2008
15 January 2008
The Executive Council (EXCO) had its first meeting in 2009 in Bhisho on 14
January 2009.
The Executive Council noted with concern the taxi strike taking place in
Nelson Mandela Bay and supports the approach of putting together a stakeholder
engagement process to address the situation and create better understanding of
the Rapid Bus Transit System.
The Rapid Bus Transit System to be implemented in Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan municipality was approved by national government in 2007.
Consultation process was conducted with all the six metros in the country
including Nelson Mandela Metro. The aim of the programme is to upgrade the
current bus and minibus taxi services to Rapid Bus Transit to be fully
integrated to form a single public transport system. The new public transport
system in Nelson Mandela Bay is aimed at ensuring that the public transport
system will be able to respond to its crucial role in the successful hosting of
the 2010 Soccer World Cup. However government wishes to emphasise that the
programme is intended for the metros and big cities. Provincial government
sympathises with all the commuters inconvenienced by the situation.
The Executive Council also assessed and was satisfied with provincial
government's readiness for schools re-opening next Wednesday, 21 January 2009.
The Executive Council will be visiting schools as part of the schools opening
programme.
Government continues to implement its Learner Attainment Improvement
Strategy (LAIS), whose priority areas will impact positively to learner
performance. The LAIS action plan for 2009 was tabled during this meeting. The
focus of the plan amongst other things includes:
* On site school support - School visiting plan is in place and teams which are
led by all MECs inclusive of portfolio committee members and youth commission
have been established to commence the visits as at the first day of school. The
focus of the school visits will be on ensuring that effective learning and
teaching is taking place, and the media will be invited to join the
teams.
* Basic school functionality and management - 240 Education development
officers (EDOs) have been identified for training on coaching and mentoring.
About 2 490 principals from under performing schools will be trained on
management and administration by end of February 2009. Also a plan to implement
performance management for principals is in place.
* Learner support programme - Extra tuition plan has been finalised and will
commence in February. Training of Representative Council of Learners (RCLs) has
been already done.
* Infrastructure â The Eastern Cape government is committed in eradicating mud
school structures and the programme is being implemented as priority. More than
2 000 school infrastructure projects are being implemented with water and
sanitation, school safety and classroom provisioning as priority. Currently 80
school hostels are being assessed for renovation and refurbishment.
The government continues with the fight against poverty with the
introduction of the Social Relief of Distress programme. An outreach programme
has been designed and aligned to the Social Relief programme. The Executive
Council will pay special attention to the areas that have not been visited
before:
Cacadu: Steytlerville, Aberdeen, and Willowmore
Nelson Mandela Metro: Soweto on Sea, Missionvalle and Uitenhage
Chris Hani: Sada, Hewu and Indwe
Amathole: Ginsberg, Ndevana and Centane
Ukhahlamba: Jamestown, Maclear and Rhodes
Alfred Nzo: Matatiele, Mount Frere, Maluti
OR Tambo: Ntabankulu, Ngangelizwe, Libode, Mqanduli
Families will be identified and profiled for further government support and
interventions which will ensure that in the long run relevant beneficiaries are
able to access social security grants and other relevant support services. This
programme is co-ordinated jointly by South African Social Security Agency
(SASSA), Office of the Premier and Department of Social Development (DSD).
The Social Relief of Distress programme is a temporary intervention
programme which will last only for a period of three months from January to
March 2009 whilst beneficiaries are assisted to access social services on a
permanent basis.
Department of Social Development and SASSA together with stakeholders such
as Traditional Leaders, Faith Based Organisations (FBOs), Departments of Health
(DoH) and Department of Education (DoE) will identify priority beneficiary
communities. Each affected government department will be allocated a portion of
the funds and will reflect on achievements at the end of the three months in
March 2009.
Announcements:
* The next Executive Council meeting of the 28 January 2009 will amongst others
review progress to date with the implementation of the provincial turnaround
plan targeting the departments of housing, education, health and local
government and traditional affairs.
* The Provincial EXCO Lekgotla is confirmed for 3 and 4 February 2009.
* The State of the Province Address (SOPA) is confirmed for 13 February
2009.
For more information:
Nomfundo wakwa Luphondwana
Tel: 040 609 6015
Cell: 082 440 2728
E-mail: nomfundo.luphondwana@otp.ecprov.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
15 January 2008
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za/)
