State of the Province Address delivered by Eastern Cape Premier Hon. Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane at the Provincial Legislature
Honourable Speaker
Judge President of the Eastern Cape Members of the Executive Council
Deputy Speaker and Members of the Provincial Legislature Members of Parliament, Ministers and Deputy Ministers Our Former Premiers
iiKumkani, iiKumkanikazi neeNkokheli zendlu yeeNkosi Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps Leadership of Salga and Mayors of our Municipalities
Leaders of Political Parties, Religious fraternity, Business, Civil Society and Labour
Director General, Heads of Departments, and all Government Officials Heads of Chapter Nine Institutions
Esteemed Guests
Abemi bePhondo bonke abasimamele emakhaya, koonomathotholo nakumakhasi onxibelelwano.
Good morning to you all, goeie morê almal, dumelang, mholweni ephondweni.
Somlomo, Malungu ale ndlu abekekileyo, nabantu bephondo lethu, namhlanje sidakanca intetho yobume bePhondo yokuqala yorhulumente wesixhenxe.
We gather in this house at a time when our country is still mourning the death of 14 soldiers who died serving in a peace keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Amongst them is the son of the Eastern Cape, Staff Sergeant William Cola. On behalf of the government and the people of our province, I wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved Cola family. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. May the soul of Staff Sergeant Cola rest in peace.
Honourable Speaker, this year marks significant events in the history of our struggle for freedom. It was 40 years ago, when the people of our province lost their lives in the Duncan Village and Langa Massacres at the hands of apartheid police. It was also 40 years ago, when our liberation struggle leader Joe Nzingo Gqabi, was assassinated in Zimbabwe, again by agents of the apartheid regime.
We are reminding the house about these tragic events, to highlight that we have not forgotten our people, who paid the ultimate price for the freedom and democracy we achieved in 1994. May their revolutionary souls continue to rest in peace.
Honourable Speaker, we are delivering our State of the Province Address, inspired by the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, a blueprint developed by the people of South Africa to build a common future.
We have made significant gains in the 30 years of our democratic dispensation, and momentum is on our side to continue moving the needle to improve the socio-economic fortunes of our province. Thus, we reaffirm that the Eastern Cape’s time to thrive is now.
Honourable Speaker, one of the profound statements of the Freedom Charter is that ‘The People Shall Govern’. In preparing for this State of the Province Address, we solicited the views of our people.
Phaya kumakhasi onxibelwelwano uLethu Benya uyawuncoma umsebenzi esiwenzayo. Aviwe Batayi, from the deaf community, implores government to broaden inclusivity by ensuring that persons with disabilities are appointed in government institutions. Other citizens of this province provide us with good advice on how we should take our province forward. Agricultural economist Mr. Wandile Sihlobo constantly reminds us about the potential of agriculture in our province. Business leaders such as the CEO of ISUZU, Mr. Billy Tom, continuously assures us that the business sector supports our vision of building a thriving Eastern Cape. Religious leaders such as Bishop Emeritus Mbethe offer us spiritual wisdom to serve the people of this province righteously.
Ngamafutshane, abantu beli phondo bathi masisebenzise le minyaka mihlanu basinike yona senze ngcono, nangokukhawuleza ukuze sibeke iphondo lethu emanqwanqweni aphezulu.
Our social partners shared the same sentiments during the 2023 Eastern Cape Development Convention.
Roadmap for the seventh administration
Through the Provincial Medium-Term Development Plan, we will accelerate the realization of the Provincial Development Plan goals by focusing on three interrelated strategic priorities, namely,
- Inclusive growth and job creation,
- Reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living,
- A capable, ethical, agile and developmental state
Inclusive growth and job creation
Honourable Members, in the past five years our province secured investments worth R200 billion. This is the baseline for us to get more investors to locate in our province in the next five years.
Having said that, the global economy remains gloomy, and the Eastern Cape is not immune from the structural and geo-political effects. The provincial economic growth currently stands at 2.1%, which is still below the set target of 2.8% in 2025.
Our initiatives to drive economic growth to the desired levels include, redirecting equitable share allocations to productive economic activities, prioritizing the frontiers of growth, namely: agriculture, manufacturing, oceans economy, digital economy and tourism.
Working together with our social partners, we grew the number of employed people in the Eastern Cape to one million four-hundred and fifty thousand in 2024. We aim to increase this number to 2,4 million by 2030.
We believe this is achievable because Quarter 4 Labour Force Survey results, indicate a significant decrease in the number of unemployed persons by 20 000 in our province. We are henceforth scaling up and repurposing public employment programmes to benefit over 600 000 people. A further 54 500 jobs will be created across various economic sectors.
Skills for the economy
To create more jobs, we need to develop the skills set of our people. We are fundamentally transforming the entire skills sector ecosystem by rolling out training programmes in partnership with various SETAs to benefit more than 37 000 young people in programmes such as Artisan Development, Emerging Contractors Development, Youth Brigades, Agricultural Entrepreneurship skills and Graduate incubation.
Furthermore, we are now introducing a uniquely Eastern Cape project, the Basic Education Employment initiative, which will benefit 28 000 unemployed youth throughout the province. For instance, we are going to place 180 young people living with disabilities, on an assistant chef programme to equip them with culinary skills. This is a caring government in action.
In responding to the burden caused by historical student debt, the Office of the Premier has partnered with MerSETA to allocate R70 million towards student debt clearance. We are calling on qualifying students to go to their institutions by the end of February 2025 to access this relief. Sanukubaleka uncedo bafundi.
Micro Small Medium Enterprise Development
The success of all economies is a thriving entrepreneurship sector. In the past five years the government has traded with the Eastern Cape based businesses to the value of R43.8 billion. This is the baseline for the next five years, and we aim to surpass this figure. This is economic transformation in action.
Honourable Speaker, except for the Department of Health, we are currently at an average of 17 days with respect to the payment of suppliers, consistent with our resolve to ensure that service providers are paid within 30 days. We acknowledge the recent financial challenges experienced by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure that affected the payment of service providers. We have attended to and found a resolution to this matter.
We welcome the announcement made by the President that national government will set up a Transformation Fund worth R20 billion to benefit black owned businesses. The Eastern Cape Development Corporation will assist Eastern Cape based businesses to tap into this fund.
We are continuing with the programme of funding youth entrepreneurs through government funding instruments. We are proud of Isiqalo Youth Fund beneficiaries who are growing their businesses in various parts of our province. KwaKuhle Group in East London, which operates in the hospitality industry won the Emerging Entreprenuer Award at the Border Kei Chamber of Business Awards last year. Mvolo Heights in Eliot which specialises in maize production has expanded its clientele and is exporting to Mozambique and Botswana.
Today, we want to inform the youth of our province that we are increasing Isiqalo Youth Fund to R168 million over the next three years to support more youth owned enterprises.
Growth Frontiers
Honourable Speaker, as we stated during the Opening of the 7th Legislature, we will grow and transform our economy through our five growth frontiers.
Agriculture
Agriculture remains our niche growth frontier to accelerate economic growth, employment and food security. During this term our focus will be on massive primary production, agro-processing, beneficiation and developing value added products.
We will increase the export of our locally produced high-value commodities such as citrus, deciduous fruits, red meat, livestock, animal fibre, hemp and cannabis to unlock thousands of jobs in our communities. We are currently supporting black-owned citrus and deciduous farms to increase their production and yields to 40 000 and 45 000 tons per season, respectively.
The province attracted Medigrow, as the first major investor in the cannabis sector. To date, 25 hemp small-scale holder farmers are participating in the commercial cultivation of hemp flower linked to Medigrow offtake.
The 100 farms and the 10 000 hectares of irrigated land will be optimized to ensure increased production of locally produced food through agro- processing and value addition. We want grain to be processed to samp, mealie meal and animal feed. We want poultry to be processed to eggs and meat. We want milk to be processed to dairy products and vegetable to be processed for fresh produce. All of this must happen inside our province to create jobs.
We are partnering with Infrastructure South Africa and the World Bank Group towards the development of 10 irrigation schemes covering 10 000 hectares in Amathole, Chris Hani and OR Tambo Districts.
The assenting of the Land Expropriation Act is a significant milestone in our country, which will ensure that land is used for our developmental needs. Title deeds were handed to the Enon and Besheba communities in Sarah Baartman for 8 000 hectares of land.
National Government also embarked on a process of transferring farms to the current lessees in a quest to issue title deeds to these historically disadvantaged farmers. To date, 33 farms have been approved for transfer encompassing 19 843 hectares.
Singurhulumente sizimisele ukusebenzisana nabantu ababuyekezwe umhlaba, ukuze sibancedise kudaleke amathuba emisebenzi.
The exciting news we are bringing to the people of our province today is that the national Department of Higher Education and Training has approved the establishment of the Vet School at the University of Fort Hare. The vet school will contribute to the improvement of livestock genetics, quality and disease control, making our products more competitive in the export market.
Manufacturing
Honourable Members, another growth frontier we are focusing on is manufacturing which is anchored on the automotive sector. In 2024 alone, we secured an investment worth R11.4 billion from a private investor who committed to establish 29 new off-grid electric vehicles charging stations in the next 5 years.
This will take our tally of electric vehicles charging stations in the Eastern Cape to 42 when we add the 13 government funded charging stations. To date, we have opened 6 charging stations in East London, Gqeberha, Komani, Libode, Port St Johns and Tsitsikama. Akukho mntu ozakuxakwa kukuqhuba imoto yakhe yombane kweli phondo lethu.
Another investment worth R4 billion, which will create 1 500 jobs in our province was secured by ELIDZ and AIDC-Eastern Cape last year from a Chinese company planning to manufacture electric mini-busses in our province.
For the auto sector after-market programme, government will allocate the necessary funds to support autobody repairers with cutting edge equipment in the main budget. We now have a clear plan designed to ensure sustainable empowerment of autobody repairers, which will also lead to improved service delivery through the government fleet.
This year, we are hosting the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers Show 2025 in Gqeberha. We call on all component suppliers to take advantage of this platform.
Ocean Economy
Honourable Speaker, the oceans economy growth frontier, with rigorous transformation, will open new sub-sector economic value chains and opportunities for our province. We wish to inform the people of our province that the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has begun the process of gazetting Hamburg and Mbizana Small Harbours. The Port St Johns Small Harbour has now been proclaimed as a fishing harbour.
Government has allocated an initial amount of R10 million to support small-scale fishers with infrastructure such as cages and fishing boats. Additionally, we have secured approximately R10 million PROBLUE funding, which will be used to identify value chains and market channels for seaweed, abalone and finfish farming. We intend to visit Greece and Italy with an intention to attract investors who can partner with us to unlock jobs in our ocean economy.
Digital Economy
Honourable Members, at the Opening of the 7th Legislature, we highlighted the digital economy as another growth frontier. We note that 65% of the Eastern Cape households have access to the internet coverage compared to the 25% in 1995. Working together with our partners we continue to enable internet connectivity. We do this through the provision of ICT infrastructure and e-government systems.
Government has made significant strides to connect internet to schools, public health facilities and libraries. We must collectively ensure that these sites are used for the benefit of our communities and are protected against vandalism.
We are expanding the province’s industrial development and innovation ecosystem through the East London IDZ Science and Technology Park. In the last five years the Science Park has trained over 983 beneficiaries in various skills including automotive manufacturing assembly, renewable energy, digital forensics, cloud computing, additive manufacturing and infopreunerships.
Tourism
Tourism is a growth frontier we have not fully optimized. We are addressing binding constraints such as roads and air transport infrastructure to boost our tourism sector.
We are happy to announce that the Airports Company South Africa will be spending an estimated R213 million in the next 3 years to improve access runway at the King Phalo Airport in East London. The Airports Company South Africa will also be spending R4.6 billion at the Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha for runway rehabilitation. Whilst we pursue this work, we will continue with our endeavours to operationalise the Bhisho Airport for international cargo transportation.
We are encouraged by the solid domestic tourism with an average of 6.7 million tourists in the past five years. Let us continue to explore the gems of our province such as Mkhambathi, Tsitsikama, Hogsback and others. We will vigorously market and promote our province to international tourists. Our Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency is already identifying potential markets in the continent, BRICS and G20 countries.
To attract and retain international tourists we are diversifying our product offerings to include culture, sport and heritage which are endowments of our province. We will bid to host more sports events because they create jobs and business opportunities in the hospitality industry.
Our province is endowed with talent in various sporting codes. Ronwen Williams became the first South African Footballer to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or Yachine Trophy, the first South African to win the Best Goalkeeper of the Year in Africa and the Best Interclub Player of the Year in 2024. Ons wens Ronwen Williams hartlik geluk met sy onlangse prestasies.
We are calling on municipalities to ensure that sports facilities are adequately and regularly maintained to support grassroots sports development and tourism.
Creative Arts and Film Production
Creative arts and film production, also contributes immensely to job creation. Gqeberha the Empire introduced us to new acting talent in our province. We must nurture that talent and keep it working inside our province. Government has issued an expression of interest call to film producers and broadcasters to apply for production of films in our province. We have further allocated R30 million to fund emerging artists and film development.
To strengthen our efforts of growing the provincial economy our Special Economic Zones, COEGA and East London IDZ are poised to attract more investors in the next five years. Last year Coega welcomed San Miguel, a lemon processing and extraction plant that exports to 50 countries. That is an investment of R490 million in our province which has led to 120 permanent jobs.
In the last five years the ELIDZ attracted just over R9 billion worth of investments from 23 new investments. The East London IDZ is spreading its wings to Ntabozuko (Berlin) to set up facilities for activities in agro- industries, advanced manufacturing and the automotive sector.
Enabling economic and social infrastructure
Honourable Speaker, let me indulge the House on the work we are doing to enable a conducive environment for economic growth and job creation in our province.
Oil and Gas
We are harnessing the potential of oil and gas resources for the benefit of our province. We have an estimated offshore bounty exceeding 200 trillion cubic feet of prospective Shale Gas in the Karoo which is poised to unlock significant economic opportunities. We are supporting this groundbreaking research covering the Sarah Baartman, Amathole and Chris Hani Districts as led by Petroleum Agency South Africa, after the gazetting by the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
Our preliminary research findings indicate that the Eastern Cape has a resource base that can generate 3000MW of Gas-to-Power to energy to the national grid. Let us embrace these opportunities with both innovation and responsibility, transforming our province into a key player in the national and regional energy landscape.
Ports and Rail
Over the past term, we have made various commitments on critical transport and economic infrastructure in this august house. The Gauteng- Eastern Cape High-Capacity Rail Corridor has now received budget allocation towards realizing the dedicated rail corridor for automotive volumes between Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. This will enhance our export capacity and reduce reliance on road transport.
In this quarter, we had multiple engagements with Transnet to establish a stronger monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure that multi- billion-rand commitments by Transnet to the Eastern Cape are realized. The construction of the R2 billion Liquid Bulk Berth announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Construction Summit will be the litmus test of this collaboration later this year. This should immediately be followed by the new Liquid Bulk Terminal in the Port of Ngqura.
Our call for increased investments by Transnet is aimed at optimizing trade logistics to support regional growth and facilitate global trade connections. These ambitious projects include the 22 metric-ton capacity Ngqura Manganese Export Terminal, the R13,1 billion Liquified Natural Gas Import Terminal and the deepening and widening of the Port of East London, to solidify our position as a gateway to Africa and the world.
Energy
Energy security is fundamental to unlocking the potential of the Eastern Cape's economy and uplifting the lives of our citizens. We are committed to seeing the Ngqura Liquid Bulk Programme come to fruition. While we encountered challenges and delays, we are working tirelessly to achieve the delivery of these investments.
We are on course to deliver the Hive Hydrogen Project in collaboration with the Northern Cape and the Western Cape in green energy investment. This will create new industries and opportunities for our people. The efficient transmission of power is as vital as its generation. As the country prepares for the 2,500 MW nuclear build programme, we reiterate our call that the Thyspunt site is ready to receive the investment. The time for Eastern Cape to thrive, is now.
Road Network
Honourable Members another key economic enabler is the road network. As we committed in the Eastern Cape Infrastructure Plan, our road construction programme is connecting the strategic economic Corridors of our Province which are the N2, N6, N9, and N10, whilst upgrading other key routes to enable access to economic centres and services for our people. The Eastern Cape is a construction site.
Our mega projects such as Msikaba Bridge, Mtentu and Ndabakazi Interchange are progressing well. Working with SANRAL we are making a total investment of R50 billion for more road infrastructure projects in the next five years. This investment will build road infrastructure in key routes such as R61, R72, R58, R75 and R410.
In addition to these roads, in the next financial year, we will be gazetting 600km of our roads, many of them gravel roads which we are going to upgrade with SANRAL for the benefit of our communities. These include: T15 road from Mount Frere to Matatiele. Buffalo Pass Road in East London. R63 road from Debenek to Keiskamaahoek. R352 road from Keiskamaahoek to Sutterheim. R67 road from Glen Melville Dam to Gwabeni and the Mpetsheni to N2 Wildcoast road, amongst others.
Rural roads are also an enabler for social and economic development. We know they are a challenge when it is rainy season, and we are investing R4.5billion for upgrading, maintenance and repairs of our roads. For example, we are upgrading the 40 km gravel road that links N2 near Dutywa to the R61 via Clarkebury into a surfaced road with an initial investment of R327 million. The Eastern Cape is truly a construction site.
As previously committed, the Welisizwe Bridges Programme is being implemented to improve access to social and economic services by rural communities. To date, 12 of the 19 bridges have been completed and will soon be handed over to communities. In the new financial year, we will finalize the remaining 7 and commence with the construction of 17 additional bridges located in Amathole, Buffalo City Metro, Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo.
Madam Speaker, we welcome the allocation of R940 billion to boost infrastructure development in the country as announced by President Ramaphosa during SONA. As a province we will tap into this financial injection, to reinforce further infrastructure development in our province, particularly for the Wild Coast SEZ and other Industrial Parks.
Social Infrastructure
Honourable Members, let me share with you how we are contributing to lowering the cost of living by investing in social infrastructure for the benefit of our people. Last year, we handed over 255 houses to families who were previously farm dwellers in Stutterheim and Katberg. Among the beneficiaries was a child headed household, comprising four siblings who lost their parents.
We want people to stay closer to their places of work. In the 2025/26 financial year, government will deliver 4 970 Breaking New Ground Housing units; and 4 350 serviced sites in all our regions. In the next five years we are investing R4.3 billion to build 26 400 houses.
In executing this work we will ensure that organs of state source building materials from black industrialists.
The development of office precincts, to bring government services closer to our people is taking shape and will also unlock social and rental housing investment. It gives me great joy to announce to the people of our province that planning and procurement for the construction of the Bhisho Office Precinct has finally been completed and construction will commence in 2025/26 financial year. IBhisho izakubayinto entle enigazange nayibona kuleminyaka izayo.
The construction of Emaxesibeni Block A and Mqanduli Cluster Offices are at 70% and 75% completion respectively. Building on the success of our Small-Town Revitalization Programme, in areas such as Ntabankulu, we are expanding the small-town revitalization programme to Amahlathi, Emalahleni, Intsika Yethu, Makana and Ngqushwa local municipalities, which will benefit from an additional investment of R419 million. We are applying for more funds from Budget Facility for Infrastructure upgrade more of our small towns to make them attractive to investors.
Electricity
Honourable Members, in our province, 95% of households have access to electricity. Overall, we connected 16 446 households in this financial year alone, thus improving the quality of life for our people. Ndingabalula iKhutsong eMatatiele, iTrako eMhlontlo, iValecia eSunday’s River Valley kunye neMitford eEnoch Mgijima.
In the 2025/26 financial year, government will make a further investment of R430 million for the electrification of 8 981 households throughout the province. Siyaqhuba!
Water
Siyazi ukuba kukho iindawo ezingekabinawo amanzi, neendawo ezineempompo ezingaphumi manzi. Sikwiphulo lokuzisombulula ezi ngxaki, sibambisene noomasipala.
Having said that, the Seventh Administration will increase the number of households with access to piped water from 80% to 90% by 2030. To fulfil this commitment a Municipal Infrastructure Grant totaling R3.5 billion will be directly allocated to municipalities for water reticulation. Two weeks ago, government launched the Lubisi Water Treatment Works, which will enable the provision of sustainable water to more than 90 000 people in the communities of Chris Hani District.
Ndiyathemba nimvile uMongameli weLizwe esithi umsebenzi uyaqhuba eNtabelanga Dam, le iyinxalenye yeMzimvubu Water Project.
We will ensure that the 11 regional bulk infrastructure projects such as Ndlambe Bulk Water Supply, Sterkspruit Regional Wastewater Treatment Works and Greater Mbizana Regional Bulk Water Scheme, which are currently under construction, are completed during the 7th term. This will increase the sources of water for the benefit of our people.
Reduce poverty and tackle high cost living
Education
Fellow citizens, the Freedom Charter states that “the doors of learning and culture shall be opened to all”. We have ensured equitable access to education through implementing transformation programmes such as no fee schools, school nutrition and scholar transport.
Please join me in applauding the Matric Class of 2024 for achieving a record breaking 84.98% pass rate, a historic achievement for the Eastern Cape since the dawn of democracy. This is a massive improvement from 56,8% we achieved ten years ago.
On the strength of this achievement, we have set ourselves an even higher target of 90% pass rate by the end of this term. Well done to our learners and all our education stakeholders who supported the efforts of government in implementing our education turnaround plan.
Xa sithi siyaliphucula izinga lemfundo yabantwana bethu, asibalisi ntsomi emini. This is the reminder of the famous words of Amilcar Cabral, when he said: "Tell no lies. Claim no easy victories". We are now ranked third nationally for producing Bachelor Passes, meaning more of our learners are gaining access to higher education. Performance in the gateway subjects of mathematics, physical science and life science is on the rise opening new pathways for our children to study for skills of the future.
For instance, last month, we launched the aviation school in Port Alfred. We are training an initial group of 25 learners as pilots, engineers and air traffic controllers, empowering them with skills to work anywhere in the world. This caring ANC-led provincial government is taking full responsibility for the payment of their studies with a total investment of R35 million, at R1.4 million for each learner.
U-Mbewuyethu Mbewu wase-Gcuwa ngomnye wabafundi abaxhamlayo kule nkqubo.
As we celebrate the achievement of the class of 2024, I want to salute the principals of schools that have walked the hard road from a low performance base to a high-performance base, especially schools in our rural hinterland. Schools such as Efata Special School for the Blind and Deaf in Mthatha which improved from a 60% pass rate in 2023 to 90% pass rate in 2024. We are now focusing on lifting all the schools that are performing below 60% pass rate.
Somlomo, amaXhosa athi bagotywa bebatsha. In this term, we will be improving access to quality and inclusive Early Childhood Development (ECD). We are paying special attention to addressing barriers to entry for children in the deep rural areas and children with special needs. To show our commitment to this policy imperative, we are investing R10 billion in Early Childhood Development over the next three years as this is a game changer.
Our province has 45 special schools providing services to 10 500 learners. Over the next three years, the government has set aside R100 million for provision of services to special schools.
Sinyusa isantya kwinkqubo yokwakhiwa, nokulungiswa kwezikolo kule minyaka mihlanu. Between now and 2030, we are going to build and refurbish 138 schools in our province, to improve the learning environment for our learners. This is an investment of R7.4 billion which will benefit learners in all districts.
The schools we are going to build and refurbish include Tonga Junior Secondary in Amathole, Mhlontlo Junior Secondary in Joe Gqabi, Lupindo Senior Secondary in Alfred Nzo, Bazindlovu Primary in Chris Hani, Khayalethu Special School in Buffalo City Metro, Hillbrow Senior Secondary in OR Tambo, David Livingston Secondary in Nelson Mandela Metro and Hendrik Kanise Combined School in Saraah Baartman.
Considering the challenges of shortage of spaces for first year students in our universities, we encourage students to also pursue their studies at TVET Colleges. TVET colleges offer an excellent opportunity for those passionate about technical skills and innovation, through numerous streams.
Health
Madam Speaker, the Freedom Charter also states that “a preventive health scheme shall be run by the state”. Our healthcare programme has seen a significant improvement in the provision of access to primary health care, with 490 primary health care centres meeting the set norms and standards for the Ideal Clinic status, in preparation for the implementation of the National Health Insurance Act. This legislation is critical for the transformation of the health care system.
Our HIV/AIDS response shows significant strides towards ensuring that by 2030, 95 % of people who are HIV positive know their status, 95% of those who have tested positive are on treatment and 95 % of those that are on treatment have their viral load supressed.
We are establishing 11 Cerebral Palsy Centres of Excellence, with a budget of R131million for strengthening treatment and to mitigate medico legal claims.
In our province, life expectancy is at an average of 64 years as of 2023. We are working to ensure that life expectancy reaches an average of 70 years by 2030. We will intensify efforts on preventing maternal and child mortality, chronic diseases, mental health, as well as severe and acute malnutrition. We are protecting our people from these illnesses by investing R7.1billion in this seventh term.
We are putting in place medium term contracts for scheduled maintenance of faulty generators, aircons and lifts in our health facilities.
Somlomo, lo rhulumente uqhubela phambili ngomsebenzi wokuphucula izakhiwo zamaziko empilo. This is to improve the experiences of both our communities and the dedicated healthcare workers who serve them.
Work is progressing well on three mega hospitals with a combined investment value of R2 billion. Kungekudala abantu baseLusikisiki, eMqanduli naseXhora bazakube benezibhedlele zabo ezitsha phakathi ezilalini.
We are investing a further R3 billion over the next five years for the construction of new clinics and rehabilitation of existing health facilities across the province. Greenville Hospital in Mbizana will be upgraded at an investment value of R441 million in two phases.
Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital Oncology Unit, a critical project for the treatment of cancer patients, is under construction at a value of R416 million in Mthatha.
Honourable Members, we understand the challenges in our public health system. In response to this, we have established an intervention team, led by the Director General, comprising the Office of the Premier, Provincial Treasury and National Department of Health.
The success of this intervention should yield the filling of critical vacancies such as doctors and CEOs of hospitals, further reduction in medico-legal claims against government, financing of historical debt in the department, improvements in the Department’s audit opinion, better maintenance of infrastructure and service delivery optimisation. All of this work will result in improvement in the quality of care at our public healthcare facilities.
Social protection
Fellow citizens, the late ANC President Oliver Tambo once said, “the children of any nation are its future.” The social security system ensures protection of the rights of children through the child related grants which covers up to 2 million children. The total contribution of social grants in the province now stands at R34.8billion per annum.
The major contributing factor to food insecurity and malnutrition is the high cost of basic foodstuffs. We are implementing a green revolution under the theme: One household, one garden to encourage every household and community to produce food in every available piece of land.
We will accelerate the capacitation of households with vegetable, grain inputs and poultry production, as well as climate smart food production systems targeting 100 000 beneficiaries.
A capable, ethical and developmental state
Municipal Support
Madam Speaker, let me transition now to how we are building the capacity of the state. We are ensuring that all government work is people-centred, spatially referenced, and with tangible impact on people and their communities. There is evidence that our support to local government is yielding results. Out of 39 municipalities in our province, 20 are in the unqualified audit outcome category. But more importantly, the expenditure on the Municipal Infrastructure Grant improved from 39% in 2022/23 to 61% by 2023/24 financial year end. This bodes well for provision of services to our communities.
We have identified Buffalo City Metro, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Amathole, OR Tambo, Chris Hani, Makana, Enoch Mgijima, Port St Johns, Walter Sisulu, Dr Beyers Naude, Raymond Mhlaba, Kouga, KSD and Ndlambe, as municipalities that need dedicated support from the provincial government.
Our support to these 14 municipalities will include: ensuring functional councils and governance structures, enhancing municipal capacity to collect revenue, as well as improving delivery of basic services.
Traditional Leadership
Honourable Members, Traditional leaders are an important stakeholder of the ANC-led provincial government. Government recognised AmaMpondomise Kingdom and senior traditional leaders from different administrative areas across. The Investigative Committee on Traditional Leadership Claims is working hard to resolve disputes. Ndiyanicenga bantwana begazi, imicimbi yobukhosi nesizwe mayiphathwe ngobunono, ixoxwe likhaya hayi iinkundla zomthetho.
State capacity
The government of national unity has identified building capable and ethical state as a development priority towards 2030. This mandates the strengthening of the system of government as a whole to be a vehicle for the realisation of the Provincial Medium Term Development Plan.
The 7th administration is therefore, committed to changing negative perceptions about government through improving people’s lived experiences, professionalisation of the public service and programmes that include integrated communication.
Honourable Speaker, we directed that a government wide ethics risks assessment be conducted. This will provide an objective assessment of the current ethical landscape of provincial government and recommendations for improvement, where necessary. This will build on the foundation that has been established which includes the lifestyle audits as well as Senior Management Services and Middle Management Services financial disclosures. The province has achieved a 100% compliance for Senior Management Services, and we continue to institutionalise MMS disclosures.
We have maintained an active monitoring of Conflict of Interest in the province. In 2024/25, there was a significant decrease in the number of conflicted officials. Where officials have been found to be conflicted, Heads of Departments have been instructed to institute disciplinary action.
Madam Speaker, we appreciate our collaboration with the National Council of Provinces and members of this House to improve citizen participation in resolving their service delivery concerns. Sizivile izikhalazo zenu. Ezinye seziphendulwe noxa ezinye zisaqwalaselwa
Social Cohesion
Building a cohesive society is a moral responsibility of all South Africans. I am pleased to inform the house our province will host the national commemoration of Human Rights Day to mark the 40th anniversary of the Langa Massacre.
Community Safety
Honourable Members, the Freedom Charter also said there shall be security and comfort for all in this great nation. We are enhancing our efforts through the implementation of social crime prevention programmes focusing on stock theft, drugs and gangsterism. We commend the police for making arrests in some of the mass killing incidents that happened Gqeberha, Lusikisiki, Qumbu, Gatyane and Mthatha. The law must take its course.
In support of Gender Based Violence and Femicide interventions, government has set aside approximately R225 million over the next 3 years. There were 119 life sentences on 77 GBV cases involving 84 accused persons. Inolwamvila ingalo yomthetho.
Police Stations are a critical component towards ensuring citizens feel safe. Majola Police Station has been built in Port St Johns and was opened earlier this month as a fully-fledged Police Station. Thafalehashe Police Station is under construction at Elliotdale and is 98% complete. Moyeni Police Station in Peddie has been constructed in a new site with brick and mortar and is currently at about 80% completion. The construction of Huku Police Station at Mandileni village in Mount Frere will be completed in the coming financial year.
Kukho umkhuba omtsha wokuphangwa kweemoto zikarhulumente ngoku e-OR Tambo nase Chris Hani. More than 55 government vehicles have been hijacked in the past twelve months and government officials are now scared of going in those areas, rightly so. Service delivery is going to suffer in those two districts if community members do not work with the police to bring perpetrators to book.
On that note, let me take this opportunity to wish Eastern Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, General Nomthetheleli Mene, a happy and healthy retirement as she leaves SAPS at the end of February. Thank you, for your service General.
We bow our heads in remembrance of the police and people of our province who lost their lives, including our soldiers who died in the Democratic Republic of Congo, road users who perished during the festive season, victims of mass killings and the young men who died during the initiation process.
Kwanga kungakho ukukhanya kumakhaya azibone ephantsi kwelifu elimnyama ngenxa yezi ntlekele ndizikhankanyileyo.
A call to action
Honourable Speaker, the President has pronounced on a National Dialogue in which South Africans are called upon to chart a new path for our country. As we march forward towards the fourth decade of Freedom and Democracy, I urge all of us to reconnect with our values of Ubuntu.
We used to value and respect each other. We used to work together for the good of our communities. We used to support each other. We used to consider the feelings of others. What happened to us?
I leave the answers to these questions for each person in this house and those listening at home to ponder. But know one thing, it is not too late to be the best versions of ourselves to contribute positively to building thriving families, thriving communities and a thriving Eastern Cape
Conclusion
Honourable Speaker, Members and fellow citizens, we have shared with you a comprehensive forward-looking plan by the ANC-led provincial government to build a thriving Eastern Cape where all people reach their full potential and live a life of fulfilment.
The next five years are not going to be smooth sailing because of geo- political tensions, but we remain committed to fostering solidarity, peace, friendship and cooperation with other countries of the world, as directed by the Freedom Charter. But we will not be bullied. We are continuing with our existing international partnerships on trade and investments, while exploiting new markets in our continent, the Middle East and the BRICS+ countries as part of our economic diplomacy.
We implore our people, private sector and social partners to heed our clarion call of doing more together, to build a thriving Eastern Cape. Our unity is our strength. Ubunye ngamandla mawethu.
Umbhali wemibongo uWashington Mntuwoxolo Kwetana uyibeka kakuhle le nto xa athi:
Ubunye sisixhobo say’impumelelo, Lubambiswan’ olumxhel’ umnye, Abakwenzayo bakwenza kunye, Ezinzima bona bayathwalisana, Ezixakayo, kuzo bayancedisana,
Somlomo, mandehle kweli qonga ngamazwi ka Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi ndenjenje:
Godukani ziwe iphelile into ebithethwa, Abakrokrayo bona abazange baphela, Abakhalazayo basazalwa nanamhl’ oku Abazenzi, badaliwe kuloo nto
Silungisa nje, phofu nabo bayanamanama
Ninendlebe nje, ninetyala.
Mazenothele!
