D Peters: State of the Province Address

12 February 2009

Madam Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Legislature;
Honourable leaders of our political parties and Honourable Members of the
Provincial Legislature;
Members of the Executive Council;
Members of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
Our esteemed Judge President and members of the judiciary;
Heads of our security services;
Chairperson of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), mayors
and leaders in our system of local government;
Our honoured traditional leaders; Dikgosi tsa rona le bahumagadi;
Heads of the state organs supporting our constitutional democracy;
Provincial Public Service Commissioner,
Acting Director-General, Heads of Department and other leaders of the public
service;
Distinguished guests, friends and comrades;
People of the Northern Cape:

I believe in the saying that - Those who joyfully leave everything in God’s
hands will eventually see God’s hand in everything.

This is fittingly captured in the book of Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded
you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for
the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

This is a commitment by the Almighty to unlock the doors of imagination, to
give us vision, and the strength to turn our dreams into reality, with the
assurance that He will lead the way!

So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable,
and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.

All we need do is to believe because “If you can believe, all things are
possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23.

On April 1994, we dreamed of a South Africa that is united, democratic,
non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous. We dreamt of a better life for all, we
believed, and indeed, we continue to be blessed with our dreams being made
possible!

We all have been given the opportunity to be part of the creation of
something new, of directing and pioneering the emergence of a new and better
country, of helping ourselves and helping others out of the despair of
yesterday, into the bright future of tomorrow!

And this we all do, proud in our convictions, and believing like the English
writer Flora Edwards, that "In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for
whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."

Madam Speaker,
Gathered here in the precincts of our seat of governance today is a microcosm
of the people of the Northern Cape, all of us assembled solemnly to observe one
of the cornerstones of our young democracy. The Annual Address by the Premier
to the Provincial Legislature not only marks the official opening of the
legislative assembly of the Northern Cape, but occasions an opportunity to the
government of the province, and indeed the ruling party, to report on our
progress towards the shared ideals of a better life for all.

This we have done since the advent of our young democracy, firm in our
conviction that democracy in this country is being strengthened and
consolidated continuously, consistently, and in pursuit of the noble ideals of
our forebears.

The year 2009 marks the fifteenth year since the democratic breakthrough of
1994, and fifteen years of true and progressive people’s government.

The 20th anniversary of the release of several Rivonia trialists, including
Elias Motsoaledi, Wilton Mkwayi, Raymond Mhlaba, Andrew Mlangeni, Achmed
Kathrada and Walter Sisulu will be commemorated this year, together with the
40th Anniversary of the historic and watershed Morogoro Conference of our proud
movement, the African National Congress, and 20 years since the adoption of the
Harare declaration.

As we look back into our troubled past, we remain fully aware of the fact
that this freedom, enjoyed today by millions, was bought with the blood of many
a man, a women, and indeed, children. In recognition of this past, we will
commemorate 30 years since the fateful day of the execution of Solomon Kalushi
Mahlangu, that gallant and brave young lion who did not waver in the face of
death, but through his just convictions, his heroism and his blood, nourished
the tree of freedom, allowing current generations of young people to enjoy the
fruits of this long and hard won struggle.

We will also celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the formation of the Congress
of South African Students, and a proud 65 years since the formation of that
colossal leader of the progressive youth of our country, the African National
Congress Youth League.

These milestones in the history of our country continue to remind us of the
difficult path once travelled, and the individual and collective resolve and
heroism of our proud peoples. We pay tribute to the patriots who pioneered
these historic milestones, and re-assure our people that their struggles were
not in vain, we will not disappoint them!

Madam Speaker, as we have done for the last five years, we wish to
acknowledge the contributions of the people of the Northern Cape, those
citizens who, despite the ongoing challenges they face, are able to rise up and
be an inspiration to their fellow compatriots.

I speak here of a young Charl Bouwer from Kimberley, who formed part of the
2008 South African Paralympics Team, and showed the world what he can achieve
by winning the Gold Medal in the 400 m Men’s Freestyle competition, breaking
the world record in the process.

I speak of Brandon Gertz from Longlands, who has persevered in chasing his
dream of supporting himself and those close to him, displaying the tenacity and
steadfastness needed in entrepreneurs. Brandon approached us at an Executive
Council outreach programme to share his dream of expanding his small
enterprise, and he has not ceased engaging many a possible funder, nor has he
given up on his dream. Today, I am proud to say that his tenacity was fruitful,
the Basha Development Trust has granted Brandon a grant of R 35 000.00 towards
equipment for his welding enterprise.

Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen, I speak here today of the dream of a young
man from Victoria West, Ricardo McKenzie, who realised that he and he alone
will be the architect of his own future, and today, after hard work and
struggle, is the co-owner of Karoo Delights, a biltong and related products
manufacturing enterprise. Karoo Delights today have contracts with Shoprite,
Makro and 1Time Airlines, and is steadily growing into model for
entrepreneurship.

I will continue, and speak of Itumeleng Mmusi, a young man from Kuruman,
who, despite his physical challenges, has found it his responsibility and task
to voluntarily assist those around him, acting as a facilitator to ensure
access for people with disabilities to education, skills training and economic
opportunities. Itumeleng has build linkages for his peers with amongst others
the South African Human Rights Commission and the Department of Labour, and is
a recipient of the Premier’s Youth Award in the Community Youth Service
category.

I want to acknowledge Anrie Venter, owner and manager of Rissipit, an
enterprise focussing on interior design and catering, who has with sheer
determination and enthusiasm captured the attention of the Mme Re Ka Thusa
Trust, and was assisted with both grant and loan funding to expand her existing
business.

Madam Speaker, allow me to continue and speak of Ms Precilla Tose, whose
company is in the business of manufacturing soya products, and was assisted by
the Trust to relocate to better premises, and to assist with some operational
expenditure and lease commitments. The company has grown in leaps and bounds
and the potential for further development is immense, as displayed by the
resolve and commitment of the founders of this initiative.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I today speak of Denise Engelbrecht whose experience
in retail management has prompted her to expand horizons to venture into a
partnership to open a small business in the events management field.

I wish to pay tribute to these and other patriots of the Northern Cape, who
are continuing the dream, not deterred by the fall-out of the economic
situation experienced in the country and world over, and not frustrated by
their environment. They are saying to all of us – if I may borrow a phrase from
poet Maya Angelou – Still we Rise!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades,
Renowned African writer Ben Okri, write, and speaking of Africans, said that
“the most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to
endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.”

Similarly, the President of the Republic, President Kgalema Motlanthe,
remarked on the occasion of the State of the Nation Address, that “Above all, I
stand before you with pride and confidence that the South Africa we celebrate
today – worlds apart from the divisions, conflict and exclusion of a mere 15
years ago – is a product of the labours and toils of South African women and
men from all walks of life.”

One cannot but concur with the sentiments expressed, emboldened by the
reality and evidence of a better province and country that is in the making,
slowly, but surely taking shape, every corner of our country being transformed
into a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous state.

And the one thing we rely on the most is our “capacity to overcome” as a
people. No one dare dispute that we are, as Okri says, “authentic”, that we are
creative – that we know and live the spirit of change and love, the old African
tradition of Ubuntu burning in all of us.

And that we have always been, and will always be, greater than our
suffering!
In the people of the Northern Cape, in people like Charl Bouwer, Brandon Gertz,
Ricardo McKenzie, Itumeleng Mmusi, Anrie Venter, Denise Engelbrecht and
Prescilla Tose, you will find that which President Motlanthe aptly calls: “the
hope and resilience that characterise our nation”

2004 to 2009 – Five Years of Consolidation of democracy and accelerated
service delivery!

Honourable Member, Ladies and Gentlemen,
When we met in this space on 30 April 2004, we highlighted that our then new
administration will continue to build on the significant advances made during
the first decade of democracy.

We said many things on that occasion, but rather than rehashing those, I
want to borrow from an excerpt of a speech delivered by that great son of the
Peoples Republic of China, Chairman Mao Tse-tung, when, in 1945, he said:
“our point of departure is to serve the people whole-heartedly and never for a
moment divorce ourselves from the masses, to proceed in all cases from the
interests of the people and not from one’s self-interest or from the interest
of a small group, and to identify our responsibility to the people with our
responsibility to the leading organs of the party.”

I firmly believe that the provincial government that I have had the
privilege to lead over the last five years have worked very hard to live up to
the expectations of our people, and in the manner explained by Chairman
Mao.

We acted according to our mandate, contained in the 2004 ANC Elections
manifesto, and confirmed by the masses of this province as their programme
through a resounding vote of confidence in the ruling party.

We did not depart from this mandate, we steadfastly remained committed and
in all that we did, we “proceeded from the interests of the people.”

When we met here nearly five years ago, and in our quest to follow the wise
counsel of Chairman Mao, we committed this government to deepen work in seven
areas, namely:
* The reduction and eradication of poverty;
* Job creation and opportunities for all;
* Improving the level of skills and expertise;
* Deepening health care for all;
* Enhancing the capacity of local government to deliver more efficient social
services;
* Dealing with the abuse of women and children and neglect of the
elderly;
* Creating an enabling environment for greater participation of
differently-abled people.

It is therefore appropriate that today we revisit these areas, measuring the
progress we have recorded and frankly, honestly and objectively highlight the
challenges faced in pursuance of these ends.

In short, we use this opportunity to demonstrate our conviction that indeed,
we “proceeded from the interests of the people!”

Over the last five years, my government has sought to direct more resources
and energy into the economy of the Northern Cape, based on the outcome of the
Ten Year Review which highlighted our progressive advances insofar as social
transformation is concerned, but also the challenges around growing the
provincial economy.

We thus deliberately sought to ensure that all our efforts, across all
departments and spheres of government operating in the province, should be
aimed at economic growth and redistribution.

Our provincial economy has recorded successive years of growth, recording
3.1% in 2006, turning the tide on the negative growth rate of -1.7% recorded as
recently as 2001. We have actively sought and worked to broaden the economic
base and activities across all sectors such as agro-processing, tourism and
manufacturing.

Statistics South Africa has recorded a provincial unemployment rate of
24.2%, down from 26.3% in 2005. Whilst the decrease in unemployment is
welcomed, the challenge of both women and youth unemployment needs our careful
consideration and action.

We have made advances on our ability to advocate our positions nationally,
and have scored major victories with, for instance, the decision around the
relocation of the State Diamond Trader to Kimberley, and the increased presence
and collaboration with institutions such as the Industrial Development
Corporation, the National Empowerment Fund, the Development Bank of Southern
Africa and others.

Since 1994, a little more than one million hectares of land has been
redistributed in the province, with over 700 000 hectares redistributed during
the period 2004 to 2008 alone. The pro-active Land Acquisition strategy is
showing some increased momentum and a total of 3 623 land claims has been
settled in the province to date, ensuring both access to land for some, and
reparation for displacement for others who elected to receive compensation.

Our Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme has supported the
development of numerous emerging farming enterprises, and has seen many
millions of rands transferred to black farmers in this way.

In pursuance of shared economic prosperity, we have prioritised the
development of a cooperative movement in the province over the last number of
years, with 26 cooperatives involving more than 1 000 people currently in
place, ranging from small scale mining to cultural tourism.

We have launched the Integrated Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME)
Development Strategy that seeks to provide for a coordinated response and
initiatives from all stakeholders in the sector, and that has clear targets and
measurable objectives. The Small Enterprise Development Agency has a presence
across the province, and is a valued partner in the further development of our
emerging enterprises.

Access to financial instruments for SMMEs has been enhanced with the
presence of the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, MAFISA and SAMAF, and our own Basha
Enterprise Fund and the Mme re Ka Thusa Trust. The Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC) has opened an office in the province, and the Growth and
Development Fund has been effective as a catalyst for economic development,
supporting a wide range of initiatives.

Our province further hosted a very successful Asian Expo in August 2007 and
we participated in various platforms to enhance networking and sharing the
potential of our striking and unique province to many a possible investor.

We have prioritised our work in line with the Accelerated and Shared Growth
initiative and the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA),
and gave made advances in ensuring that government procurement is targeted at
business and enterprises of the Northern Cape.

We launched the Human Resource Development Strategy for the province which
seeks to ensure alignment of both priorities and initiatives in a manner that
will contribute to maximum output in addressing the skills deficit challenge
experienced by the province.

The work done in establishing the Northern Cape as a preferred diamond and
jewellery hub is progressing well, with the Gold Chain Technology project
operational.

The implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme, although not
without challenges, has seen more than 35 000 of our people engaged in some
form of economic and skills development activity over the last five years. This
is well ahead of the initial provincial target of 26 000 jobs created.

The Big Hole project remains an example of a successful Public Private
Partnership, and has seen tangible gains and many emerging down-stream
opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Visitor numbers to the Big Hole have
seen a significant increase, and provincial government is investing a further R
150 million rand in the development of the Big Hole Conference Centre, tapping
into a lucrative, growing industry and in an endeavour to further boost our
tourism potential.

During the last five years, the province made substantial investments in
various forms of infrastructure, and has leveraged a number of meaningful
projects implemented by national departments. In terms of roads construction,
we have amongst others completed the Kommagas-Springbok, the Mmatwane-Dibeng
and the Groot Mier-Rietfontein road projects. We have invested in various
access roads, and have rehabilitated and secured numerous other roads, bridges
and slopes. The community of Riemvasmaak now have access to the surrounding
areas and towns using an R29 million bridge over the Orange River.

Phase one of the Douglas-Belmont Railway Line is completed and this project
alone created more than 700 jobs during construction.

The state of the art new Kimberley Prison is nearing completion.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The wellbeing of our people and care for the vulnerable and destitute remains
one of our key focus areas.

Between 2003 and 2007, there has been a significant decrease in the
proportion of people in the lower Living Standard Measure and an increase in
the size of the middle bands.

The improvement in people’s lives can generally be attributed to economic
growth and expanding employment, as well as the targeted government initiated
poverty alleviation initiatives that include provision of basic services to
indigent households, social assistance and better housing.

We have improved the average turn-around time for social grants from 21 days
in 2005 to 03 days currently, and in some instances same day approvals being
processed in fully resourced centres. In excess of 300 000 of our people have
access to the social security net through drawing various social grants, at an
expenditure rate of around R 164 million rand a year. 108 940 qualifying
children are beneficiaries of the Child Support Grant, exceeding the provincial
targets, and up from 51 560 in 2004.

All local municipalities provide free basic services to communities, and
this has helped considerably to address not only human dignity, but also the
daily plight of the thousands of poverty burdened people of our province.

The School Food Nutrition Programme is reaching in excess of 239 000
learners, of which 159 000 are in 465 primary schools and a further
80 000 in 226 secondary schools. We are the only province that has
extended the feeding scheme to cover secondary schools.

The province was able to surpass the national target of 40% for No Fee
Schools, with 58% of our public schools currently not charging school fees,
benefitting a total of 100 244 learners.

Through the National Institute for Higher Education, access to more
affordable higher education for young people of our communities is offered,
with more than 2400 students currently enrolled at the Institute, with 12
courses offered.

Go supa gore thuto ga e golelwe. Lenaneo la puso la Kha Ri Gude Mass
Literacy programme has already enrolled 9447 learners, and the programme is
targeting a total of 124 000 illiterate people by 2014.

66 new Early Childhood Development sites have been established, and learner
teacher support material (LTSM) procured for Grade R classes. Forty five
schools have been supplied with either indoor or outdoor equipment.

Delivery capacity at futher education and training (FET) college level has
been significantly enhanced with the re-capitalization programme, and we are
well on our way to establish these colleges as first choice institutions and
centres of excellence.

3 new schools are being constructed in the John Taole Gaetsewe District, and
65 schools have been provided with an average of two security guards through
the ministerial schools initiative. Further to this, 130 of the poorest schools
in the John Taole Gaetsewe District have been provided with a basic resource
pack, including books and materials for learners and educators, in addition to
the 95 mobile classrooms and furniture delivered to these areas.

100 young people will benefit from the first intake of students into the
Youth Training Programme in the Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning
Industry, launched on 10 February 2009 in partnership with the Ifihlile
Training Academy and co-ordinated by the Northern Cape Youth Commission, rising
to a total of 300 beneficiaries over the duration of the programme and
representing an investment of over R39 million in our youth.

This is in addition to the multitudes of young people who have already
participated in many of the skills development interventions, such as the
learnership programme, and those currently enrolled in the component parts of
the National Skills Fund Project of the province.

The National Youth Service programme has been expanding, reaching more
numbers of young people, and covering areas such as infrastructure and
Information and Communications Technology. Our province has recorded the
highest number of youth participating in the Annual Global Youth Service Days
programme in the country for two consecutive years, which bears testimony to
the confidence that the youth has in the future of this country, and their
endeavour to define their own role in it.

In terms of health priorities, we have heavily invested in ensuring that
access to health care for all is ensured through extending infrastructure and
services. In Barkly West, the Professor Z K Matthews Hospital was completed and
is in operation. The Manne Dipico Hospital was taken into use in 2005, with the
Abram Esau Hospital in Calvinia and the Joe Slovo Hospital in Garies
operationalized in 2005 and 2007 respectively. Construction has commenced on
the new Gordonia Hospital, and construction for De Aar Hospital is scheduled to
start in 2010.

We have built 09 new clinics, and the hospital revitalisation programme is
progressing well. We have also increased emergency health service capacity with
the employment of 218 Emergency Care Practitioners, the procurement of 145 new
fully equipped ambulances and 25 patient transport vehicles.

In the ongoing war against HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections
(STIs), we have increased the Voluntary Counselling and Testing facilities to
174 sites, and the Anti-retroviral Treatment points are 26, of which 15 are
permanent points and 11 outreach points. 31 595 patients have been
assessed so far, with 8 717 patients on ARV treatment, and 5 646 in the
preparation phase for take up into the programme. However, we must mention that
the lack of qualified medical practitioners at an acceptable level remains an
impediment to the successful implementation of this important programme.

We have completed the Provincial Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS in
partnership with various relevant stakeholders, and our financial provision for
HIV and AIDS for 2008/09 alone is in the region of R136 million.

We engaged the services of 1 300 community home based care givers, who
provide a much needed and selfless service to our embattled communities.

Further to this, we have extended the implementation of the new Prevention
of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) guidelines for dual therapy to 162
fixed facilities, 24 satellite clinics and 45 mobile clinics, with 160 primary
healthcare nurses having undergone training in this regard. As a result of
co-ordinated interventions and concerted action, the Northern Cape has seen a
progressive decrease in the infant mortality rate from 41.8 to 33.4 in 2007,
which points to a success in the improvement of child health. Immunization
coverage of children under 1 year remains at over 97% in the province, with the
provincial department of health implementing the World Health Organisation
strategy known as Reach Every District, which is aimed at improving coverage
and protecting children against vaccine preventable diseases.

As part of our ongoing bi-lateral engagement with the Cuban government, and
in addition to the 31 students already benefitting, 10 new recruits has left
for Havana for training in medicine, with the first two successful students
completing their internal studies in July, ready for deployment to serve the
people.

To further enhance the dignity of our people through housing delivery, the
provincial government has completed all “blocked projects”, and has also
constructed in excess of 12 000 new housing units since 2004. This brings the
number of houses delivered in the Northern Cape through the government subsidy
scheme to well over 30 000. Work has also started on the Breaking New Ground
initiatives in Loratong Park and Ou Boks in Colesberg that will demonstrate the
new integrated infrastructure delivery approach as spearheaded by the
Department of Housing.

314 Community Development Workers were trained and are deployed, servicing
184 municipal wards and communities. These foot-soldiers provide an important
and essential link between the people and government, and have been invaluable
in terms of ensuring that the most vulnerable are able to access the programme
and services of government. We need to invest more energy and effort, as well
as resources into this programme to maximise its potential.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is charged with leading our
endeavours to pursue and attain social cohesion in the province.

The critical nature of this responsibility and mandate is borne from our
understanding that social cohesion is what holds our society together. It is
that which provides the common cause for all of us sharing the ideals of one
national identity through embracing our diverse heritage and that which drives
our pride in this beautiful country.

Social cohesion is thus at the very core of our common destiny, our
well-being as a caring society and the ideal of peaceful co-existence.

The role and place of heritage in achieving the objectives of social
cohesion has been incrementally amplified over the past five years. We have
started an intensive programme to reclaim our past and our neglected heritage
through honouring our heroes and heroines.

To this effect we have returned and buried the remains of Kaptein Cornelius
Kok and 30 of his followers, erected a memorial on the grave of Kgosi
Galeshewe, erected tombstones on the graves of the deceased members of the
Upington 26, similarly honoured the Colesberg 4, and created a Garden of
Remembrance, inclusive of a Youth Memorial at the Legislature in honour of the
immense contribution of all our fallen heroes and heroines.

We recognize that much still need to be done if we are to bring a fitting
tribute and homage to the many icons of our fragmented past. We will in the
near future conclude the already started process to correctly honour Sol
Plaatje and we will conclude the research on Kgosi Luka Jantje so that we can
return his remains to a place of peace and dignity. In consultation with
various stakeholders, including Sol Plaatje Municipality, we will be renaming
Transvaal Road, as well as the Tranvaal Road Police Station after Phakamile
Mabija, a youth activist who met his untimely death at the very Transvaal Road
Police Station during the anti-apartheid struggle.

One of our most special and dearest achievements in the field of heritage
was the declaration of the Richtersveld as a World Heritage Site. This pinnacle
of international recognition of the value of heritage, acknowledges the
worldwide importance of Khoi San culture of which the province is the
custodian.

Our sub-continent and particularly our province are increasingly being
recognized as the cradle of human kind. Late last year, we proudly announced
the discovery by a Canadian archaeologist, that evidence of human use of a cave
as shelter dating back 1.2 million years, was made at the Wonderwerk Cave. The
Northern Cape is now truly placed at the centre of the development of human
culture.

Truly, our past, our heritage and our legacy say we are destined for
greatness!

Nobody will dispute the central and influential role of sport in social
cohesion, national pride and national unity – we simply have to point to the
exploits of our national rugby team and the 2008 Beijing Paralympics team.

Our provincial teams may not have always reached the heights of the national
rugby team, but we can record numerous positive efforts to grow and develop
sport in the province.

We have in the past five years established both the Provincial Sport Council
and Academy of Sport. These two entities have already made an impact on high
performance, transformation of sport and supporting federations. Most
federations have now shed the old “Griqualand West” name and now play as team
Northern Cape. We urge the remaining federations – notably rugby and cricket –
to come on board and shed its outdated name.

The mass participation programme has made the most significant contribution
to our physical well-being and allowing us to be healthy citizens. More than
300 people are employed in this programme enabling it to have attracted more
than 200 000 participants over the past five years. The recreational focus of
the programme is especially aimed at keeping the youth out of crime (and out of
court) and away from the many social evils that tempt them.

In support of these programmes, we have developed sport facilities at
Steinkopf, Calvinia, Hopetown, Dibeng and Warrenton. We acknowledge that the
process of funding sport facilities through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant
(MIG) has not rendered the desired output and that we must vigorously pursue
the return of this funding to the relevant structures.

Madam Speaker,
I am sure this House will agree with me that the completion of the Mayibuye
Centre is a particular highlight. This centre enables us to apply for and
develop a performing arts centre in the province – initiatives in this regard
have already started. The Mayibuye Centre is already a hive of activity with
daily programmes at the conference centre, the Sport Academy using the Gym for
high performance development and daily dance programmes.

We recognise the central position of libraries in a 21st century knowledge
society and its role in improving education and training outputs. As such we
have, in the last five years provided internet facilities to 80 libraries,
delivered over 1 million new books to libraries, implemented 20 mobile book
boxes in the rural areas and developed 25 new toy libraries.

Madam Speaker,
We are proud to report that overall, the province is doing well in its fight
against crime and abuse. Our latest released crime statistics indicate that ten
of the province’s 13 priority crimes have shown a significant decrease. Except
for murder and aggravated robbery as indicated, we have recorded less rapes,
assaults, attempted murders and common robberies.

Our commitment and seriousness about fighting substance abuse is also
evident in the fact that 4% more crimes such as dealing in and possession of
drugs have been recorded. This is a positive increase that can directly be
related to the increase in police action assisted by community informers.

Our youth remains a critical partner and stakeholder in all our efforts to
promote responsible and good citizenship and create safe communities. The
Northern Cape Youth Crime Prevention Framework under the leadership of the
South African Police Service is the flagship project to mobilise the youth in
the province to collectively initiate and participate in endeavours to fight
crime. This project has received recognition as an international best practice
for excellence in Urban Safety, Crime Prevention and Youth Development amongst
five South African projects and five international projects during a
International Youth Crime Prevention and Cities Summit in Durban from the 17 to
21 June 2008. As a result of this recognition, the Youth Framework was invited
to present the concept and progress at the World Urban Forum in China from 1 to
9 November 2008.

Our efforts were also significantly boosted by increasing our traffic law
enforcement fleet with 35 new vehicles of which five was sponsored by the Road
Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). We plan to increase this law enforcement
fleet with another 10 new vehicles at a cost of R1.5 million during 2009.

In as far as the police are concerned, 498 police recruits and 43 support
staff have been appointed during 2008/09 bringing South African Police Service
(SAPS) personnel strength to 7 082 in the province. 219 vehicles were received
and distributed during 2008 and the total number of vehicles now in the
province is 1 706. Dit is dus duidelik dat ons gemeenskappe geen verskoning
meer hoef te aanvaar oor die beskikbaarheid van polisie-voertuie nie!

Honourable Members,
Provincial Government has significantly benefited from the national
re-alignment and innovation with regards to integrated and coordinated planning
through instruments such as the Medium Term Strategic Framework and the
National Spatial Development Perspective. This, coupled with the implementation
of the Inter-Governmental Framework Act has increased coordination and joint
planning across the spheres of government in the province. All 5 Districts now
have Growth and Development Strategies, with the Pixley Ka Seme District GDS
being hailed as an example of best practise in the country. This process was
finalised through a support programme directed from the Office of the
Premier.

Hand on support to local government as per the identified broad key
performance areas was sustained, with municipalities in the province recording
a 68% credibility rate for their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).

However, general and financial management at local government level remain a
cause for concern, and needs our ongoing engagement. It is an indictment on all
of us that 27 municipalities received disclaimers of opinion from the
Auditor-General, and that the general financial state of municipalities remains
extremely weak.

Objectively, a number of factors do hamper the effective promotion of good
governance at both provincial and local spheres, and these include weak
institutional and resource capacity, ineffective civic education, high poverty
and low literacy levels.

We will however have to engage with the reality of the state of some of our
municipalities, for instance, Magareng Municipality has been the subject of
provincial government intervention for a consistent period of time. The
municipality, like many others in the province, operate without a viable tax
base, very little in terms of local economic development potential, and general
conditions of grinding poverty. The future status of these municipalities must
be discussed and resolved.

We have sustained our interaction with the masses of our people through
various platforms, including the numerous Presidential Izimbizo, Executive
Council Outreach programmes and Council Meets the People Fora. Overall, the
Provincial Executive Council has had four outreach programmes every year.

In response to the weaknesses identified in the Ten Year Review, we have
prioritised increasing our spending towards economic services in order to
stimulate economic growth and development. On average, we have increased the
allocation for economic services from 10.2% in 2004 to 14.2% in 2008, with
education and health remaining our biggest spending areas, at 38.9% and 27.5%
respectively. It must be noted that in doing so, the province has not deviated
from its pro-poor policy positions, and this has not affected the delivery of
social services in any way.

Dames and Here,
We have further enhanced our international engagement with outward missions to
amongst others the Ghana, the Peoples Republic of China, Belgium, Namibia,
Lower Normandy in France, Kasai Oriental Province in the DRC and the Middle
East. Notable amongst these are the fraternal bonds of friendship that we have
sustained with the peoples of the region of Karas in Namibia, and the trade and
cultural linkages that is established, benefiting people from both Karas and
the Northern Cape. This is especially so in the case of the peoples of the
Namakwa and Siyanda Districts who share a joint history and very strong ties
with communities in the Karas Region.

2009 – Future Outlook

Madam Speaker,
We have entered this year, better understanding that globalisation is a
reality, and that our interconnectedness with the world an undeniable fact.

The effects of the global economic meltdown, as manifested in, amongst
others, the price of oil and food, the collapse of major banks and giant
multi-national companies and the general turbulent economic conditions
experienced in the world currently.

Economic Cluster
Poverty, unemployment and inequality remain the most pressing challenges in our
country, and rightfully occupy the central agenda of our growing and evolving
developmental state. The Northern Cape Provincial Government has a
responsibility to lead and guide our mixed economy, and must continue to make
decisive interventions in the interest of the people. We will not shy away from
this task!

The creation of decent jobs and expanded economic opportunities will be
emphasised over the medium term, and all this therefore points to the need for
better planning and implementation capacity at provincial and local level, and
a higher degree of effectiveness with the economic interventions being rolled
out. It therefore brings to bear that state intervention capacity in the
economic sector needs a review and interventions across all three spheres of
government, with planning and implementation capacity at local level especially
receiving dedicated and special attention.

Focus will remain on implementing integrated and well coordinated employment
programmes targeting women, with clear targets with regard to especially women
in rural areas. We remain convinced that if you employ women, you feed
families!

As was alluded to in the State of the Nation Address, we will over this
coming period expand the reach and effectiveness of EPWP interventions and the
National Youth Service Programme targeting unemployment and unskilled youth. In
this way, community based provision of services must become a central delivery
mechanism, whilst addressing the skills deficit and poverty levels. There is a
need for clear monitoring and impact assessment tools to measure success in
this regard, and this work will be coordinated by the Office of the
Premier.

We must invest more significantly in research and innovation, and enhance
services that seek to foster entrepreneurship, ensuring that they reach larger
numbers of our people, with a clear bias to women and youth. To this end,
initiatives such as the New Venture Youth Tourism Competition must be
replicated and extended to reach more young people across the province.

We need to work with the Department of Trade and Industry to explore
improved monitoring mechanisms and regulation for BEE initiatives to ensure
that provincial developmental objectives are met, and the Corporate Social
Investment of large companies should be used to leverage the participation of
black people into the mainstream economy. We will leverage the Agri-BEE
framework to ensure support from commercial agriculture to emerging agriculture
in this province, and that the sector is united in pursuit of shared growth,
wealth and prosperity.

There is a need for improved implementation of the comprehensive
post-settlement support programme. We are anxiously awaiting the dialogue and
development of the proposed large scale, integrated rural development strategy
for the country, giving a voice to rural masses, whilst at the same time
responding to challenges in rural areas in a coordinated and comprehensive
manner.

In our view, we must apply the experiences of the ANC-led government with
regard to the implementation of the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development
programme, and use lessons learned to inform the broader implementation of a
massified strategy.

Amongst others, a new and better strategy should focus on the development of
small holdings, proper support to co-operatives and similar initiatives, with
dedicated capacity to rural areas in the form of financing, extension services
and business development services.

Rural infrastructure provision and development should be informed by the
economic potential of the area concerned, and infrastructure should be used to
leverage economic benefits.

Social Cluster

Ladies and Gentlemen,
We will continue to focus rigorously on the quality of education provision in
our province in line with our commitment that Education must be prioritised as
one of the most important programmes of the government at all levels for the
next five years.

Central to these efforts will be the work that needs to be done to
progressively increase output in terms of special interventions such as the
Dinaledi Schools to improve maths and science provision at schools, coupled
with a clear focus on teacher development and the provision of the necessary
infrastructure and resources, especially in the most rural areas of the
Northern Cape. We will be scaling up and massifying the Foundations for
Learning programme, currently focussing on Grades R to 4, with emphasis on
reading, writing and numeracy.

Whilst as a progressive government, we will continue to engage with the
debate around free education, we shall continue committing focus on the No Fee
Schools programme, as well as the QIDS UP programme focussing on redress and a
focus on the poorest schools in the province, in terms of both resources and
capacity for delivery. We will endeavour to declare more schools as No Fee
Schools in 2009, raising the number of learners benefitting from this programme
by more than 37 000 learners. In addition to this, the School Nutrition
Programme will feed an additional 14 500 learners, including learners in
195 ECD sites in line with the Grade R expansion programme.

We need to measure the impact of the re-capitalisation of the FET colleges,
and ensure a sustained focus on “re-establishing” the FET sector as the
preferred site for further development of human capital, directly linked to
labour market needs and addressing the existing skills deficit.

We have to deal with some of the systemic challenges currently experienced
within the education system, especially with regards to implementation of the
new curriculum, and more specifically with regards to teacher training and
development, and our all round capacity to deliver. There is for instance a
challenge in the provision of mother-tongue education, insofar as the supply of
qualified teachers in this field is concerned, and this needs our ongoing
engagement.

I am sure that all of us look back with an immense sense of pride to the
performance and feats of our national team at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.
The performance of our differently-abled athletes surpassed by far that of
those athletes that participated in the Olympic Games. Their proud achievements
give expression to our view that indeed, we are a nation with “hope and
resilience!”

Therefore, Ladies and Gentlemen, special attention will be given to the
implementation of White Paper 6 and ensuring that learners in public ordinary
schools with special needs are catered for. Learners with special needs are
learners who have been identified through a screening, identification and
assessment process as having additional support needs that would require
reasonable accommodation and interventions of a specialised nature. Our target
is to enrol a total of 1 580 learners in Special Schools during the 2009
academic year. 500 district officials will be trained on Screening,
Identification, Assessment and Support and Individualised Learning Support
Programme to provide continuous support to Special Schools, and in so doing,
allowing our special needs learners to excel even to greater heights.

Dealing with capacity challenges at district level within education, we will
be increasing capacity to provide increased direct support at schools, and key
deliverables here include filling critical posts at this level and
decentralising more functions to districts to enhance and speed up
delivery.
Critically, some of the challenges that warrant our ongoing attention are the
participation of especially communities in SGBs, as well as achieving
consistency and uniformity in our approach and understanding of the challenges
of the education system.

Too much emphasis is still being placed on measuring the education system in
terms of the national senior certificate results, and not the health of the
entire system, and not taking into account the interrelatedness of the
different component parts of the system.

Our province, given its unique character, is obviously very interested and
will participate in the discussions around the need for a National Health
Insurance System. We will consciously work towards the retention and capacity
of health professionals and in 2009 alone will be providing bursaries for at
least 285 students in medical fields ranging from Medicine to nursing.

The creation of a single and credible health information system will receive
further impetus with the training of 120 unemployed youth as data capturers
over the next three years.

Health challenges in rural areas, specifically with regards to
infrastructure and human resources requires that we continue to invest in and
build community capacity to respond to challenges in this regard, for instance,
through applying the EPWP model more vigorously and expanding the Clinical
Associates Programme currently being implemented to reach greater numbers of
our youth.

We will continue with and expand HIV and AIDS and STI campaigns and
interventions, informed by the outcomes of research and behavioural indicators,
and expand access to ART sites, through an increase in service points to 35,
and reaching at least 18 000 registered patients. An additional 100 CHB
Care Givers will be recruited in the next year alone.

Dames en Here,
Government will continue to do work to ensure that the masses of our people
have access and benefit from social security initiatives that alleviate the
burden of poverty shared by millions daily. In terms of this, we will continue
to expand our services to the elderly and children with the registration of an
additional 15 service points for the elderly, and providing funding for an
additional 20 ECD centres. The Children’s Act will be implemented from April
2009, significantly expanding the existing services to children across
sectors.

The Springbok Secure Care Centre is to be opened soon, with the Centre in
the Pixley Ka Seme District in progress, and a new Centre planned for the John
Taole Gaetsewe District in the next two years. In addition to this, the Ke Moja
Anti Drugs Campaign will be extended to cover 100 schools, up from the 50
currently participating in the programme.

As part of the National War on Poverty Campaign, the 500 Families Pilot
project is currently in its third phase, focussing on the implementation of
development programmes that will assist to lift the concerned families out of
poverty.

Madam Speaker, Honourable Members,
I am proud to announce that all four swimming pools in the Sol Plaatje
Municipality will be upgraded over the next 18 months to the tune of R4
million. As a result Karen Muir swimming pool will again be able to host
national galas and Floors swimming pool will be one of very few undercover,
heated short-course pools in the country.

These efforts are supported by the Learn to Swim programme in partnership
with Northern Cape Aquatics and to date already 200 instructors are trained to
ensure that the scourge of drowning in the province is arrested.

The FIFA 2010 Football World Cup presents us with the single greatest
sporting spectacle and growth and development opportunity. While we may not
have succeeded in our bid to be one of the host cities, we have not sat back in
despair. We have developed a detailed plan and have identified four strategic
priority areas to ensure that the province derive maximum benefit from the
world cup.

We have already submitted our bid to serve as base camp for teams during the
world cup and as a consequence the English Football Association visited the
province for an inspection late last year. While we may not have the entire
infrastructure in place to attract a team as big as England, we will vigorously
lobby specifically targeted countries to set up their base camps in the
province. A team of senior officials is directly lobbying different countries,
and this work will intensify over the next few months.

Our tourism master plan is in full swing to attract tourists to the province
and to ensure that our hospitality establishments are registered and graded to
host the many visitors we expect.

We have also already piloted two highly successful Public Viewing Areas in
the province in preparation for hosting at least one per major town in the
province during both the World Cup and the Confederations Cup. It is these
PVA’s that will create the physical spaces for public participation during both
tournaments. In addition, we are also participating in the recruitment and
selection process to ensure that people of the Northern Cape participate as
volunteers at the matches in Mangaung in 2009 and 2010.

A lasting and living legacy after 2010 remains one of our key priorities. To
this effect we will leave no stone unturned to lobby for funding to develop our
first multi-purpose sport complex, upgrade the Northern Cape Theatre and
develop the standard of football in the province. The past five years have seen
us host 12 PSL and professional matches as well as the hugely successful COSAFA
under 20 Tournament. We are looking forward to hosting Amajita in the next few
months as they prepare for the World Youth Championships later this year.

In order to grow the network and service impact of library services we will
in the next few weeks open 21 new container libraries and do the sod-turning
for the construction of brand new libraries in Barkly West, Richmond and
Hartswater. These 3 libraries will be the first newly constructed public
libraries in the province since 1994.

Justice Cluster
One of the classical great tragic playwrights of Athens in ancient Greece,
Sophocles, insisted that “Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law
than those who make the law”

As provincial government we are aware of our responsibility in this regard,
and will therefore over the coming period intensify the fight against
corruption.

It can however never be the responsibility of the public sector alone to
deal with the scourge of corruption. Therefore, as Premier of the Northern
Cape, I appeal to the private sector and communities to assist government as
willing partners in fighting corruption. Together, let us continue to build a
culture of ethics and ethical conduct in conducting our business. Let us join
hands in fighting corruption and fraud without fear or favour!

The issue of crime and violence continue to work against our efforts to
build national unity and social cohesion. It also seriously undermines strides
made towards establishing and entrenching a culture of respect for human rights
and democracy.

Whilst substance abuse and lack of poor conflict resolution skills remain
the major causal factors to crime in our province, it is undeniable that the
issue of poverty, unemployment and unscrupulous greed can never be overlooked
as factors that inevitably present crime and corruption as viable options for
survival on the one hand and quick enrichment of the other.

Madam Speaker,
Whilst we are encouraged by the downward trend in contact crimes in the
province, we remain greatly concerned about the levels and extent of violent
crimes, particularly rape and violence against women and children. It is sad
that, despite the big strides made in the liberation of our people and
especially the inculcation of a culture of Human Rights, women and children are
still not “free from daily harm and danger”, be it in their homes, on the
streets, at graveyards and in the workplace. Women and children continue to be
the victims of the most brutal and heinous attacks against their person.

As ‘n provinsie sal ons nooit ophou om hierdie euwels te beveg nie. Ons sal
geen steen onaangeraak laat in ons strewe dat geen vrou en kind die slagoffer
van geweld is in hierdie provinsie nie. Ons bly verbind om hierdie euwel met
tak en wortel uit te roei, in noue samewerking met ons gemeenskappe.

To this end the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster,
together with community-based organisations and structures have recently
conducted a rape reduction summit whose aim was to review the Anti Rape
Strategy and 30 Point Action Plan of 2005 and to determine the framework for an
integrated, yet practical multi-disciplinary approach that would improve our
effectiveness in the prevention of and also our response to rape.

These law enforcement operations are supplemented by social crime prevention
programmes such as the “Ke moja” anti-drug campaign led by the Department of
Social Services in conjunction with the Department of Education. Another
important supporting initiative is the Responsible Trading to enhance
Responsible Drinking Project that is lead by the Department of Safety and
Liaison in conjunction with the Provincial Liquor Traders Association, and
which will be intensified over the medium term.

In the same vein, various efforts to further bring down levels of crime,
violence and abuse in our province will be intensified this year. These
intensified crime fighting efforts will be underpinned by law enforcement
through traditional policing on the one hand, and social crime prevention on
the other.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our approach requires society as a whole to work together as active partners to
prevent and combat crime, and build a united front, giving practical expression
to government’s central crime prevention theme, namely “ACT – AGAINST CRIME
TOGETHER”

In this regard every police station in the province has already developed
crime prevention plans based on the said approach in consultation with all
pertinent local stakeholders in respect of the two to three most serious crimes
identified in a particular station precinct. Important safety and security
issues of rural safety, preparations for securing the 2009 General Elections
and preparations for FIFA 2009 Confederation and 2010 World Cup have also been
incorporated into these station plans. An important initiative towards
intensifying the crime prevention partnerships is the establishment of Street
Committees throughout the province. This initiative is aimed at putting in
place the building blocks for Community Safety Forums whose ultimate aim is to
mobilize and strengthen the role of local government and local communities in
the creation of safe and secure environments. The Street Committee Project will
be launched during February as part of the annual safety and security month
activities.

We can never speak about safety and not mention the issue of road safety.
Road safety is equally everybody’s business and responsibility and as so often
emphasized, it is something that begins with the self. Government continues to
do all in its power to ensure that our roads are safe and every road user
arrives alive at their destinations.

Unfortunately, our law enforcement and public education efforts alone are
not enough. This we say because we believe that one accident is one road
fatality too many. The fact that we have exceeded our 10% target to reduce road
accidents and fatalities during both the 2008 Easter and Festive Season
periods, therefore merely inspire and motivate us to do more, but will never
leave us content. We will continue to improve our capacity to render our roads
and communities safe.

I am glad to report Madam Speaker, that in support of our crime prevention
strategies in 2009, the police vehicle preliminary budget allocated is R 41
million, while the indicative post allocations for new entry level constables
is 299 new personnel, with a training budget of R1.5 million.

Major SAPS and Justice Infrastructure projects are underway and to be
completed during the New Year include, amongst others:
Five new police stations are in the planning phase, and are to be built at
Boetsap, Sunrise, Keimoes, Komaggas and Mothibistad.

The construction of two new magistrate’s courts at Galeshewe and Colesberg
and one periodical court at Deben at a total cost of R 82 million are nearing
completion and will be opened during 2009.

The construction of the Danielskuil Court at a cost of R5.4 million is
underway, while the planning for the Garies magistrate’s court, projected to
cost of R8.7 million is being finalized.

Governance
The masses of our people in the Northern Cape are deeply aware of the nature
and extent of the poverty, underdevelopment and infrastructure backlogs that
have been inherited by municipalities across the province. We say this
because thousands of our people live their daily lives in conditions
characterised by the injustices of the past that we come from.

Despite this reality of historical neglect, real progress has been made with
and through local government to improve access to basic services and
sustainable development – through access to clean water, electricity
connections, waste removal and new infrastructure in the form of recreational
facilities, roads and transport infrastructure and local economic development.
 

Whilst we affirm and recognize the progress and arising opportunities, there
are a number of challenges that call for collective action by all of us.

These challenges include increasing the managerial and technical capacity of
municipalities through the mobilization and deployment of appropriate technical
expertise, as well as financial managers.

Greater attention will have to be paid to accountability measures and the
enforcement of existing provisions of local government legislation. The
performance framework for municipalities, public representatives and officials
who work in these institutions provides for Key Performance Areas and
Indicators, which should be an enabler in improving accountability at this
level.  

Madam Speaker, Honourable Members, it remains our responsibility to ensure
that all municipalities continuously focus on integrated planning for growth
and development and improved alignment of development functions. We also have
to put more energy and invest more significantly to strengthen the facilitation
and coordination role of the district municipalities.

Madam Speaker,
I have today spoken about what President Motlanthe calls “our journey of hope
and resilience”, and what Ben Okri describes as our “capacity to overcome.”

In delivering this address to this august house and gathering, I make bold
to say, as I have said at the beginning of this address that this provincial
government, “proceeded from the interest of the people!”

In the book of Mark 10:42-45, so Jesus called the all together to him and
said, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the heathen have power
over them, and the leaders have complete authority. This, however, is not the
way it is among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant
of the rest; and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give
his life to redeem many people."

Madam Speaker
I have had the singular privilege to serve the people of the Northern Cape, as
Premier of the province.

I believe that it is our collective hope for a better life for all that
allowed us to be guided to do what is right for the people we serve.

To my colleagues in the Executive Council and in the administration, I want
to share this quote with you:
“We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there
are few who can endure frank criticism without being stung by it, those who
venture to criticize us, perform a remarkable act of friendship, for to
undertake to wound or offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love
for him.” (Montaigne)

I am certain that when history pass judgement unto us, history will be kind
in its judgement, because I believe that we acted out of love for our
people.

Over all this time, we remained firm in our belief that our greatest calling
is to act as servants of our people.

As I conclude, I leave you with the words of John F. Kennedy, who said, “As
we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is
not to utter words, but to live by them.”

Madam Speaker, I declare the Sixth sitting of the third democratic
provincial legislature officially opened.

I thank you.

Issued by: Northern Cape Provincial Government
12 February 2009