Eastern Cape Premier says government is united in ensuring that all municipalities work to meet service delivery priorities of the people of the province including praising well performing municipalities while dealing decisively with under performing municipalities.
Concluding here address officially opening the 2013 session of the House of Traditional Leaders in Bhisho today, Premier Kiviet dismissed as a red-hearing reports of differences between members of the Executive Council on the handling of poorly performing municipalities.
She said the Eastern Cape continues to move from strength to strength in improving people’s lives.
She cited the improvement in the following areas:
- The transformation of tribal authorities into Traditional Councils with 52% of its 1 444 members being women – a step she described as trend setting for government and private sector;
- Electricity supply which moved from 38% in 2009 to 72% of the Eastern Cape’s 1.6 million households and a further investment of R10 billion for improving energy security in the eastern regions of the province over the next seven years by Eskom; and
- The building and renovations of offices for 16 traditional councils with four due for construction in the 2013/14 financial year including Amandela in Bizana, Lindinxiwa in Willowvale, Ngqusi in Centane and Amagqunukwebe in Middledrift, as well as advanced reconvations of the Jolingilizwe College for off-springs of traditional leaders on which government invested R25 million;
The Premier also commended the role of traditional leaders in the struggle for freedom as embodies by the Presidents of the ANC that were Chiefs – Chief Albert Luthuli and Nkosi Dalibhunga Mandela, and their role in development initiatives of government today.
She welcomes the 12% (ads reported by the ECSECC report) reduction of poverty in the Eastern Cape since the advent of democracy but decried the fact that 57% of the people are still living below the poverty datum line in the province. She called on traditional leaders to assist in advancing the development of the people and their access to services and urged those traditional leaders still bent on self-enrichment at all costs to change their ways.
The official opening of the House of Traditional Leaders was graced by the presence of many dignitaries which included two Kings, almost the full complement of the Executive Council, the Speaker of the Provincial Legislature and senior government officials.
The Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders – Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima expressed support for the Premier’s message and her appeal for the Chiefs to be exemplary in their conduct and play a leading role in ensuring safer communities and the development of the people.
