Co-ordinating Forum
9 October 2007
The KwaZulu-Natal Premier's Co-ordinating Forum (PCF) chaired by
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele and attended by Members of the
KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council, provincial Metropolitan and District Mayors as
well as senior government officials took place at the Premier's Office in
Pietermaritzburg today, 9 October 2007.
The electrification of KwaZulu-Natal was the main topic for discussion at
today's meeting with a presentation by the national Minister of Minerals and
Energy, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, as well as officials from the Electricity
Distribution Industry (EDI) Holdings on the current electricity distribution
industry restructuring.
Delivering the opening address, Premier Ndebele said that since 2004 there
has been significant progress in KwaZulu-Natal. This year (2007) alone the
province is witnessing an unprecedented commitment to infrastructure spending
including:
* R2,2 billion on the construction of the new soccer stadium in
Durban;
* Approximately R6 billion on the construction of the new international airport
and trade port at La Mercy
* R350 million on the P700 corridor from Richards Bay to Ulundi
* R300 million on the P577 corridor from Mtubatuba to Hlabisa and Nongoma
"The province has also moved into top gear in preparation for the 2010
Soccer World Cup. We recently hosted the 1 000 Days Celebration. We will be
hosting our 2010 Indaba on 7 and 8 November. The Preliminary Draw for the 2010
Soccer World Cup will be hosted in Durban on 25 November. The South Africa
Trade and Investment Conference will also be held later this month in
Durban.
"It is such matters that are set to change the destiny of our province and
require us to meet as the PCF. It requires us as distinct and interdependent
spheres of government to meet, to discuss and to co-ordinate. This co-operative
partnership is what the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act enjoins us to
do.
"The PCF is a mechanism whereby we as government can assess whether this
government is making an impact on the lives of the people of KwaZulu-Natal and
contributing towards a 'better life for all.' "In line with the national
Cabinet Lekgotla of July this year where 24 Apex priorities were adopted, the
provincial Executive Council adopted a similar 'Business Unusual' approach at
its last Executive Council Indaba held last month (September 2007). In line
with this 'Business Unusual' approach, the following critical objectives were
set by the Executive Council:
* all households to have access to basic water by 2008
* all households to have access to basic sanitation by 2010
* all households to have access to basic electricity by 2012.
"We are informed of the State of the Nation and the State of the Province
Address but until the Village takes off, the country and province cannot move
forward. It is only when we have successfully mobilised communities and
families that we will make substantial progress. In this regard, we will
facilitate the State of the Village Dialogue," said the Premier.
The Premier also urged municipalities in the province to have a re-look at
the high electricity tariffs they charge to schools. Minister Sonjica said that
the main purpose of her attendance at the PCF was for consultation on the EDI
restructuring process and to communicate Cabinet's decision regarding
regulation of the Electricity Distribution Industry.
"There are approximately 2 000 electricity tariffs in our country. As a
result, our people who are living in rural areas are paying more for
electricity and it is precisely this that we want to correct. We are also
establishing new companies (Regional Electricity Distributors or REDs) to take
over the electricity function from municipalities. I am here to explain to the
municipalities what will be happening and also to assure them that they will
not loose revenue in the process. Electricity maintenance backlogs currently
estimated at R7 billion will also be rationalised as quickly as possible. I
also want to commend KwaZulu-Natal, under the leadership of Premier Ndebele,
for the willingness that they have shown to be part of this process," said
Minister Sonjica.
The meeting was informed that six new wall-to-wall REDs will be established
in South Africa and the RED in KwaZulu-Natal is expected to be up and running
by the latter part of 2008. The Director-General from the Department of Public
Service and Administration, Professor Richard Levin, also made a presentation
on the Single Public Service to be implemented throughout South Africa
soon.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs,
Mike Mabuyakhulu, also presented a proposal on the Framework Protocol Agreement
which outlines the synergistic partnership between municipalities and
traditional leaders.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Premier's Spokesperson
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Cell: 083 6444 050
Email: maistryl@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
9 October 2007
Source: SAPA
