Chairperson of the NCOP
Honourable Members of Parliament
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We live in times where development is the dominant currency in global affairs. However, development as the concept takes various shades and hues of colour depending on one’s perspective in terms of the colour spectrum of the highly contested development discourse. As a result the world is stereotypically defined and divided along the narrow lines of the developed (First World) and the underdeveloped (Third World) nations of the world. This has bred unabated greed, plunder and tension amongst the nations of the world. The tension and uneasy relations between the two dichotomous world views find manifest in many fronts – trade and economic relations and politics and international relations amongst others.
South Africa was never and is still not spared of the vices that result from such relations. But our situation is exacerbated by the historical patterns of socially engineered development which are still visible to date. In our country the differences in development patterns are accentuated by the glaring imbalances found in locations which are in close proximity. The case in point is the appalling contradictions between Alexandra and Sandton, Khayelitsha and Durbanville as well as Mangaung and Bloemfontein suburbs.
In the main, these patterns were punctuated by the decades of relentlessly-pursued racial policies by the apartheid government. In this context, one racial group enjoyed benefits of huge investments in infrastructure and development projects while the other groups’ growth and development was systematically and deliberately arrested. In the poor communities of the apartheid-created settlements families were forced to rely on paraffin and candles for energy and light; more than twenty (20) households had to share one tap for water supply; and more had to suffer the indignity of using the bucket toilets.
Juxtaposing the situation of Kwa-Langa and Cape Flats with the affluent communities of Clifton in Cape Town; one gets the sense of the extent to which white capital and apartheid bankrolled the development of white communities. Unfortunately, the dire consequences of the system and itslopsided approach to development will still be felt long after this generation has gone.
However, hope has been brought to the lives of many people in this country. In a short period of time, the sixteen (16) years of democratic rule to be precise, South Africa has witnessed unparalleled levels of change. More and more of our people regardless of colour or creed are benefiting from our housing policies, social safety net, and access to clean water, electricity as well as sanitation.
We are mindful of the challenges that lie ahead. We know that many of our people are still living in abject poverty. The number of the unemployed is high. But we are made strong and determined by the fact that many of our people are behind our efforts to address these matters. Our view is that any development should be people centred and people driven at all levels. This ensures that people participate and influence the course of development in their communities. However, we are aware that our intentions have, in some instances, been hijacked to benefit a clique who has no interest in broader community development issue.
In order for development to be accelerated we need to intensify the intergovernmental relations. This requires proper coordination amongst the spheres of government. It is through effective coordination that duplication and poor resource management can be avoided. The sharing of human resource to strengthen weak areas of development work should be encouraged. For instance, the national government may have a strong core of financial managers who can make a difference in the work of the provincial or local government.
In reality, our people are not impressed by explanations of how the spheres of government work. Instead they become impatient because what they want to hear and see is development in their doorstep. They are clear that it should be development that enhances their quality of life.
In essence, we need to join forces and work as team for the benefit of our people. But government alone will not achieve the entire goals set if a strong compact is not forged with civil society and private capital. In fact, we must marshal all our forces towards the noble goal of setting our nation free from the shackles of underdevelopment, poverty and unemployment. So cooperation, support and unity of purpose should become a driving force in all our work.
Thank you.
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
