T Didiza: Debate on State of the Nation Address

14 February 2007

Somlomo
Mongameli wezwe
Sekela Mongameli
Ongqongqoshe nama sekela abo
Malungu ahloniphekile alendlu yesishayamethetho

Emveni kweminyaka eyishumi nambili umbuso wentando yeningi ukhona kuleli
singasho ngokungangabazi ukuthi umgama esesiwuhambile ekwakheni kabusha
iNingizimu Afrika uyabonakala. Kwimiphakathi esihlala kuyo sezikhona izinkomba
ezibonisa inguquko. Singasho ngokuziqhenya sithi nempilo yemiphakathi ethile
isingcono kunaloko eyayiyiko ngaphambilini. Lenguquko ke isinika ithemba
lekusasa elihle neliqhakazile. Yize noma kunjalo, izinkinga zisekhona. Inselelo
yobandlululo, nobuphofu kusabonakala.

Kanti futhi izingqinamba eziza nentuthuko nazo ziveza enye inselelo ekumele
sibhekane nayo. Umzekelo waloku engikushoyo ubonakala kakhulu uma sibheka
ezinye zezinkomba zentuthuko, njengokuthuthuka ngesivinini kwamadolobha
okubizwa phecelezi nge urbanisation. Lesisimo senza ukuthi babebaningi manje
abeza emadolobheni bezofuna imisebenzi. Umthelela waloku ukwanda kwenani
labantu abantula izindawo zokuhlala emadolobheni, yingako nje sibona imijondolo
isijike yaba isithombe esisibona mihla namalanga emadolobheni. Imizamo
eseyenziwe ngulohulumeni ingabe isibonakala sengathi ayenzanga lotho ngohlelo
lwayo lokwakha izindlu kanti cha.

Ukuguquka kwesimo somnotho nako kuze nentuthuko kanye nezingqinamba
zokuntuleka kwamakhono esihambisane nezidingo zezimboni. Loku kwenze ukuthi
babebaningi nabanye abalahlekelwa imisebenzi ngenxa yalezi zinguquko. Noko
iqhaza eliholwa nguhulumende ebambisene nabosozimboni kanye nabasebenzi
kulenguyaza ebiza nge Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA)
isinika ithemba lokuthi singazama ukwandisa amakhono adingekayo ngokubambisana.
Siyabonga ke Sekela LikaMongameli ngokuzikhandla ufake umfutho kulelifuthe.
Okubalulekile wukuthi asizubhekela nje kuphela ekuthuthukiseni amakhono alabo
abafunde bagogoda emanyuvesi, kodwa sizofaka nomdlandla kuleyomikhakha
esebenzisa kakhulu izandla. Kubalulekile ukuthi sibuke nxazonke amakhono
esiwadingayo ekuthuthukiseni umnotho ngoba phela ukukhula komnotho wakuleli,
kuzonika amandla kanye nezimali ezidingekayo ukuthi sifukule lapho
abasafufusayo, kanye nokuthi uhulumende abe nemali yokuthuthukisa imiphakathi
ezintweni ezifana nokuthuthukisa izinqalasizinda (infrastructure)
kuleyomiphakathi esantulayo.

Konke ke loku kusho ukuthi kumele sibenamaqhinga azomelana nalezizimo
ngokwehlukana kwazo.

Mongameli, inkulumo yakho esizweni sonke evikini eledlule iphinde
yagcizelela kabanzi ngokubalukeka kokulwa nobuphofu nayoyonke imithelela yako
ekwakheni kabusha iningizimu Afrika. Okuyintokozo wukuthi ihamba ngqo emazwini
ashiwo umqulu ongumkhombandlela iReconstruction and Development Programme (RDP)
lapho yathi, ubuphofu umthwalo onzima okufanele sibhekane nawo ngqo ekwakheni
kabusha leli lengabadi. Kungenzeka ke ukuthi ngokukhohlwa sizibuze ukuthi ngabe
kungani ugcizelela ekubalulekeni nokulwa nobuphofu enkulumeni yakho, izinkinga
ziziningi kweminye imikhakha yempilo? Ngizothanda ekucaphuna emazwini alomqulu
we RDP esawuvuma kulendlu ngonyaka ka 1994 ukuqala kukahulumeni wentando
yeningi ukuze sikhumbule ukuthi imuva lethu belimi kanjani njengesizwe.

Mangicaphune, "Our history has been a bitter one dominated by colonialism,
racism, apartheid, sexism and repressive labour policies. The result is that
poverty and degradation exist side by side with modern cities and a developed
mining, industrial and commercial infrastructure. Our income distribution is
racially distorted and ranks as one of the most unequal in the world, lavish
wealth and abject poverty characterise our society."

Ubuye uqhubeke uthi, "The result is that in every sphere of our societal
economic, social, political, moral, cultural, environmental, South Africans are
confronted by serious problems. There is not a single sector of South African
society, not even a person living in South Africa untouched by the ravages of
apartheid. The whole regions of our country are now suffering as a direct
result of the apartheid policies and their collapse."

Interestingly, the RDP itself acknowledges that while this was the past that
characterised us, South Africans in their millions struggled against this
system over decades. They struggled to improved their lives to restore peace
and bring about a more just and humane society. In your speech therefore Mr
President, you were correct in reminding us not to forget that more still needs
to be done to achieve that just and human society that many of our people
struggled for and where many even sacrificed their lives.

Madam Speaker, in the 12 years of our democratic rule we have put policies,
legislation and programmes which have been the building blocks of transforming
our society. These building blocks have on one hand sought to change the
material conditions in which many of our people find themselves in, whilst at
the same time building a caring and a human South African nation as evidenced
in the macro-social report that was released last year. Today we have a society
that is gradually embracing the common values of our country as espoused in our
Constitution. A society that has gradually embraced the symbols of our
nationhood. A society that collectively embrace the outstanding achievements of
our citizens in sports, arts and science and hold them in high esteem as our
own regardless from which racial background they might have come from. A
society whose corporate citizens are gradually working in partnership in
meeting the challenges of our development such as the work of the Business
Trust and Business Against Crime. A society that mourns together if one of us
is maimed or abused.

In these 12 years our social transformation we have also seen material
change happening in the lives of our people and within their communities. Many
have access to basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity. We do
acknowledge however that there are some amongst our communities that still live
in conditions where these services are not available. It is for this reason
that the programme of the Social Cluster Cabinet Committee has resolved to work
tirelessly in ensuring that we can accelerate the programme of sanitation in
particular the eradication of the bucket system that still remain in other
communities. Because municipalities are key delivery agents of our basic
service at community level it is important that they have the capacity that
will enable them to undertake this task.

The intervention of the past year at this sphere of government has enabled
us to build the capacity necessary for the municipality to undertake their
work. Today, many in our society have got access to healthcare through the
provision of health infrastructure and health professional closer to where they
leave. Many people today have assets such as housing and land through our land
reform programme. We also acknowledge that our integrated human settlement
strategy in the delivery of housing will help us to build living communities
where housing delivery in complemented with other social services that are
essential to any community.

The challenge of land for housing closer to our towns and cities will be
addressed in part by prioritising the use of State and public land where these
are available. The special purpose vehicle for instance will act as a holder of
such land made available by other governments departments, public entities and
private sector contributions for housing development. Mr President, the
approach of inner city developments with regard to housing delivery is another
mechanism that will help us to meet our housing demand while at the same time
assisting us to meet our objective of integrated cities. The delivery of land
to through the land reform programme has not only given access to land to those
who were disenfranchised before, but it has also given a possibility for
economic participation by these very communities. Experience of the past years
have shown that an integrated approach to land delivery is required if such an
asset will be used to empower communities economically. It therefore means that
from a planning stage all relevant departments that are critical in making
these communities are sustainable.

Our social security system acts as a safety net for those who are vulnerable
amongst our communities. It is also true that while this safety net is
necessary, our long-term objective should be to create possibilities for
empowerment where these communities and individuals can have opportunities for
productive work which will also bring back their dignity as a people. Our
employment creation strategies such as the Expanded Public Works Programme
(EPWP) must be scaled up because they offer an opportunity if done well to
create employment while at the same time improving our infrastructure delivery
where it is needed most.

Our government assets particularly our building properties have not been
well maintained making us ashamed that we are not the best land lord in the
land. This state of affairs while appalling does create a possibility for
employment creation to those young people who are unemployed. The young people
who will be recruited to this programme will also be enrolled with our further
education and training (FET) colleges and those industry colleges as artisan
trainees so that at the end of their national youth service they would have
given their service to their country while they would have gained skills. Mr
President, you have correctly observed that this is a challenge which needs all
South Africans. May be this is the time to revive our Masakhane campaign and
Vukuzenzele in a way that we can meaningfully create partnerships.

These campaigns we have had but may be we did no do much to bring it at an
operation level where indeed we can build "ilima" in fighting poverty using our
various resources. Mr President, a lot of faith based organisations (FBO) and
charity organisations have for many years been running soup kitchens where the
homeless have sought refuge and shelter. Others have run childcare centres
responding to the challenge within their communities, others have used their
church premises for food gardening project in order to enhance food security
intervention at that local level.

Others have on their own volunteered their services as healthcare workers at
time not expecting any compensation, this is an indication that there are many
of our citizens who are willing and ready to create a broad front in the fight
against poverty in our midst. The challenge however may be that some of these
many initiatives my have lack the knowledge of how they can work with
government as partners for development.

The work that we will be doing within government following the South African
Women in Dialogue (SAWID) delegation's visit to Chile and Tunisia will enable
us to find a better platform around which we can co-ordinate all our efforts in
fighting poverty. Central to the experience gathered from these two countries,
is that there is no quick solutions in fighting poverty. The experience of
these countries also tells us that partnerships between government, communities
and private sector are key.

Dedicated capacity that will remain close to these communities and families
for a period of time will be of necessity to ensure targeted and continuous
support. These experiences while not similar, is very close to the work by a
self-help group known as helping hand in the Chinae Province, India, from which
we have modelled our Jobs for growth initiative. Central to this initiative for
instance is that one needs to empower people to come out of poverty through
engaging in productive activities, using the skills that they have acquired
over the years.

Madam Speaker, this targeted approach will ensure that we bring dignity to
our people who may today find themselves poor and dependant on our social grant
system. If they are linked as they enter the social security system in
particular grants as well as those in the indigent policy at municipality
meeting, to a job creation scheme, they will be able once again to retain their
pride.

Mr President, it is true that more still needs to be done. We are the first
to acknowledge that 12 years is not enough to enable us to erase the legacy of
many decades. Neither can we be satisfied with the progress we have made and
feel it is okay. It is for this reason, Mr President, that in your State of the
Nation address (SONA) you have reminded us once again that the task is not yet
complete and we need to recommit ourselves even more as South Africans to
change those things that still dehumanise us as a society.

What needs to be done?

It is my submission to you, Mr President, that our current social policies
that may lie in a number of social cluster departments remain valid and
therefore what is needed is dealing with challenges of implementation
particularly within government. I would, therefore, mention a few that requires
attention.

A. Comprehensive health reform

The improvement of the health profile of our citizens remains our focus in
the interventions that we continue to make as government. Taking responsibility
in part for our health requires of us as citizen to do our part. Our response
to the challenge of communicable and communicable diseases cannot be managed
without each one of us taking responsibility about our lifestyles. The campaign
by the Ministry and the Department of Health…is a reminder that we need a
strong partnership between government and all sectors of the society. The HIV
and AIDS requires first and foremost that we as citizens must take
responsibility for prevention as the first defence. The improvement of
infrastructure to support those who are sick is critical. Improving the
physical infrastructure, the training of new health workers as well as
improving the conditions of services for nurses and medical health
practitioners will enhance the capability for overall health improvement for
all.

Madam Speaker and honourable members, once again the revelation of the
statistics of a number of deaths arising out of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment
regime which we have seen in the media in the past few days, affirms the
correctness of our comprehensive plan in fighting HIV and AIDS which we have
adopted as a country and are implementing. Honourable members, will recall that
the Ministry and Department of Health have highlighted the importance of
attending to these matters not just as it relates to HIV and AIDS but in
improving our general provision of comprehensive health to our citizens.

C. Job creation strategies

Our struggle against poverty and underdevelopment must seek to empower
people to take themselves out of poverty, while creating adequate social
security net to protect the most vulnerable in our society. Honourable members,
the centrality of fighting poverty and pushing back the frontiers of
underdevelopment has been and continues to be at the core our policies and
programmes. In this regard our starting point in designing interventions for
poverty eradication is improving material conditions and strengthening social
cohesion.

Honourable members, in 2007 we will accelerate the EPWP. We will ensure
amongst others that 3 000 Community Development Workers (CDWs) are deployed in
each local municipalities, implement integrated plan for comprehensive Early
Childhood Development (ECD) programmes.

With regards to the National Youth Service (NYS) in building maintenance,
the Department has already identified the first five projects in Free State,
Western Cape, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng whereby youth will be employed
in the maintenance and rehabilitation of state buildings. These projects will
each provide opportunities to approximately 100 youth. Recruitment of youth on
the first projects will commence in March. Further work is underway to identify
the next batch of projects to ensure that the target of 5 000 youth set by the
President is met. Furthermore, all the provincial public works departments have
also committed to engage 500 youths each in the maintenance of the assets they
are responsible for. All the provinces are currently finalising the
identification of projects that will be made part of the NYS in the coming
financial year.

C. Improving our public transport system

Expand the current bus subsidy system to cover all other road based modes of
public transport and provide subsidisation on route basis promoting modal
efficiencies for operations. This will deal with current concern on need foe a
separate taxi subsidy by integrating into a single system for normal buses, bus
rapid transit and taxis. This will mean a targeted intervention on subsidising
the operational side of the taxi industry to supplement the capital side of the
taxi industry provided through the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TXP). This
will also include the expansion and effective regulation of metered taxi
services.

Increase public transport operations to between 16 to 24 hours, strive for
maximum accessibility for users with special needs especially high volume rail
and road corridors and related stop and station infrastructure. Integrate with
road safety strategy to reduce drinking and driving and decongesting traffic by
increasing high occupancy vehicle lanes for use by public transport.

The allocation of R14,7 billion over Medium Term Expenditure Framework
(MTEF) for recapitalisation of passenger rail and upgrading services on
priority rail corridors. Phase target to refurbish enough couches to achieve 10
minute headways. In addition purchase new rolling stock in the future to ensure
achievement of high train frequencies, five minutes especially during peak
hours.

D. Integrated housing programme

The implementation of government's comprehensive programme dealing with
human settlement and social infrastructure must persist. Government will ensure
that we implement concrete steps to ensure that housing development contributes
to eliminating the duality of living spaces inherited from apartheid.

E. Acceleration of land reform

The African National Congress (ANC) will accelerate land reform. In
particular, we will implement the pro-active land acquisition strategy to
acquire the 30% agricultural land and other land for land reform. A special
purpose vehicle will acquire, hold, manage, develop and dispose land for land
reform purposes established. Furthermore, the speedy enactment of the Land Uses
Management Bill will provide amongst others tools to transform the settlement
patterns of this country in a manner that gives effect to the key
constitutional provision on land.

F. Strengthening traditional leadership system in development: implementing
the Communal Land Rights Act

Madam Speaker, in his SONA, the President indicated that this year
government will implement the Communal Land Rights Act. Firstly, we want to
appreciate the work that has been done with the provincial houses of
traditional leaders in further popularising this act amongst their regional and
local structures. It is our view that the implementation of this legislation,
Mr President and honourable members, will assist in better management and use
of land in our traditional areas for both residential and economic needs.

Mr President and honourable members, it will be necessary that as government
we should enhance the capacity of these institutions so that their
administrative capacity can better respond to the task that they have to
undertake. The promulgation of the traditional framework legislation also
enhances and formalises the governance system within these communities.

G. Mobilisation of communities and community organisation in the fight
against poverty

Madam Speaker, honourable members, to build a caring and a humane society
requires a broad front for development. What this means is that our people and
their organisations at local level must work in partnership with the structures
of government as delivery agents. The objectives of Masakhane must once again
be integral to our delivery ethos. Batho Pele must not only remain as slogan,
but must become a way in which we respond in resolving the challenges that our
communities face.

I thank you, ngiyabonga!

Issued by: Department of Public Works
14 February 2007