Honourable Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr Mninwa Mahlangu
Honourable Premier of the Free State, Mr Ace Magashule
Honourable Speaker and Members of the Provincial Executive
The Executive Mayor of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality; Councillor Mopeli
Mayor of Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality; Dr B E Mzangwa
Provincial Chairperson of South African Local Government Association (Salga); Honourable Councillors Mr J Ramokhoase
Honourable Advocate M Mopeli, Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders and esteemed traditional leaders among us
Esteemed Councillors
Ladies and gentlemen
Dumelang! Molweni!
Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to the people of Maluti A Phofung Local Municipality, Thabo Mofutsanyane Municipal District as well as the people of the Free State province as a whole for the warm welcome you have extended to us.
I am particularly pleased that the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has decided to hold this important meeting in this region.
We are standing in the shadows of the majestic Maluti Mountains. In this region lies some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the whole of South Africa.
The Bushmen paintings present in some of the rocks here bear testimony to the creativity and ingenuity of our people.
The Free State province is also known for more than the beauty of its valleys and the majesty of its mountains. This province has borne witness to some of the major events in the history of our nation.
Almost a hundred years ago a few dozen black South Africans from all the corners of this land and beyond answered the call of freedom and came to this province to reaffirm a simple principle that this country belongs to all who live in it.
Therefore, whenever I come here I am always reminded of the historical fact that Africa’s oldest Liberation Movement, the ANC was born here.
This birth place of our movement the ANC, the movement that was established by all the people of this country. Also reminds us of our continuing responsibility to improve the lives of our people. A task for which this historical movement was established to achieve.
Like the parable of the mustard seed told by Jesus Christ, the seed of freedom planted in Bloemfontein in January 1912 has grown into the biggest tree of freedom that we all enjoy today, regardless of political affiliation, colour or creed.
Honourable members,
The NCOP has called us here today to reaffirm another fundamental principle that lies at the heart of our democratic republic.
That principle is that institutions of governance and authority should derive their legitimacy from the will of the people.
The essence of this principle is reflected in the wisdom of our people when they say “Morena ke Morena kabatho”.
This programme of taking Parliament to the people is a living example of public representatives who know that their power comes from the people.
That means that they should be in constant touch with the people; visit them where they live; and interact with them so that they can know what their concerns and aspirations are.
Interaction with the people will enable public representatives to better conduct oversight over government as it carries out its duties.
Honourable members,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are pleased to visit this region during this phase of the administration, when we have completed the planning and reconfiguration, and have shaped government in a manner that we think can make it best deliver services.
In the last year and a half we have taken important steps to change the way government works.
Firstly, at the beginning of this administration, we reorganised government departments in order to facilitate a speedy delivery of services to the people.
We created some new departments and split up others to enable them to focus on the priorities of government.
I have completed the process of signing performance agreements with ministers, who in turn have signed Delivery Agreements with their counterparts in provinces and municipalities.
The reason why we have taken this approach is to ensure that everybody, from the highest levels of government to the lowest, should be accountable for work they are responsible for. Last month we made changes to the national executive. We created four new deputy ministries in portfolios that we felt needed more pronounced attention, such as higher education and training, energy, mineral resources as well as monitoring and evaluation.
Having completed the technical reshaping of government, we now have to emphasise service delivery and also the manner in which those services are delivered.
We have said government should work with speed to address the needs of the people. We have said that government officials should treat citizens with respect.
We have said it should not take long to get an ID document when you apply for it.
Changing the way government works also means that public servants should not abuse the power that has been entrusted to them.
A grandmother does not have to bribe a government official in order to get her old-age pension. A young man who wants to get a driver’s licence does not have to pay somebody in order to get a driver’s test.
Those who are employed and get paid to do a job must do it. Teachers must be in class, on time, teaching for seven hours a day. Police officers should respond with speed when citizens call for them.
Nurses should treat patients with compassion that our common decency and humanity demand should be extended to the sick and the vulnerable.
These are simple values that we are seeking to entrench in government. Fortunately some government departments are responding fast to this new ethos.
But many still lag behind, making the experience of government for most people not to be a pleasant one.
Some people’s experience of government is that of an institution that is far removed from them. They think government officials do not care about their concerns.
They think government takes far too long to solve what are simple problems. They think government officials spend public resources on things they should not spend them on.
We have to change these perceptions through changing the way we work as government.
That is why I have ongoing discussions with Directors-General in the public service nationally and provincially so that they can ensure that they build the type of public service we envisage.
Honourable chairperson,
Most of the problems that confront our people exist at a local level.
The challenges that exist in this region mirror those experienced in many various parts of the country.
As we are all aware, the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality is under Section 139 intervention.
This means that provincial and national government departments are making interventions to alleviate the grave challenges faced by the people here.
Maluti-a-Phofung was also chosen as one of the Presidential Nodal Points because of the scale of the challenges and backlogs prevailing here, particularly unemployment and poor service delivery.
On this note, I commend the provincial leadership for the interventions made through the Premier’s Operation Hlasela Programme, which injected momentum to various projects.
We acknowledge the work of the local municipality here for developments which the mayor indicated this week, particularly regarding basic services such as potable water, sanitation, houses, access roads, clinics and sporting facilities.
I also understand that a significant number of jobs were created through the Expanded Public Works Programme and the incentive grant but these are not enough.
I also learnt among others that some agricultural projects related to the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme (ISRDP) here have faltered. These must receive attention and be revived.
In the same manner, considerable backlogs regarding human settlements in Maluti A Phofung should receive attention as well.
I would like to emphasise that all deserving people should receive these houses, particularly our senior citizens. Everybody who qualifies should get a house when these become available, not only ANC members as some residents have alleged.
We all know that we should not go against the grain of our constitution; it is not how government works. Social facilities and amenities which are not working should be made fully functional.
The challenges encountered in the schools regarding among others nutrition, water and clean facilities should also be addressed.
So should the necessary infrastructures such as roads and bridges to enable children to have access to schools even during the rainy weather.
Primary Health Care should be provided with all the infrastructure and communication. These include vehicles for mobile services, telephones as well as proper supply of medication and relevant health personnel.
As critical facilities, health centres should also enjoy reliable supply of electricity. Waste management services should also be improved. I am just counting what should be standard services in any municipality, the standards we should aspire to, for our people everywhere in the country.
It is clear that while a lot of work has been done by the province and municipalities, much more still needs to be done in this area, hence our theme: “All spheres of government working together to speed up the delivery of services”.
Concern was raised this week about the poor relationship between communities and some of the councilors in this area.
I must hasten to add that we need to be careful about blaming all councilors for any wrong that is done by just a few.
The majority of councilors and officials around the country work diligently. Where this is lacking, let the provincial authorities address the matter to improve service delivery.
Honourable chairperson,
The scale of some challenges experienced here is local, provincial and also national, which means intervention should be collaborative and should cut across those three tiers.
It has been raised that there is no proper collaboration of the three spheres of government in some of the projects implemented in this area. This must be attended to. We cannot under-estimate the need for collaboration amongst the three spheres of government. I emphasise that point whenever I meet the Premiers in the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) every quarter.
We are scheduled to meet again on 26 November as the PCC.
Honourable members,
Distinguished guests,
The NCOP represents the voice and interests of our people in provinces in the highest levels of our democratic republic. The fact that it also sits outside of Parliament in Cape Town is a very important and unique development.
Most of the issues that have come out this week have enabled members of the NCOP to obtain a first hand account of the challenges in this area and region.
When you discuss legislation relating to how poverty affects our people, you will do so informed by the conditions on the ground.
The lessons that we have learned here should be instructive for other areas both here in the Free State and in other parts of the country.
Therefore, as we meet today here in the Free State, we should make sure that the NCOP programme of taking Parliament to the people continues to form a critical part of what it means to be an elected representative.
It should not just be seen as a deviation from your normal schedule as MPs, as this is a valuable interaction that helps our members of parliament to keep in touch with the people they represent.
We truly appreciate being here with you, as we will be able to experience whether we are truly changing the way government works.
We thank you for your kind attention.
Releboha haholo baheso.
I thank you.
Source: The Presidency
