Honourable speaker
Honourable deputy speaker
Members of the executive council
Chief Whip of the ruling party
Chairperson of the house of traditional leaders
Chairperson of portfolio committees
Honourable members of the house
We are only two days away from the 26 June the day on which the Freedom charter was adopted at the Congress of the People in Kliptown. The founding of this historic blue print by our people in 1955 was a watershed moment in the history of this country. It served not only as the crystallisation of decades of struggles, but also raised enough consciousness for thousands of activists in the townships, villages and factory floors. In a way, the adoption of the freedom charter represented the greatest convergence of diverse views and
ideas from all walks of our country, and became the pinnacle of united political expression to this day. Coming shortly after the Defiance Campaign of 1952, it was a unique and imaginative response which raised hopes about the prospects of a free, democratic society at a time when there was never a slightest dream
that this was possible. Today, we can all say with certainty that the freedom charter is a people's expression of their collective experience and wisdom. It correctly represents our past, our present,as well as the future.
Honourable speaker
Let us not forget that even before the freedom charter was drawn, the African National Congress had already developed as early as 1943, the African Claims document. The African claims pamphlet was the very first document of its kind which laid the foundation for the Bill of Rights we now have in our Constitution.
It decried the fact that Africans were oppressed by the white minority government, despite the fact that they remained the majority in their own country. In one of its opening lines, the document articulates
what we all knew, that:
“Africans had no freedom of movement, no freedom of choice of
employment, no right of choice of residence and no right of freedom
to purchase land or fixed property from anyone and anywhere. Under
the guise of segregation, they were subjected to serious educational,
political and economic disabilities and discriminations which are the
chief causes of their apparent slow progress.”
Whilst the African claims document succeeded in highlighting the circumstances under which the oppressed found themselves in the freedom charter went beyond this and articulated the vision for post apartheid South Africa. It gave greater content and meaning to “freedom and democracy” as we know them today. It contains in one of its paragraphs a clause which entitles our people to have the right to share in the wealth of the country, including in the wealth that lies beneath the soil. It also attached a greater significance to the concept of non-sexism and non-racialism at a time when Africans had every reason to reject their white compatriots. Building on the proud traditions of the African claims and the Charter of 1955, the ANC government developed in 1996 a democratic Constitution whose values are based on the aspirations of all the people of our country.
Today, we are no longer just theorising about the Freedom charter, or the African claims we have begun to implement its vision. Our debates are not about whether the charter is realisable or not, but how to speed up the delivery of the many priorities which the charter says we must implement. The things which the African claims document highlighted only as challenges in 1943 have found their way in our Bill of Rights and have become the programme of action of
this government. We are living the dreams of the charter and have fulfilled many of its objectives. Even though we are yet to meet some of its key demands, the important thing to never forget is that we are a free people and our destiny lies in our hands.
As Nelson Mandela reminds us:
“There is no such thing as part freedom for to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Honourable speaker
The Constitution of South Africa requires the Office of the Premier to support the Premier and the Executive Council of the province in:
* implementation of provincial legislation
* implementation of mandated national legislation
* development and implementation of provincial policy
* coordination of functions of the Limpopo provincial administration and departments, and
* preparation and initiation of provincial legislation as required by
chapter six of the Constitution
In setting out to carry this constitutional provision, the Office shall support and implement the electoral mandate of the ruling party as informed by the values and vision of the Freedom charter. In line with this political and constitutional imperative, we are committed to use all our energies towards the bettering of education, health, the fight against crime, provision of decent work opportunities, and the development of rural communities. We are also committed to ensuring that our provincial priorities which are linked to the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) are implemented as we indicated in the State of the Province Address.
Honourable speaker
As we have already indicated, we are in the process of reviewing the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) to respond to the new priorities of government. Within this context, the Office of the Premier will continue to provide appropriate strategic leadership and offer a dynamic, functionally organised and systematically integrated environmental framework which is conducive for good governance and sound economic growth and development.
There shall continue to be collaboration with departments for capacity building and monitoring compliance while the departments in turn consult the Office of the Premier for leadership and guidance. This shall be executed through the implementation of three programmes which are divided into Administration (Programme one), Institutional development (Programme two) and Policy development of government (Programme three).
Programme one: Administration
The programme on the administration of government is entrusted with the responsibility of providing administrative support to the Premier, Executive Council, and the Director-General in fulfilling their executive oversight function and in promoting good corporate governance. The Provincial Internal Audit and Financial Management units are there to ensure efficient financial management and compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). Other sub-programmes that belong to the programme on administration include Financial
Management, Internal Strategic Human Resources, and Departmental Information Communication Technology units.
Honourable speaker
In light of the recurring challenge of staff turn over in the Internal Audit unit, the Office has increased the number of interns and will be replacing the learnership programme to ensure that we continue to improve on the quality of our risk and control functions to departments. This measure will go a long way in ensuring that there is quality control in our audit system as we strive towards achieving level four of the Auditor-General’s Financial Capability Model in some departments.
The Office also identified a learnership on Public Sector Accounting in order to address the skills shortage within the Financial Management Sub-Branch. Public Sector Accounting Learnership (NQF Level 5) has been identified as appropriate intervention to address the skills gap in the Human Resources Development Strategy and in the Sector Skills Plan of Public Services Sectoral Education and Training Authority (PSETA).
Honourable speaker
We take pride from the recent audit outcome from the Auditor-General which considered our financial statements to be unqualified.
This is a sign of improvement from the audit we received in the previous financial year which was qualified mainly as a result of queries emanating from the asset management system. We have now corrected this anomaly by designing and implementing the excel database system that ensures accountability and compliance to asset management principles. However, the house must note that we still have a challenge of inadequate office space which needs to be addressed. Several options are currently being considered in conjunction with the Department of Public Works and the Provincial Treasury as part of measures to deal with this challenge.
Honourable speaker
In line with our mandate to fight corruption and fraud, the Office of the Premier will strengthen its arm by ensuring that the Limpopo Anti-Corruption Forum is revitalised. The advocating of effective management and safekeeping of tangible and information assets through the enterprise wide risk management framework will be reinforced.
Honourable speaker
Programme two: Institutional development
The Office of the Premier’s Institutional Development Programme has been established to support the MTSF priority on the building of a developmental state and improvement of public services. One of the critical functions of this programme is to ensure that the provincial administration has the capacity to deliver on its mandate.
This will be done through the delivery of sub–programmes such as:
Strategic Human Resource, Information and Communication Technology, Legal Services and Communication Services.
The following are the strategic objectives of Institutional development:
* provision of effective and efficient human resource management
* management of service delivery improvement programmes
* coordination of the implementation of the Provincial HRD strategy
* provision of sound and effective records management
* provision of effective and efficient Labour Relations in the
provincial government
* implementation of the provincial e-government strategy
* ensure enabling ICT environment for service delivery in the
provincial administration
* provide Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure
* ensure effective and efficient legal services to the provincial government
* provide strategic marketing and communication services
Honourable speaker
The institutional development programme will further ensure that developmental communication becomes the centre piece of our efforts to improve interaction with stakeholders of government and members of the public.
Through such programmes as EXCO Outreach programmes, Thusong Service Centres (TSC), we will ensure that our people play a direct role in the policy formulation, advocacy and development of government. Before the end of this year we would have gone to all districts throughout the province to create a platform for our people to make an input into the implementation of the development plan that we have announced during the State of the Province Address. As measure of improving interaction with our community and all institutions of government, we have gone a long way in establishing a multi media communication model. This system will allow leadership to pass on information to the people and to view government activities in all institutions of government, be it hospitals, Thusong Service Centres (TSC), traditional authorities and schools.
The system will also be used as a training facility for public servants, like the running workshops, and also provide a unique platform for our people to interact with government directly. We are also in the process of revitalising the brand positioning of the province. The idea is to ensure that Limpopo becomes a destination of choice for many in the context of 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup games and beyond.
We will further reconstitute the inter-departmental brand committee led by the Office of the Premier to lead the process of re-branding and the repositioning of the provincial government.
In the context of corporate governance we are also in the process of reviewing our entire communication system in order to ensure that there is synergy and integration in communicating policies and programmes of all spheres of government. This we believe will go a long way towards improving the management of the flow of information between government and its stakeholders, both internally and externally.
The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Communicators conference of 2006 resolved to establish a local government communication system. To date 65% of our municipalities have established fully fledged communication systems
and we have since directed that those remaining should do like wise before the end of this financial year. This we believe will go a long way towards improving the communication flow between communities and municipalities which shall boost accountability at that sphere of government.
Community media has become one of the platforms for communicating government messages. The social dynamics of the country and our province in particular necessitates that we communicate, not just in English, but also through other official languages which our people understand. We have begun interactions
with community media with an objective of ensuring that this important lever of communication grows and becomes sustainable.
The objective is to build capacity for community media and to ensure that it becomes sustainable in the long run.
Honourable speaker
In our efforts to eradicate poverty and create decent jobs, we have embarked on a number of pro-poor ICT priority development programmes. These initiatives will address some of the major challenges facing our society including high unemployment, poverty, deepening inequality, and rural marginalisation.
In collaboration with the Finnish government we will continue to expand ICT to all the corners of our province. A three year technical and financial assistance agreement amounting to four million Euros (€4.077 million) has been entered into with the government of Finland under the auspices of the Presidential National Commission for Information Society and Development.
The Limpopo and the Northern Cape provinces have been designated by the Presidential National Commission on Information Society and Development as early adopters of information society in the country. Of the allocated budget, an amount of R23 million has been allocated as a co-funding towards pursuing projects arising from the pursuit of the development of the provincial information society strategy, such as the Limpopo Living Lab, the Limpopo ICT Institute and the I-community.
In a partnership between the Office of the Premier and the Department of Science and Technology, an integrated innovation strategy that is geared towards rural development will further be developed during the course of this financial year.
Socio-economic models will be developed in an effort to determine the economic impact of a shared broadband open access wide area network infrastructure for Limpopo to pave the way for potential partnerships with the private sector for the construction of the network.
So far, the I-community programme has established partnerships with National Treasury’s Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant (NDPG) Programme and Greater Tzaneen Municipality.
The Office of the Premier provided 26 new digital doorways in rural areas in partnership with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Science and Technology and was able to conceptualise world class shared broadband open access network and technology model. The province succeeded in supporting the development of the strategic information systems in eight departments, five parastatals and eleven municipalities.
Honourable speaker
As part of measures to build a better Africa and a better world, the province will continue to implement programmes that support the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The intention is to improve governance on African continent in partnership with civil society. We are delighted that the province has already re-constituted the Provincial Governing Council led by Members of the Executive
Council and representatives of civil society. It is our fervent hope that the team will work well to unravel the best practices amongst African states and contribute to the finding of appropriate solutions.
Honourable speaker
The province remains committed to promote access to government services by facilitating establishment of Thusong Service Centres where integrated government services will be provided. So far, 21 Thusong Service Centres are operational in 15 local municipalities and this number will increase to 23 centres in 18 local municipalities during the 2009/10 financial year. These centres will continue to assist in ensuring that rural communities are able to access diverse government services.
Honourable speaker
The province has met a target of 2% of employing people with disabilities at the Senior Management Service (SMS) level, and will ensure that the percentage is maintained in all the departments and institutions. We intend to coordinate the implementation of the Job Access Strategy targeting employment of people with disabilities at various levels in government in order to ensure that all departments and institutions comply.
We are pleased that some departments have managed to comply with special programme plan of empowering the special sector. 3 737 tenders were awarded this year to the value of R1.3 billion. Of this number, 1 380 tenders with a value of R689 million (35.09 %) with the value of R 690 million were awarded to women. 73 (1.9 %) tenders were awarded to the disability sector to the value of R7.3 million (5.6%).
The Office of the Premier will continue to monitor the departments to ensure that they maintain a target of awarding 50% of the provincial bids to women and 5% to people with disability. This intervention will ensure economic empowerment of the sector and also contribute towards creating jobs within this sector.
As we said during the State of the Province Address, we will ensure that all departments comply with employment equity targets of 50% females and 2% for people with disability and senior management level.
Honourable speaker
In view of the huge legal bills/fees charged by the private practitioners, such as Advocates/Counsels defending the provincial administration in the high courts inclusive of the labour courts, we have joined the national sphere of government in utilising the services of In-House Counsels/Advocates who are handling civil matters. This will save or minimise costs because Attorneys appointed as correspondents in the District Courts will be reduced because State
Attorneys will henceforth be operating from the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane.
Honourable speaker
As we have said in the State of the Province Address, the Youth Commission Act will be repealed to give way to the National Youth Development Agency. The Executive Council will initiate this process in the next few weeks and months. Once again, we wish to thank the outgoing commissioners for the service they rendered to the youth of our province in the last five years. We have got no doubt that the National Youth Development Agency will carry on from where
Umsobomvu and the Youth Commission left off, continuing to make a difference in the livelihoods of our young people. As part of youth month celebrations for this year, we have set a target for the National Youth Service recruits to 1500. We intend improving this number to 2500 recruits by 2011.
Honourable speaker
Programme three: Policy and governance
The programme on policy and governance has the responsibility to monitor and coordinate policy implementation and governance. It initiates the development and implementation of policies and strategies to achieve an integrated approach towards sustainable provincial growth and development. It ensures that there is integrated planning and implementation of these plans amongst the three spheres of government. The programme also facilitates the implementation of special programmes within the different sectors and promote healthy environment to implement Traditional affairs.
There is an advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) in the Office of the Premier which provides geographic information to sector departments.
This programme has the following sub-programmes which are: Special Programmes, Intergovernmental Relations, Provincial Policy Management, Traditional Affairs, and Premier Priority Programmes.
The strategic objectives of the programme on policy and governance
are as follows:
* to ensure integration
* to ensure effective international and intergovernmental relations
* to ensure implementation of provincial policy management
* to ensure Integrated and coordinated development planning between the three spheres of government
* provision of a basis for decision making and improvements on service delivery
* traditional institutions development aligned with prescripts and,
* the co-ordination of the implementation of the Community Development Programme in line with the national Community Development Workers (CDW) framework.
As we said in the State of the Province Address, planning will play a cardinal role when it comes to government expenditure and implementation. Like we have said in the State of the Province Address, we shall not tolerate rollovers simply because officials have failed to plan.
The transitional task team that we talked about during the State of the Province Address has been established and we believe it will ensure that there is better alignment and integration between the national sphere of government and provincial departments.
Honourable speaker
The lessons we have learned on the War Room on poverty in Ga-Kgatla village in the Blouberg Municipality and National pilot project on comprehensive and Integrated Rural Development in Muyexe village in Greater Giyani Municipality have provided us with a good foundation to roll out rural development to our communities.
Development is about the people with the people and it may not be imposed.
We will ensure that government resources are properly synergised and coordinated to ensure that the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme is implemented by affected organs of state and state owned enterprises.
Honourable speaker
Community Development Workers will continue to update the profiles of households in all the 513 wards in the province. This will ensure that targeted interventions are made with regard to areas that relate to access to basic services and poverty eradication. So far, 47 335 cases were identified through liaison work and addressed during the previous financial year. They dealt with cases that ranged from access to basic services such as social security, to identity and birth documents.
Honourable speaker
Traditional leadership will continue to occupy a strategic place in our system of governance. As part of measures to support the institution of traditional leadership to carry out its constitutional mandate, an annual plan of training will be rolled out this financial year with the support of Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA). The training programme will equip traditional leaders with skills to implement legislation and policies that affect their institution.
We have already filled 706 of the 915 posts in one 183 traditional councils. This means that we are currently left with 209 vacant posts which still have to be filled.
An annual construction and refurbishment plan of the offices of traditional leaders has been developed and will be implemented.
During this financial year we will also be transforming traditional councils in line with the prescript of the law. For 2009/10 financial year, we also plan to implement the following ICT projects:
* procure and supply printers to 50 traditional councils
* cable and connect the five traditional council offices to the network of the Office
* provide 3G connectivity to the network of 20 traditional councils
* migrate the server environment to Open Source (Linux Operating system)
Lastly, honourable speaker, it is befitting that our country is hosting
the 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup on this month of June when we celebrate youth month. This gesture of goodwill serves to pay homage to the countless young heroes and heroines who devoted their lives and service to the cause of our nation. In equal breath, we congratulate our national team Bafana Bafana for having progressed to the semi-finals of the Confederation cup and wish them well.
The kick off to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South AfricaTM has begun in earnest. As a province we will be counted amongst the places that shall be the host to the biggest festival on earth. We have in the past four years, together with our host city, Polokwane, worked tirelessly to prepare for this event. The biggest achievement has been in putting infrastructure to support our hosting the world cup. The new Peter Mokaba sports complex is towards completion and we hope to have it ready by October this year. This would give us ample time to test it before the first match is played there on 13 June 2010. We have also worked tirelessly to make our roads usable and safer for all during the games. Water, electricity and sanitation infrastructure have also been readied for this event. We don’t doubt the level of readiness at this point.
Our biggest asset is our people and our immediate environment. This is the area that from now onwards we shall focus on; to get all our people excited about this event, to get our people to go to the stadium, fan parks and public viewing areas. Our preparations are geared towards attracting local and international visitors to watch the game.
This is one of the opportunities to sell the province to the rest of the world. It is time to create ambassadors and attract long term investment in our economy. The hospitality and warmth that we have in abundance should be shared with the visitors who would have come to our province. We offer the best hospitality that connects well with our natural environment that speaks volume about us. Let’s work towards making sure that of the anticipated 350 000 visitors who are expected to come, a large portion of this should not leave without having reached Limpopo.
They should connect here in Polokwane with the warm springs of Waterberg and Tshipise, enjoy the heritage of Mapungubwe, share in the wonders of the big tree, connect with nature at Kruger National Park, visit the tropical paradise of Tzaneen, enjoy the everlasting two seasons of Phalaborwa and Musina, and sleep peacefully at the valley of Loskop. This is what the world cup should do to us:
Increase the awareness about our ability to host as well as the hospitality that Limpopo offers. The countdown has begun and each day will mark our readiness to shine.
Honourable speaker
It is now my privilege and honour to place before this House the 2009/10 budget vote of the Office of the Premier for appropriation
I thank you.
Source: Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government (http://www.limpopo.gov.za)
