17 May 2007
Educators and learners at Mjabuliseni High School at eSikhawini near
Empangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast danced with jubilation and
excitement when KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele together with Education
MEC Ina Cronje paid a surprise visit to the school today (17 May 2007).
Located in the heart of an informal settlement, the school is currently
undergoing an upgrading programme at a cost of more than R5 million and is
expected to be completed during the current financial year (2007/08).
The upgrade includes additional classrooms, a computer laboratory, science
laboratory and library. The school was started during 2005 and prefab buildings
were brought in during 2006. The R5 million upgrade commenced during April this
year.
However, Premier Ndebele was not impressed that the learners did not as yet
have proper water and sanitation facilities and instructed the contractor as
well as officials from the Education Department to ensure that the toilets and
water facilities were completed before the end of June 2007. The Premier
promised that he will return to the school to ensure that this was done. The
Premier also announced that the road to the school and sports field will be
also be upgraded.
To thunderous applause from the learners, the Premier also handed two
netball and soccer kits to the school and encouraged them to take an active
part in sport.
Premier Ndebele together with members of his executive council were in the
Uthungulu District over the past two days. Today they were at the Mahunu Sports
Grounds in Empangeni as part of the Premier's Imbizo Programme intended to
strengthen service delivery. More than ten thousand people were at the
Imbizo.
Premier Ndebele said that since 2004 there has been considerable progress in
KwaZulu-Natal. "This is a different KwaZulu-Natal now. Years ago the only issue
that was discussed at peoples' forums such as these was violence and peace.
Today it is development, development and development.
"The entire provincial government executive council has been in the
Uthungulu District over the past two days for the sole purpose of accelerating
development. It is for this reason that we have called upon all public
servants' in the province to be responsive and caring. We are about
accelerating development."
"We have certain service delivery deadlines in KwaZulu-Natal. Every
household in KwaZulu-Natal must have water within 200 metres by 2010. This is
indeed a realisable dream and we have the capacity. By 2010 KwaZulu-Natal must
be 85% electrified. By 2012, KwaZulu-Natal will not be in darkness. In order to
achieve our service delivery targets our Further Education and Training
Colleges are accelerating the training of plumbers, electricians, brick layers
and other basic skills. Illiteracy in the province must be eradicated by
2010.
"Through these Imbizos we realise that ordinary people are so informed of
government programmes and this is so encouraging. Although South Africa has
only been free for the past 13 year, we are dealing with very informed
communities in South Africa and particularly in KwaZulu-Natal," Ndebele
said.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Spokesperson to Premier Ndebele
Cell: 083 6444 050
E-mail: maistryl@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
17 May 2007
Source: SAPA
