Opening remarks at the Presidential launch of Operation Phakisa focusing on the Ideal Clinic
His Excellency, The President of the Republic of South Africa, Honourable President Jacob Zuma,
Programme Director, Deputy Minister Buti Manamela,
Minister Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation,
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health; Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Fellow Premier Mahumapelo and MECs of Health from provinces,
Executive Mayor of the host Capital City and other Executive Mayors,
Business Leaders,
Members of the Diplomatic corps,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
It is a distinct honour and privilege to be given this opportunity to welcome you to the launch of Operation Phakisa’s Ideal Clinic Realisation and Maintenance.
Programme Director, today marks another milestone following the successful launch of the first phase of Operation Phakisa in KwaZulu-Natal province which focused on unlocking the potential of the Ocean Economy.
Your Excellency, Operation Phakisa and other game changing interventions and catalytic projects being rolled out throughout our country constitute a collective programmatic response to the call for radical social and economic transformation made you, Mr President, during your Inauguration on 24 May 2014:
“Today marks the beginning of the second phase of our transition from apartheid to a national democratic society. This second phase will involve the implementation of radical socio-economic transformation policies and programmes over the next five years. We have already placed before the nation, the National Development Plan, our roadmap which outlines the type of society we envisage by the year 2030. Through this programme, we will move South Africa forward to a prosperity and success”.
Throughout our entire system of government, we are all trying to give practical effect to the NDP. In response to your call for a radical shift, we are doing things differently through a combination of measures that will enhance responsiveness and effective service delivery. Rapid response to the needs of the people is becoming the hallmark of the fifth administration.
Throughout the provinces and municipalities, we are responding to your call to “go back to the basics”. We are prioritising infrastructure development as the critical driver of our country’s industrialization and re-industrialization programme.
We are working hard and smart to improve the performance of our education and healthcare systems through social mobilisation of communities and partnerships with the private sector. Government alone cannot and will not succeed in bringing about radical and sustainable socioeconomic transformation.
As we focus our work on the Ideal Clinic today, we do so fully conscious that the National Health Insurance as one of the game changers that will meaning to radical socio-economic transformation. At the centre of the NHI will be a strong primary healthcare which is the backbone of our public healthcare system.
As the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi always insists, we need to ensure that the basics of our public healthcare system - improving the quality of care through better financial management, good infrastructure, skilled and qualified human resources and proper supply chain processes that guarantees the adequate supply of medicines and relevant equipment. We are committed to getting these basics right.
Mr President, I would to conclude with a conjecture that the performance of the state shall never be the same after the advent of Operation Phakisa.
Operation Phakisa is a defining moment with regard to the capacity of the developmental state to implement its radical programmes and transformative policies. Our healthcare system shall not be the same.
Here comes Operation Phakisa. A Re Phakiseng! Let us all move South Africa forward with greater speed and unwavering determination.
Siyanamkela! Le amogetswe ka gae! You are welcome!
I thank you!
