The Department of Local Government and Housing welcomes the broad thrust of President Zuma's Address to Parliament yesterday. The speech is seen by the department as being positive and forward looking about the socio-economic challenges facing South Africa in tough global and domestic economic circumstances.
The President's address has struck the right balance between continuity and change in policy. The emphasis on strengthening public sector delivery is particularly essential. Department of Local Government and Housing supports the concept of accountability through performance instruments, established targets and output measures and looks forward to scrutinising detailed project plans.
The department also supports the collective efforts to expedite infrastructural spending and to revitalise the education, health and criminal justice systems.
These measures are an important ingredient for promoting investor confidence and enhancing South Africa's global competitiveness. Particularly welcome is President Zuma's commitment to assist small business and to reduce the costs of doing business in South Africa in order to encourage an enterprise driven economy. In general the department would like to see greater use of public private partnerships building on those already planned in the healthcare sector.
We endorse the need to fast track those elements in the framework response document to the international economic crisis such as local procurement which still have to be implemented. These measures will help to both boost business confidence and minimise job losses. The priority now is to ensure that the South African economy is successfully positioned to take advantage of the business cycle when it turns and to attract the investment it needs for growth and development. Overall we believe that partnership and social dialogue are essential factors in building a truly inclusive economy and society in South Africa.
Issued by: Department of Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government
4 June 2009
Source: Department of Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.housing.gpg.gov.za/)
