held at the Hilton Hotel in Durban
16 April 2009
âA solid foundation for a Democratic and Prosperous KwaZulu-Natal has been
laid.â
We are only six days away from our fourth democratic general elections.
During the last election in 2004, the profile of KwaZulu-Natal was a
frightening reflection of what we were to face. We had schools without water
and sanitation, numerous children who were heading households and poor service
delivery in the areas of water, sanitation and electricity.
As the first African National Congress (ANC) led provincial government,
which came into power in KwaZulu-Natal in 2004, we were able to work towards
achieving the objects of social, economic and political transformation in the
province.
Since 2004, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has worked, tirelessly,
to create a democratic society based on the principles of equity, non-racialism
and non-sexism.
The current government in KwaZulu-Natal has utilised the letter and spirit
of the Freedom Charter. The Freedom Charter embodies a vision of an alternative
society different from what we inherited in 1994 and, in the case of
KwaZulu-Natal, in 2004. We have drastically reaffirmed our commitment to
revolutionary struggle to bring into being a better society, founded on dignity
and equality for all. The Province has thus been able to; fundamentally upgrade
the levels of service delivery. In 2004, we declared war on poor service
delivery, as reports, some commissioned by our predecessors, indicated that
KwaZulu-Natal was the poorest performer in the country, in the provision of
piped water, sanitation, refuse removal and electricity.
The Gross Domestic Product per Region (GDP-R) of the province of
KwaZulu-Natal is now the second largest in the country.
New money on infrastructure spending, which is unprecedented in the history
of the province, amounts to billions. These include:
* more than R2 billion being spent on the construction of the new Moses Mabhida
stadium
* more than R6 billion being spent on the new King Shaka International airport
and Dube Trade port at La Mercy
* the R350 million P700 corridor from Richards Bay to Ulundi, as well as R300
million on the P577 from Mtubatuba to Hlabisa and Nongoma.
KwaZulu-Natal is completing its most stable five years in the history of our
province. We have moved from a province of gloom to a province of prosperity,
occupying a well-deserved position of international prestige. No longer do
people identify our province with, merely, its Big Five or its reputation for
violence, but rather with the fruits of our development and success, which are
evident for the entire world to see.
It was, indeed, humbling when I was called by a journalist on Tuesday (14
April 2009) afternoon and informed that I was rated as the best Premier in
South Africa, based on an Ipsos Markinor Poll, rating government leadership in
the country.
The journalist wanted to know my reaction to the poll and I said: Since
1994, when I was first appointed MEC for Transport in KwaZulu-Natal, I realised
that it is important to listen to people and to try to put forward their
interests. My greatest achievement in KwaZulu-Natal was far more than the
delivery of houses and basic services such as water and electricity it was
bringing peace and stability to the province. You can achieve so much more when
you create a peaceful environment. It allows you to work as a team. It was
teamwork within the ANC in the province, and in government, that saw
KwaZulu-Natal faring well.
The Ipsos Markinor Poll rating follows recent comments by the
Auditor-General (AG), Mr. Terence Nombembe, who praised us, as the
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, for our commitment towards ensuring
effective and efficient financial management of the various government
departments in the province.
According to Mr Nombembe: âKwaZulu-Natal is the only province in South
Africa, which is in excess of 45 municipalities, the province has 61
municipalities. The municipal audit outcomes and trends for the 2007/08
financial year is one of the best in South Africa. This is a very good success
story of which KwaZulu-Natal must be extremely proud of. The national average
percentage for audit completion is 75%, but KwaZulu-Natal achieved 98%.â
The AG also said that KwaZulu-Natal faired well in terms of the audit
outcomes and trends for provincial government departments, when compared to the
other provinces in South Africa. Mr Nombembeâs positive remarks on the state of
financial management in KwaZulu-Natal follows the landmark achievement by the
provinceâs education department, which is one of the largest government
departments in the country, of moving from repeated disclaimers since 1994 to
an unqualified audit report in 2007/08.
The KZN Office of the Premier also scooped the prestigious Southern African
Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA) Annual Public Sector Reporting Awards
for its excellence in annual reports. Of all national and provincial government
departments in South Africa, the Office of the Premier in KwaZulu-Natal scored
92,25% against the overall average score of 86,34%.
A solid foundation for a democratic and prosperous KwaZulu-Natal has been
laid.
KwaZulu-Natal is on the move. KwaZulu-Natal is a province at work. There is
still so much to do.
The people and leaders of our province are blessed with an abundance of
energy and potential. Therefore, I can confidently, say that this tradition of
excellence in KwaZulu-Natal will be continued at a higher level. Together, we
can do more.
Masisukume Sakhe!
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Premierâs Spokesperson
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Cell: 083 6444 050
Email: maistryl@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
16 April 2009
