Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet says the deals and announcements of major development programme made during the State of the Province Address are set to change the socio-economic landscape of the province for decades to come.
Replying to a parliamentary debate of her State of the Province Address in Bhisho today, premier Kiviet said government had identified a basket of programmes and projects to be implemented across the Eastern Cape to improve people's lives.
She said: "2012 is the year for heighten execution of programmes and projects some of which were outlined by the President, myself and confirmed with the allocation of budget by the Minister of Finance. They will assist in building the necessary infrastructure and the requisite human capital to turn around the province of the Eastern Cape fundamentally."
On Friday, Premier Kiviet announced R103 billion that was committed to a number of major infrastructure development projects and the creation of projected 140 000 jobs in the Eastern Cape.
Dismissing the oppositions comparative analysis of the Eastern Cape with the Western Cape, the Premier said: "whether you like or not you can never compare EC and Western Cape as you would be comparing apples with pineapples. For instance, this province has had racially and homeland based departments of education, each with a different culture of doing things."
"She said consolidating these numerous education departments into one entity was a toll order which resulted in the Auditor General not able to give any audit opinion for over five years because of the extent of chaos in financial statements."
She said: "the Executive Council of the Eastern Cape is resolute to deal with challenges facing the department of education and strongly believes the turn-around plan currently being implemented in collaboration with the National Department of Basic Education will deliver the desired results. We will not stand on top of mountains to shout about these issues as that would not help us."
On concerns raised about environmental issues, the Premier bragged about the Eastern Cape that breeds and exports rhinos to all other provinces.
"Attempts to kill our rhinos have thus far been squashed as we have the lowest rate of rhino attacks in the country. She said this is evidence of how seriously the Eastern Cape government takes nature conservation. On challenges facing municipalities in the province, the premier said, eleven municipalities were identified for special interventions which began to bring the desired results. She said successes of the intervention will be used as benchmarks for further development of needy municipalities across the province."
Premier Kiviet delivered her State of the Province Address on Friday, 17 February 2012 and convened a stakeholder engagement session on Monday to solicit their buy-in to efforts aimed at improving people's lives.
The provincial budget speech is scheduled for 6 March 2012 and will be followed by policy speeches of all provincial departments will be delivered between 13 – 15 March 2012.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
