17 September 2007
The two-day KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council (Cabinet) Indaba, being held at
Selborne on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, got off to a smooth start this
morning, 17 September 2007. Delivering his opening address to Members of his
Executive Council (MECs), Heads of Departments as well as other senior
provincial government officials, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele said
that the main purpose of the Indaba was to assess where the KwaZulu-Natal
Provincial Government was in terms of its implementation programme.
The Premier said that the following questions are critical: "Can the
citizens of KwaZulu-Natal move freely around the province, can they marry who
they want to marry, can they marry when they want to marry? In certain areas
you cannot even bury your loved ones on a Saturday. This is a fundamental
assault on basic human rights and these things are no longer acceptable," said
the Premier.
"Every household in KwaZulu-Natal must have water, sanitation and access.
The fundamental right of human dignity must be upheld. These are the things
which must be assessed. We must be able to say that this is what we are doing
and this is what needs to be done.
"Freedom, education, a thriving economy and democracy are major achievements
which were not in place before the current government came into existence.
Although they are in place now, the question is what more needs to be done? We
are gathered here for a strategic thinking review rather than a status quo
assumption with incremental changes of the previous commitments that we
made.
"The main purpose of the two-day Cabinet Indaba is to critically focus on
programmes that require intensification using national Apex priorities as a
guideline, to collectively address challenges affecting service delivery and to
stimulate innovation in achieving policy objectives through 'Business Unusual,'
the Premier said.
The Indaba will end tomorrow, 18 September 2007.
Enquiries:
Cecil Mandla Msomi
Head: Provincial Government Communication
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Cell: 082 317 3727 or 072 671 0775
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
17 September 2007
