Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury Policy Speech by MEC Sakhumzi Somyo
Honourable Speaker,
Deputy Speaker,
Honourable Premier,
Honourable Members,
Our Esteemed Traditional Leaders and,
Distinguished guests.
Ndiyabhotisa
Honourable Speaker, a few weeks ago I presented the Provincial Budget, today I will outline the work that will be done by the Provincial Treasury in the 2014/15 financial year to contribute towards the achievement of government priorities. I will do so being mindful of the fact that we meet here two days before our nation commemorates Human Rights Day. Our revered statesman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate the late Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela once described the 21st of March, as:
“A day which captures the essence of the struggle for the South African people and the soul of our non-racial democracy.”
Over the past 20 years, our government made phenomenal progress in addressing the basic or first generation human rights that relate to civil and political rights as enshrined in our constitution. What remains is to ensure the attainment of socio-economic and cultural rights for our people that manifest themselves in the form of poverty, unemployment and high levels of inequality. The level of inequalities that still exists in our country should be addressed as a matter of urgency.
