The Eastern Cape Province has a legacy of endemic rural poverty hence rural development, land, agrarian reform and food security are a priority in a bid to improve the quality of life of people leaving in rural areas, Premier Noxolo Kiviet said during her state of province address.
The provincial vision would guided by a Rural Development Strategy that would be taken for consultation with relevant stakeholder before its finalisation at the end of June this year.
The strategy seeks to “unleash” the socio-economic development potential of the province by decisively address the historical neglect of rural area and reverse the legacy of inequitable access to basic services as well reversing the spatial imbalance which has “continued to dog our economy,” Kiviet explained.
She said the strategy would improve the co-ordination and integration of service delivery across (all spheres of) government and forester sustainable partnership
However, the Premier hinted that there would be a rationalisation of rural development entities in a single provincial rural development entity and this is going to receive urgent attention from government.
She said the current anti-poverty initiatives will be integrated into both the Industrial and Rural Development Strategies.
Kiviet added that the province is going to benefit from sustainable focus on the development of rural infrastructure and the development of income generating capacity for rural areas.
To reach this goal, a Provincial Rural Development Fund will be launched soon and Mhlontlo local municipality has chosen as a pilot site for the integrated approach of rural development where all sectors of government will converge.
The provincial will pay particular attention to ensuring long term sustainability of food security by intensifying the implementation of the Siyazondla Homestead Gardens Programme, which has been successful according to research and studies.
Furthermore all spheres of government will strive for the protection of the rights of farm workers and dwellers.
The provincial will engage the Land Claims Commission to finalise all land claims to remove impediments to investment, the challenges of land administration of communal land will be addresses and a clear regulatory framework for effective land use and management will be development.
Details of the implementation of these initiatives would be unpacked by the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Mbulelo Sogoni during his policy speech on 18 June and members of the media are invited to grace both the media briefing and the delivery of the speech.
For more information contact:
Thozi Manyisana
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 073 263 3754
Yvonne Matsheketwa
Cell: 078 218 7370
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
12 June 2009
