Bakwena Ba
Ramokoka in Ramokokastad, Batlhaping Ba Mankuroane in Taung and Baphuthing Ba
Nawa in Lebotloane. We have appointed contractors and work at all four offices
has commenced in earnest.
The expected dates for completion of traditional offices building projects
are as follows:
* Baphiring Ba Mabaalstad and Baphuting Ba Nawa Traditional offices end October
2007.
* Bakwena Ba Ramokoka and Batlhaping Ba Mankuroane end January 2008
7.3.3. Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
As mandated by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, we have appointed
a contractor for the construction of the R62,6 million Mmabatho Library,
Archives and Museum Project near the entrance of the University of North West
University Mmabatho Campus. Construction commenced in July 2006.
7.4. Capital expenditure (Capex) projects for Department of Public Works
The R70,6 million creation of workspace Project at the Garona Provincial
Office Building is progressing well though the movement of personnel in order
to open up workspace for the contractor to work on is still a challenge.
To alleviate inconvenience to staff at the Garona Building, the department
has provided movable offices as temporary alternative offices to maintain
excellent service delivery. The expected date of completion for the project is
end July 2007.
The Project for the construction of R124,6 million Bophirima Regional
Government Offices in Vryburg is progressing well. The type of soil on site
delayed progress as the foundation required ± 22 million deep piles. The
expected date of completion for the project is end July 2008.
The construction of the R54,3 million New Public Works Head Office Building
is at its finishing stages.
7.4.1. Major Renovation projects
We executed 27 Major Renovation projects to the value of R38,5 million in
the 2006/07 financial year. Under this programme, we completed the following
projects:
* Ga-Rona Office Building
* Lowe Waterproofing
* Mmabatho Convention Centre Waterproofing
* Revamping of Ga-Rona Air conditioners
* Geo-Science Building
* Old Parliament Building, Phase One
* Mafikeng Airport Sprinkler System
* Mafikeng Airport Fire Detection System
* Mafikeng Airport Foam Flooding System
7.4.2. Minor renovations
We made a difference by renovating 40 schools to the contract value of R30
million for the Department of Education. All projects were delivered on time,
on budget and to an impressive quality standard.
We received recognition for our effort in the 2006 Premier's Public Sector
Excellence Award when the programme was awarded the Silver Award for the Best
Managed Programme. We are encouraged by this recognition to ascend to new
height in the delivery of services to our client departments.
8. Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB)
The 1999 White Paper titled "Creating an enabling environment for
reconstruction, growth and development in the South African Construction
Industry". Led to the promulgation of the Construction Industry Development
Board Act of 2000 .The regulations of the Act provides for regulation of,
strategic leadership to, and promotion of efficiencies within the construction
industry.
As a department, we support the CIDB initiatives and we are constantly
taking cognisance of best practices to improve service delivery, not only to
our client departments, but also to the construction industry that includes
developed, as well as developing Contractors and Professional Consultants in
the built environment.
The CIDB developed "toolkit" is one of the services that Infrastructure
related departments can benefit from. To promote developing contractors and
streamline the total procurement process, the CIDB liaises with all
stakeholders of the industry looking for solutions to identified problems. The
department in partnership with the CIDB hosted the first provincial stakeholder
forum on the 30 April 2007 in Rustenburg.
9. National Construction Week
In partnership with professionals in the construction and built environment
sector, the department participated in the National Construction Week 27 July
to 3 August 2006.The objective of the nation-wide awareness campaign targeted
at Grade 10 Maths and Science learners was to promote the image and profile of
the construction sector, so as to give learners the opportunity to experience a
wide range of exciting opportunities available in today's built environment and
construction sector.
The Provincial Programme for the Awareness Campaign was launched during the
hand over of the R9,5 million Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa Comprehensive High
School at Slovoville in Winterveldt on the 27 July 2006. The campaign targeted
learners from Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa Comprehensive High School in Bojanala
Region, Seleje Secondary School in Central Region, Arefadimeheng in the
Southern Region, Reabetswe and Pule Leeuw in Bophirima Region
The success of the provincial campaign was largely through the support of
the Department of Education and participation of Council for the Built
Environment, Africon Engineers, EHK Architects, GT Chaane Quantity Surveyors,
Barsch Consultants and National Entrepreneurial Partnership Consulting
Engineers.
10. Provincial Expanded Public Works Programme achievements
Madame Speaker, EPWP was launched in 2004 with an aim to create employment
and provide training by encouraging labour intensive practices in the
construction, repair and maintenance of public infrastructure such as roads,
bridges and buildings.
Since the launch of the programme we have managed to train and create
employment for many of our people who in the past lacked skill and were thus
excluded from participation in the economy.
At provincial level, 21 000 job opportunities were created through the EPWP
since its launch. The province invested R701 million on 417 projects in the
social and infrastructure sectors (total budgetary value of R962 million),
including R86,2 million in wages paid.
In the last financial 7 791 job opportunities were created through EPWP of
which 55% were women, 45% were youth and 1,2% were people with disabilities.
The social sector created 4 044 job opportunities, of which 2 694 jobs went to
women and 1 255 jobs went to youth. Seventy eight job opportunities went to the
people with disabilities.
The infrastructure sector created 3 736 job opportunities, of which 1 294
jobs went to women. This sector created 15 jobs opportunities for people with
disabilities.
We call on the economic sector and the environment and culture sector to
priorities EPWP.
10.1. Expanded Public Works Programme Business Plan / Framework
We have commissioned a Private Service Provider to compile a Provincial
Business Plan for the Expanded Public Works Programme. This Business Plan will
serve as an EPWP blue print for the province with regards to EPWP
implementation. This was necessitated by the fact that the North West province
is not meeting its EPWP commitments as required by the national government.
10.2 Expanded Public Works Programme technical support to municipalities
In support of the Local Government Five Year Strategic Plan and to increase
the number of EPWP projects in the province in order to create over 30 000 job
opportunities over the next three years, the department in partnership with the
National Department of Public Works will participate in a technical team
deployed to support municipalities in the planning and implementation of EPWP
projects.
The mandate of the technical team is to assist municipalities with
identification of suitable EPWP projects, setting of EPWP targets, contract
design, documentation and management, procurement processes, extraction of
project training needs, creation of enabling conditions; wage rates; ensure
where applicable that contractors get trained, reporting, project evaluation,
mainstreaming EPWP into municipal policies and procedures and advise on
alternative models for large projects and contractors.
The intervention is meant to improve and supplement the capacity of the
Merafong Local Municipality, Moses Kotane Local Municipality, The City of
Matlosana Local Municipality, Madibeng Local Municipality, Central District
Municipality and Bophirima District Municipality.
The selection of these municipalities was based to huge Municipal
Infrastructure Grants they have received. It is expected that this support will
result in accelerated jobs creation through EPWP so that the province meets its
EPWP targets as determined by national government.
10.3. Departmental contributions towards job creation
Through Expanded Public Works Project
As a contribution towards the fight against unemployment and poverty the
department created 535 job opportunities through the 19 EPWP projects that we
executed during the 2006/07 financial year. Three hundred and fifty eight of
these job opportunities, i.e. 66,9% went to youth, while two 222, i.e. 41,5%
went to women. Males benefited the most as 313 job opportunities went to them,
i.e. 58,5%.
10.4. Training on Expanded Public Works Project
Our contribution towards the skills revolution resulted in the training of
667 EPWP beneficiaries who were involved in the Modimola, Modimong projects and
the 19 projects. They received technical skills in bricklaying, carpentry,
plumbing, plastering, painting, tiling, electrical construction and,
landscaping, welding, paving and occupational health and safety.
The training included a Life Skills programme on career guidance, HIV and
AIDS Life Skills and Personal Financial Planning and Management. All
beneficiaries received accredited certificates at graduation functions that
were hosted by the regions.
10.5. Modimola Expanded Public Works Projects
The eyes of the people of Modimola who have lived with poverty's rage have
seen the glory of the awakening age through the Expanded Public Works
Programme. The R25 million integrated EPWP Pilot Project was awarded the Best
Managed Project in the 2005 Premier's Public Sector Excellence Awards also
received national recognition. In February this year, the project was awarded
the Star Award Certificate at the 2006/07 Annual National Impumelelo Innovation
Awards in recognition of its exceptional contribution to poverty reduction and
community development.
The Project has thus far created 600 job opportunities to previously
unemployed villagers. Through the project, 17 graduate learner contractors and
30 graduate learner farmers; twenty 22 of who were women were produced.
The second phase of the Project comprised of 17 projects implemented by
graduate learnership contractors and involved:
* three route patrol contracts, valued at R350 000 in total covering the 220
kilometer between Mafikeng and Taung
* six road repair and maintenance projects covering a distance of 71 kilometres
between Mafikeng and Setlagole valued at R450 000 each
* five projects in Modimola village and Madibe Makgabana for the construction
of 11,5 kilometres of roads in the two villages
* various bridge construction projects
* reservoir construction and farming infrastructure projects, the latter
covering 15 hectares of land (0,5 hectares per learner farmer)
The implementation phase of the Modimola EPWP pilot project was completed in
July 2006.The project's success can be attributed to continuous mentoring and
support of the graduate learnership contractors who were operating in an area
new to them.
The expansion of the project has afforded opportunity for further
development in the area, additional job opportunities for the unemployed,
practical experience and empowerment of the graduate learner contractors.
As an exit strategy for the graduate learnership contractors, five of them
are currently engaged in the construction of a five kilometre new gravel road
between Modimola Village and Masutlhe one village using labour intensive
methods. Six others successfully completed the first phase of the Lotlamoreng
Dam Development Initiative and the construction of additional farm
infrastructure for the successful Modimola Farming Enterprice run by the 30
graduate farmers. Five graduate learnership contractors are engaged in the road
construction project in Modimong and the construction of community Halls in
Modimong and Cokonyane Villages in Taung.
10.6. Modimong Expanded Public Works Projects
The Modimong EPWP Project launched on the February 2006 is part of the Taung
Development Programme, which is one of the North West's Five Special High
Impact Programme that contributes towards Accelerated and Shared Growth
Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA).
The 6,8 kilometres road upgrading and surfacing project between Khibicwane
and Cokonyane village has created 250 job opportunities for previously
unemployed villagers.
The rural economy has also received a boost as 12 local tractor owners earn
an average of R10 000 per month though their involvement in the Project.
The construction of community halls and kgotlas for the traditional councils
in Modimong and Cokonyane in Modimong has also created additional training and
job opportunities for the locals.
The household food security project for 100 nominated households is up and
running .The beneficiaries have received seedlings, garden tools, fertiliser
for their vegetable gardens and each household has received 20 chickens,
chicken feed and medicine. Training and support to beneficiaries is provided by
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment.
11. Infrastructure Delivery Improvement Programme (IDIP)
The department has actively participated in the rollout of the
"Infrastructure Delivery Improvement Programme" (IDIP) since June 2006 when
Provincial Treasury started engaging the department and the Department of
Education. We have established the required IDIP Operations and Steering
committees and are anxious to have the first interdepartmental meeting of these
meetings with the Department of Education. Once this has taken place the
required roles and responsibilities, Service Delivery Agreements,
infrastructure planning and delivery will take place due to good co-operation
and best practice principles provided by the IDIP process.
The Department of Health has recently been included in the IDIP process and
over the past two months both our departments were joined as a team for the
"Assessment and Design" Workshops over a two week period as well as a very
successful Appraisal Workshop that took place over 3 days towards the end of
April 2007.
The success of the IDIP initiative relies on the us and our client
departments not only working close together as a team for all infrastructure
delivery and maintenance, but also on the understanding and implementation of
the Construction Industry Development Board's (CIDB) "toolkit". I made the
effort to be guided through the content of the toolkit by means of a page
through process for a couple of hours. I can assure you that although it may
not be an easy task to implement the full content of the toolkit, but once it
is mastered and fully operational throughout the Province, we will see the
positive effects that it has brought about.
My department has committed itself to support and work closely with the
Provincial Treasury, the Office of the Premier and all client departments to
ensure the success of the IDIP roll out and the implementation of the CIDB
toolkit as best practice within the North West province.
12. Challenges and plans to address them
We will endeavour to continue to improve on revenue management more
especially on the reconciliation of property rental income between the Walker
Financial System and the Persal System. The maximisation of revenue income will
forever be one of our top priorities.
The department will continue to perform a risk assessment, risk
identification and internal control procedures to strengthen its control
environment. This will assist in the prevention of unauthorised, irregular,
fruitless expenditure and losses emanating from criminal conduct. The
implementation of the Risk Management Strategy will start during 2007/08
financial year. We are busy looking into the creation of the Risk Management
Unit to oversee the implementation of the strategy.
The department has experienced a challenge at two of its Regional Offices
(i.e. Southern and Bophirima Regional offices). The challenge was as a result
of the two mentioned site connectivity speed to transversal services accessed
from Mmabatho.
The department in consultation with Finance Central Information Technology
have resolved to put a fibre link that will link Southern Regional Office
direct to the backbone in Agriculture building and this will clear all
connectivity problems experienced at the site and also this is a future proof
investment since it is a once-off permanent solution to our problem. Regarding
the Bophirima Region we will apply for a data line upgrade from Telkom through
Finance Central Information Technology.
The Ditsobotla District Office could not be cabled in the past financial
year due to absence of Telkom infrastructure in the vicinity of its location.
The Office together with the new Provincial Head Office building and the new
Bophirima Regional Government Office under construction are targeted for
cabling and connectivity in this financial year.
Though women and people with disabilities are prioritised through the
recruitment process, attracting candidates to meet our Employment Equity
targets for representivity still remains a challenge. We have engaged the
Provincial Chapter of Disabled People South Africa and the Office on the Status
of People with Disabilities in the Office of the Premier for assistance.
Although we solicited the assistance of the Provincial Chapter of Disabled
People South Africa, recruitment of people with disabilities still poses a
challenge for us as a department as we only managed to recruit two people with
disabilities i.e. 0,37%; in the 19 projects that we executed in the last
financial year.
We intend strengthening our partnership and with the Office on Disabled
Persons in the Office of the Premier, municipalities, faith-based
organisations, traditional leaders, Community based organisations and
non-government organisations to improve on the participation of people with
disabilities.
Inability to recruit and retain built environment professionals due to
demand and scarcity of such professionals still remain a challenge for the
department.
The department further intends to improve the landscaping at both the Lowe
as well as the Embassy Complex. It is expected that both these projects will be
completed by the end to the financial year 2007/08.
Arising out of dialogues with youth and women in construction held in June
and August 2006, respectively the department is to strengthen its contractor
development programme with particular emphasis on youth and women.
13. Projects and interventions for 2007/08
We expect to complete 17 clinics during the 2007/08 financial year.
In addition to these clinics, we are in the planning stages for Bethanie,
Reagile, Letsopa, Lesego, Hebron Clinics Ventersdorp Hospital Bulk Pharmacy and
Delarayville Hospital Bulk Pharmacy. We will be going on tender, award
contracts and commence with construction of these projects during the current
financial year.
We will also be implementing three school building projects namely Bray
Secondary School, Lykso Secondary School and Tlapeng Primary School in the
Bophirima Region for the Department of Education.
We expect to complete the following Major Renovation projects by the end of
this month:
* Taung Mechanical Workshop
* Mothibistadt District Office
* Gasegonyana Traffic Office
* Mmabatho Civic Centre
* Lehurutshe Governor's Office
* Regional Offices of the Transport Roads and Community Safety in Southern
Region
* Ramosa Riekert Office Building
The R1,5 million Itsoseng Handicraft Centre Renovation Project by the end
July 2007.
We also expect the following Major Renovation projects to be completed by
the end of this financial year:
* Gaabomotho Office Building in the Central Region
* first phase of Mmabatho Convention Centre in the Central Region
* Barnard Social Security Office in the Southern Region
* Mothibistadt mechanical workshop in the Bophirima Region.
We have awarded tenders for Rustenburg Culture Centre and offices of the
Department of Transport, Roads and Community in Brits and expect contractors to
be on site by the end of this month.
Next month we will be going on tender for the following projects:
* Bojanala Public Works Regional Office Low tension sub-station
* Water Reticulation and Civil Works at the Bojanala Public Works Regional
Office
* Potchefstroom Agriculture Administration Office
* Ramosa Riekert Phase Two Civil Wor.ks
This august house would recall that last year we alluded to the challenge of
slow registration of contractors with the CIDB. We are pleased to report that
we have seen an improvement in relation to registration by contractors with the
CIDB. The increase in the number of contractor registration has largely been at
grade one level.
We have noted with concern that at grade eight and nine there are no
contractors who are based in the North West.
In order to contribute to the resolution of complaint of slow processing of
registration and grading of contractors, the department would be working with
CIDB to assist with upgrading of deserving contractors. One of our major
responsibilities in this regard would be to ensure that information in relation
to projects recently completed by contractors and the value thereof is swiftly
made available to the CIDB. To realise this objective, we have offered CIDB
accommodation in our regional office in order to make their service
accessible.
In partnership with the Department of Education and the Provincial Chapter
of the South African Association of Consulting Engineers, we are planning
Regional Construction and Built Environment seminars during the National
Construction Week. We hope to expand the Construction Awareness Campaign to
reach as many Grade 10 Maths and Science learners throughout the province as
possible.
A construction summit will be organised during the current financial year.
The objective of the summit is to bring together stakeholders involved in
construction and built environment to reflect on the challenges the sector
faces and on how we take advantage of the upsurge in the infrastructure. Youth,
Women and people with disabilities will be the core target groups.
13.1. Implementation of Expanded Public Works Project and National Youth
Service (NYS) projects
As we ascend to new height, we have identified 28 EPWPs for implementation
in the 2007/08 financial year. These projects will be implemented in compliance
to EPWP guidelines for the implementation of infrastructure projects.
In his State of the Nation Address delivered on the 9 February 2007,
President Thabo Mbeki announced the National Youth Service Programme.
Provincially the programme was launched by the Premier, Mme Edna Molewa on 25
March 2007 in Mothotlung.
As a department we have committed to engage 500 youth for participation in
the programme and have set aside 10 projects for implementation of the National
Youth Service programme through maintenance and renovation of public
infrastructure. These projects will be implemented in partnership with Youth
Commission, Umsobomvu and the Department of Labour.
We intend launching the NYS in Building Maintenance and infrastructure
sector during August 2007. We are confident that our target will be met and
that the Implementation of these projects will contribute towards job creation,
improved provision and maintenance of public infrastructure.
All these EPWP projects should create over 800 job opportunities, which is
an increase of more than 60% from the 2006/07 financial year.
As announced by the Premier in her State of the Province Address, Tosca has
been identified as the next village for a massive EPWP intervention. Working
with the social development cluster and the economic development cluster, the
department will be identifying and scoping various projects that will be
implemented in Tosca.
We are working towards establishing a partnership with Bophirima District
Municipality and Molopo Local Municipality. Consistent with the Premier's
announcement, the 2007/08 financial year will be used as the planning and
budgeting year. We therefore would like to call upon all our clusters and
relevant municipalities to join us in the pledge for a partnership for better
life for the people of Tosca. This should include making the necessary budget
allocations during the Medium term expenditure framework bidding for the
2008/09.
14. Capacity building for implementation of IDIP
Through the IDIP programme, National Treasury has availed resources for us
to recruit three professionals in the discipline of quantity surveying, civil
and structural engineering and architecture for a period of 18 months. This
will assist us to ascend to a new height in the delivery of infrastructure
projects.
The department will continue with its drive to strengthen its capacity,
particularly in relation to recruitment of scarce professionals in the built
environment. This will be intended to strategically position the department to
be able to fulfil its obligations to client departments as part of IDIP.
15. Budget allocation per programme
This department has been allocated a total overall budget of R473,133
million for this financial year. There is a reduction of R18,355 million due to
demarcation.
Amounts to be voted per programme
The following amounts per programme and sub-programme are requested
Programme one: Administration - R74,666 million
This programme is made up of the Office of the MEC, Office of the Head of
the Department, Programme Support and Corporate Support. Its primary role is to
provide administrative leadership, corporate governance and support to the
department. It ensures the implementation of government and departmental
policies.
Office of the MEC - R4,412 million
Office of the Head of Department - R2,133 million
Programme Support - R4,64million
Corporate Support - R63,481 million
Programme two: Public Works - R382,048 million
This programme is made up of Programme Support Office, Other Infrastructure
and Property Management. The mandate of the Programme is to provide
professional and technical services to the department and client departments.
It is also responsible for the provision of office and residential
accommodation to client departments and senior government officials. This
includes the maintenance of existing building infrastructure through day-to-day
maintenance, preventative maintenance and major renovations. It should not
escape us that while it is important to build new facilities and
infrastructure, it is perhaps more important to maintain, preserve and conserve
what we already have. It is more expensive to lose and replace something than
to retain and maintain it.
Programme Support: R8,453 million
Other infrastructure: R322,049 million
Property Management: R53,409 million
Programme three: Community based programmes - R14,556 million
The programme is about community empowerment, which revolves around job
creation, support for SMME development, and human development through skills
transfer, redressing uneven development and monitoring and evaluation to ensure
at most impact assessment. It also acts as leader and the coordinator of all
Provincial EPWP programs it is also responsible for reporting and motoring.
Programme Support Office - R2,802 million
Training programmes - R3,492 million
Empowerment Impact Assessment - R1,180 million
Poverty Eradication/Community Development - R5,902 million
Emerging Contractor Development - R1,180 million
My appreciation goes to the Honourable Premier, colleagues in the Executive
Council, honourable members of the Legislature and in particular to the
Chairperson and members of the Public Works Portfolio for encouragement and
support.
To the Head of Department, Mr Obakeng Mongale, members of the executive
management, senior managers and employees of the department and staff on my
office, I wish to convey my appreciation for your determination to the
implementation of the People's Contract.
I wish to thank my wife Linda Nowethu and my three children for being
support, patience and unconditional love.
Pretoria Portland Cement, Africon, Maxima Global, ABSA, Mr T Group of
companies, NoordWes Kooperasie (NWK), Small Enterprise Development Agency
(SEDA), National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (NAFCOC), South African
Women in Construction (SAWIC), National Black Contractors and Allied Trades
(NABCAT) and construction and built environment professionals mentioned earlier
had confidence in us to make a difference and demonstrated this by supporting
our programmes. We trust that as we ascend to a new height they would sustain
their involvement with us.
EPWP, Contractor Development and NYS offer the business sector and in
particular the banking sector opportunity for involvement. We call on the
sectors to seize the opportunity and to be part of the partnership for a better
life for all.
We count on the continued partnership of our traditional leaders, client
departments, municipalities, EPWP Provincial Steering Committee NAFCOC, Members
of the North West Construction Liaison Committee, Youth Commission, Taletso
College, construction industry and built environment professionals and
contractors, to take service delivery to a new height.
The hopes of our people are on all of us to bring the harvest of the
People's Contract. We dare not fail them.
As we ascend to a new height, we renew our pledge for a national partnership
for a better life for all.
Ke a leboga.
Issued by: Department of Public Works, North West Provincial
Government
10 May 2007
