State of the Province Address delivered by the Honourable Premier of the Eastern Cape, Ms Noxolo Kiviet
Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker,
Members of the Executive Council,
IiKumkani zethu nooNdlunkulu bethu,
Leadership of the ANC and its Alliance partners,
Leaders of all political parties,
Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Delegates of the National Council of Provinces,
Members of the National Assembly,
Speakers from our sister Legislatures,
The Consular General of Indonesia,
USihlalo Wendlu Yeenkosi eMpuma Kapa, neenkosi, ezikhoyo phakathi kwethu,
Judge President of the Eastern Cape Bench of the High Court,
Members of the Judiciary,
Heads of the security services,
Chairperson of SALGA, Executive Mayors, Mayors and Councillors,
Vice Chancellors and leaders of our tertiary institutions,
Religious, business, labour and civil society leaders,
Members of the diplomatic and consular corps,
Director-General and Senior Officials of the Administration,
Members of the media,
Fellow citizens of our beautiful province,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Mandithathe eli thuba ndibulise bonke abantu beli Phondo, ingakumbi abo baphula-phule le ntetho kuMhlobo Wenene, iTru FM, kwii-community radio stations, nababukele kwiDSTV Parliamentary Channel.
Bambi babukele le ntetho behlangene kwezi ndawo zilandelayo: eSithukuthezi eMbizana; eLibode eNyandeni; Prince Vale, e-Ikhwezi; eGeorge Botha eNelson Mandela; eStutterheim e-Amahlathi; eLady Frere Emalahleni; eNxarhuni eBuffalo
City; naseVenterstad eGariep. Ndiyabulisa mawethu kuzo zonke iindawo enikuzo.
We are gathered at this august House of the representatives of the people of the Eastern Cape to receive the 5th State of the Province Address designed to mark the close of the fourth term of the democratic government. We are assembled on these hallowed grounds on the eve of the twentieth anniversary of our freedom to proclaim loudly and proudly that, regardless of the challenges we still face, this day is better than yesterday.
Today, 21st February, is the International Mother Tongue Day as declared by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation. I therefore should be presenting this speech in my own mother tongue. However I will try to be accommodative to all citizens of our Province.
Honourable Speaker, it is two months after the passing of the father of our nation and international icon, Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela. On behalf of the Government of the Eastern Cape, I wish to thank our President together with the entire collective in government and in the democratic movement for the leadership provided during one of the most difficult times in the history of our democracy.
The dignified sendoff that was given to this son of the soil was indeed befitting. Similarly, we take our hats off to Tat’uMadiba’s comrades and fellow citizens of the Eastern Cape for the somberness and discipline you displayed during this period. U het u wonings oopgemaak vir die wereldom ‘n blik te kry van u trane en u waardigheid wat bevestig het dat u Mandela se mense is.
As we grieve the loss of Madiba, we must also celebrate the fact that from these rugged environs, among these poor masses, emerged a colossus. We must celebrate too, the fact that this legend that lived among us has now joined an honoured list of many others who came from our shores.
Among those legends are OR Tambo; Walter and Albertina Sisulu; Govan Mbeki; Raymond Mhlaba; Steve Biko; Robert Sobukwe; and Molly Blackburn. We also take this opportunity to acknowledge all our fellow compatriots who departed during this past year, and they include TV personality Vuyo Mbuli; Comrade Bonisile Twebe; Judge Pius Langa; MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile; King Mpondombini Sigcau, MPL Pine Pienaar; and this week Professor Mbulelo Mzamane and Nkosi Joseph Zibi.
Honourable Speaker, as our President would lead us in the song “Inde le ndlela esiyihambayo”, we are now on the twentieth lap since we started our reconstruction and development programme way back on the 27th of April 1994. Today, twenty years later, we are proud to report to this House and to the people of our Province, that indeed the Eastern Cape is a much better place now than it was then.
From the beginning, we declared confidently that we were ready to govern! Unequivocally, we made the commitment that, among others, we would strive for the achievement of the right of all South Africans to political freedom; we would work tirelessly to reverse the legacy of inequality and injustice created by colonialism and apartheid; we would spare neither energy nor strength in ensuring that we transform ours into an inclusive economy that serves all South Africans.
Drawing inspiration from the Manifesto of the African National Congress, we set out priorities to create decent work; to build infrastructure; to reverse the legacy of
underdevelopment in rural areas; to facilitate better access to health and education; and to banish the scourge of crime and corruption. It is now time to give account on the work done on each of the aforementioned priorities.
Honourable Speaker, with respect to the creation of decent work, between 1994 and 2008 the Eastern Cape economy grew at twice the rate of the last fifteen years of apartheid. Like all economies of the world, our economy was affected by the 2008 global economic recession.
This ended the longest period of sustained growth in the Province’s recent history. The impact of this crisis was particularly significant in the Eastern Cape, and set us back at least eight years with respect to job creation, especially in the manufacturing sector. It should therefore not be surprising that over the last five years the economy grew at a moderate average rate of 1.9 %, while the unemployment rate over the same period averaged at 27%.
In response to this crisis, the Provincial Government developed the Provincial Industrial Development Strategy and the Jobs Strategy. We also intensified the implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme. A multi-stakeholder Rapid Response Coordinating Committee was also established to consider ways in which the impact of the global economic crisis could be mitigated in the province.
A combination of these measures resulted in Government saving 5 000 thousands of critical jobs in the manufacturing sector that would otherwise have been lost, as well as the creation of new jobs.
Through these measures we supported companies in distress, including SJM Flex SA; Sentech Industries; Continental Tyres; Faurecia Interior Systems; Halberg Guss Aluminium, all in Port Elizabeth; Stateline in Queenstown; and FABKOMP in East London, Yebo Tanks in Komga; Seating in Queenstown; Eltex in East London; Ouma Rusks in Molteno, among others.
On the whole, the logic of our work on the economic development front was anchored on (1) improving energy supply and building stronger logistics platforms for global and national integration; (2) creating jobs in labour absorbing sectors where we have competitive advantage; (3) addressing economic exclusion; and (4) redressing spatial unevenness in the province.
With respect to logistics projects, we have done well as a Province over the past term of government. Transnet have radically increased their project portfolio in the Province, with significant investments going into our three ports.
R2,1 billion is allocated to transform Port Elizabeth harbour into a leading automotive export hub; R2,4 billion is allocated to East London as a diversified cargo port; and the Port of Ngqura, will get R15 billion to further develop it as a leading trans-shipment container hub for sub- Saharan Africa. These ports will put the Eastern Cape on the global trade map, and forever change our status as a labour reserve.
Our Industrial Development Zones (IDZ) are beginning to work, and will complement our ports through securing investment for industrialization. The East London Industrial Development Zone has, since its inception, secured 32 investments with a value of R4,2 billion.
These include investments in the automotive, agroprocessing, aquaculture, logistics, and renewable energy sectors, yielding 2 497 jobs. Of the R4, 2 billion secured investment, more than R1 billion is linked to MBSA’s W205 project.
The East London IDZ also has strategic pipeline investments such as the new multi-modal Original Equipment Manufacturers, with the Department of Trade and Industry, Industrial Development Corporation, and private investors already showing interest in making this massive development a reality.
Coega IDZ has secured 21 operational investors to date, with a total investment value of R2,1 billion, yielding 4 409 operational jobs. In addition, Coega has an additional R6,8 billion pipeline investment. Plans to commence steel beneficiation in Coega have been cemented with the investment by Agni Steels SA in the Coega IDZ, and GDF Suez have just signed a 15 year power purchasing agreement with ESKOM and are investing R2,5 billion in a power peaking plant in Coega which will produce 335MW of energy.
As part of the manganese corridor development to the Northern Cape, which is a SIP 3 priority project, the new tank farm and manganese export facility in Coega is on track, and an investor for the major manganese smeltering facility has been secured. Afrox has also recently announced an investment of more than R300 million in an air separation unit in Coega to supply industrial gas.
These are all exciting developments, and will be catalytic for major industrialization and value adding economic activity. We have also done significant work on Project Mthombo.
In partnership with Sinopec and the Industrial Development Corporation, a viable business case has been established for Project Mthombo, which is now included in the national strategic infrastructure programme driven by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC).
The new administration will relentlessly pursue this work until this project is realized. Other exciting economic opportunities linked to the proposed nuclear power station at Thyspunt and the beneficiation of shale gas will be further developed in the next term of government.
During this term, we further consolidated our position as the country’s leading automotive hub. To this end, a number of new investments and expansions were announced, including the MBSA W205 and FAW production lines. In order to maximize the impact of these investments, government has invested in building component supplier capacity.
We are also starting to show success in our drive to diversify the provincial economy and make it less reliant on the automotive sector through initiatives in the fields of renewable energy; agro-processing and aquaculture among others.
The Eastern Cape is poised to be the lead Province in the green energy sector. Most recently, the Province has secured 12 wind farms in the National Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme valued at R21 billion. Of this amount, R7 billion has been earmarked for local content. In this regard, DCD have just started construction work on a 23 000 m2 wind tower manufacturing facility at the Coega IDZ, valued at R300-million.
The plant will create 1 951 jobs. It is also significant to mention that of the eight national biofuel projects that have been granted licenses, four are in the Eastern Cape. We are of the view that as we build our industrial base and create enabling conditions for private sector investment and job creation, we must at the same time address issues of economic exclusion.
Through the EPWP, 707 286 job opportunities were created, far exceeding the target of 489 920. Of these, 332 146 are opportunities that accrued to the youth; 362 382 to women and more than 12 000 to people with disabilities. 39 664 household contractors were awarded work to maintain rural roads. 1 503 young people were employed through the National Youth Service Corps.
Through the SMME incubation programme, which is aimed at enterprise development, we have been able to support the development of a total of 2 012 new SMMEs and support 3 730 existing SMMEs. Through the Jobs Stimulus Fund, R24, 6 million has been disbursed to 27 companies, creating 2 460 jobs.
During the current term, the Province prioritized support to primary co-operatives in the areas of agri-business, forestry and timber processing, construction, the automotive sector, metals processing, chemicals production, textiles and clothing; tourism and cultural industries.
We supported 113 co-operatives with a R53 million allocation. In addition to the financial support, the co-operatives benefited from a capacity building programme including training and mentorship. The enterprise incubation model has been revised and 883 SMMEs have been developed marking a growth of 86% from the 118 that benefited in 2009. The Province has also prioritized spatial economic development, and in particular the development of economic opportunities in the east of the province.
Through the Integrated Wild Coast Development Initiative, we have pursued a number of projects that will change the economic status of the region. These include the Mzimvubu Project, which is being developed as an integrated water supply, hydro-electricity, and agricultural project.
All preliminary investigations were completed in March last year and land rehabilitation works are set to commence in the catchment area in March this year. We are happy to see the project in the Department of Water Affairs’ medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) budget, and can close this term of government comfortable in the knowledge that this long-planned project is set for
implementation.
We have also targeted the further development of agroindustry in the east of the Province, and related logistics capacity. Key here is the establishment of a new Special Economic Zone, which is one of 10 new SEZs to be developed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Also key to economic development in the east of the Province is the further development of the Mthatha Airport. The Mthatha Airport runway refurbishment was completed and opened in 2013.
Construction of the terminal building and fence, to the value of R200 million, has commenced. We will continue into the next term of Government to champion the Wild Coast N2 project, and engage on the funding strategy until this key project becomes a reality.
In the tourism sector, the FIFA World Cup in 2010 drew significant numbers of tourists to the Province, generating an income of about R1.6 billion in revenue. Beyond 2010, government has continued to support a number of initiatives to harness the tourism potential of the province.
These include the National Arts Festival, Buyelekhaya Jazz Festival, Wild Coast Cultural Festival, Iron Man, and Africa Open Golf Tournament. The overwhelming support for these initiatives confirms our rich cultural heritage, and that indeed we are a tourism destination of choice.
Encouraged by this realization, in 2012 we declared the Eastern Cape as the “Home of Legends” as part of our branding and marketing strategy. Honourable Speaker, in the priority area of building social and economic infrastructure, I am glad to announce that, during this term, the provincial infrastructure expenditure improved to 93.6% in 2013 compared to 79.7% in 2010.
The Provincial Government has, since 2009 to date, built 61 131 houses against a term target of 54 000. In the past twenty years, Government built 1 516 new schools in the Province, 202 of which were constructed during the current term. Of these, 1 467 were funded from our own provincial infrastructure budget, and 49 were built through the Accelerated School Infrastructure Development Initiative, [ASIDI], which started last year.
Further work has already commenced on an additional 160 schools through the ASIDI programme. This means that at the end of this term, alone, we will have constructed 362 new schools. We also built 30 new community libraries, renovated 55 and provided ICT infrastructure in 237 community libraries.
Hospital revitalization and upgrading of theatres, ICU, as well as medical and surgical wards have been completed in the following hospitals: Dr Malizo Mpehle Memorial, St Patricks, Frontier, St Elizabeth, Cecilia Makiwane, Aliwal North, All Saints, Uitenhage and Victoria.
The Oncology Units were established at Frere and Livingstone Hospitals, and a new Accident and Emergency Unit at Livingstone Hospital is complete and functional. Four TB hospitals have been upgraded, namely: Jose Pearson, Nkqubela, Majorie Parrish, and Empilweni. The provincial ambulance fleet increased from 185 in 2009 to 305 in 2013.
With the support of SANRAL, over R11 billion has been spent on road construction and maintenance in the Province. Key projects completed include the Coega Bridge at Colchester; Top Fish River pass to Keiskamma River; N2 near the Gonubie interchange; N2 in Mthatha and the surrounding area, including the Mthatha one way system.
A number of surfaced roads have been refurbished, including R56 from Middleburg to Matatiele; R58 from Venterstad to Elliot; R61 between Ngcobo and Mthatha, R61 between Mthatha and Port St. John’s, R61 between Tarkastad and Queenstown, R62 from Haarlem to Humansdorp; R63 west from Graaff Reinet to Cookhouse; R63 east from Bedford to Komga; R67 from Grahamstown to Queenstown; R72 from Nanaga to East London; and R76 from Port Elizabeth to Graaff Reinet.
In order to improve the quality and pace of road infrastructure development, the Provincial Government is exploring possibilities of supporting District Municipalities to procure own equipment and plant for construction and maintenance of roads.
With respect to municipal infrastructure, 1 472 880 households are now benefitting from water provision, compared to 1 174 187 in 2009. This marks a 12% improvement. 1 301 615 households now have access to sanitation services, compared to 920 308 in 2009. This is a 22% increase. 1 301 615 households are currently benefitting from electricity provision, compared to only 602 961 households in 2009.
This shows a remarkable 38% improvement. Honourable speaker, considering these achievements no one can doubt that, the Eastern Cape is now a better place than it was in 1994. As part of the infrastructure improvements that came about as a result of the King Sabatha Dalindyebo Presidential Revitalization Project, 58 projects, including electricity, roads, bridges, Thusong Centres, have been completed.
This infrastructure enabled the smooth organization of Madiba’s funeral. The Nkosi Dalibhunga Mandela Legacy Road and the Mvezo Bridge are also complete. The provincial government is working with national government to extend this road to Elliotdale as well as to facilitate access to the newly built Science and Technology School in Mvezo.
Honourable Speaker, on rural development, land, agrarian reform and food security, we have paid particular focus on addressing the challenges of spatial inequality in the province. To this end, we packaged our programmes such that public sector investment is biased towards the eastern part of the province.
Through the Siyakhula and Massive Food Production Programmes, a total of 33 801 hectares were ploughed over the term. Maize and other grains yielded from this benefitted 67 273 households. At Shiloh Irrigation Scheme, the commercial dairy enterprise is up and running and is producing 15 000 litres of milk per day, which is supplied to Clover SA.
At Tyhefu Irrigation Scheme, where there is a partnership arrangement with Bonifruit, Pomegranate fruit production covers an area of 330 hectares. At Keiskammahoek Irrigation Scheme, the supply of cows was almost doubled from 600 in 2010 to the current 1 051. At Ncora Irrigation Scheme, 950 cows are producing 14 000 litres of milk per day.
The implementation of both the Rural Development and Anti-Poverty Strategies has been piloted in identified sites across the Province. Without any fear of contradiction, the Lubala community can attest to the fact that theirs is a better place today than it was in 1994. Moving forward, as a response to the ever rising food prices, the Province has prioritized food security programmes in the targeted sites.
Honourable Speaker, on strengthening education, skills and the human resource base of the province, the Provincial Government is working with various partners such as our Traditional Leaders, GM Foundation, University of Fort Hare, Ilima Ministers Fraternal, and the Adopt a School Programme, to improve learning outcomes.
As a result of these partnerships and contribution by other stakeholders, we have realized continuous improvement in the matric results from 48,5% in 1994; 50,6% in 2008 to 64,9% in 2013. It is significant that in 2013 there was no district achieving a matric pass rate below 50% compared to 19 districts in 2009; distinctions were 11 038 in 2013 compared to 7 398 in 2009; Bachelor passes or exemptions were 13 686 in 2013 compared to 8 622 in 2009.
This performance could be taken to another level with improved working relations amongst various stakeholders in the education sector. Noting the significance of mother tongue teaching to learner performance, the 53rd National Conference of the African National Congress resolved that consideration be made for development of an indigenous language policy that will ensure that at least one African Language is compulsory in schools by 2014.
In this regard the province has started with 101 of the 338 schools which previously did not offer any indigenous language. In order to improve access to quality education, school nutrition is provided to all the schools in quintiles 1-3. This means that of the 5 552 schools in the province, 5 132 schools and 1, 6 million learners are now benefitting from this programme.
Furthermore, 5 336 schools, with 1 580 738 learners, have been declared as no-fee schools. Furthermore, the timely delivery of Learner and Teacher Support Material has improved to 100% of textbooks over the past two years, and in 2013 the Eastern Cape was the leading Province on the procurement and delivery of Learner Teacher Support Material (LTSM).
The number of funded Early Childhood Development Centres has increased from 893 in 2009 to 1 324 in 2013. This created 5 456 job opportunities. Over the term, the province implemented the Eastern Cape Strategic Skills Project aimed at building critical and scarce skills amongst the youth. Partnerships have been established with various Sector Education and Training Authorities to provide experiential training and to support skills development in the province.
To date, these partnerships account for an annual investment of more than R20 million by SETAs in the Province. This has resulted in 2750 youths being exposed to training on critical and scarce skills and workplace experience. Over the term the Province has provided bursaries to 10 934 students studying fulltime at institutions of higher learning.
What has been evident is that the investment in higher education has to be substantially increased to provide funding to students as the quality pass rate improves in the province. As a result I have made available an additional R10 million, taking the Office of the Premier’s funding for student financial aid this academic year to above R30 million.
Also noting the significance of developing human capital with skills relevant for the development of our province, government is working towards conducting a detailed skills assessment leading to the finalization of the Youth Development Strategy that should address the current mismatch between the skills required by the economy and the skills possessed by the unemployed youth.
Honourable Speaker, with respect to improving the health profile of the Province, the Provincialisation of Primary Health Care was concluded in 2012. The incidence of TB is showing a decline and the cure rate has increased from 60.9% in 2009 to 69% by the end of 2013.
Significant improvements have been made on HIV&AIDS treatment as evident in the increase in the number of facilities competent to provide Anti-Retroviral Treatment, from 85 in 2009 to 790 in 2013, and the increase in the number of ART programme beneficiaries from 102 186 in 2009 to 273 305 in 2013.
Through the implementation of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission programme, HIV infected babies significantly decreased from 8% in 2009 to 2.3% in 2013. The maternal mortality rate decreased from 202 for every 100 000 live births in 2009 to less than 150 for every 100 000 live births currently. The infant mortality rate was 34 per 1 000 in 2009 and has dropped to 30 per 1 000 whilst the deaths of children younger than five years have decreased from 53.5% in 2009 to 45% in 2013.
Essential medicine availability has been increased to an average of 95% in our depots. Electronic drug supply management has been introduced in 150 health facilities and medicines are being delivered directly to health facilities rather than to the sub depots. It is also worth mentioning that in the recent past we have acted decisively to stabilize the provisioning of health professionals in the sector.
With respect to the National Health Insurance, which is being piloted in the OR Tambo District currently, infrastructure repairs and rehabilitation are being implemented in all the 154 clinics and hospitals at a cost of R172 million. The national facility audit has identified 227 projects that will be implemented to address infrastructure deficiencies.
These projects include 17 new clinics and a new community health centre. The budget allocated for the clinics is R204 million and R64 million has been allocated to the community health centre. Bambisana, Zithulele and Nessy Knight will be rebuilt as 100 bed hospitals at a total cost of R900 million.
Furthermore, the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital flagship project has since been included in the strategic infrastructure projects under the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC). As part of enhancing human resources in the OR Tambo District, Government has deployed 241 more nurses as well as 14 of the 24 Cuban Specialists in the Province to this district.
To improve Primary Health care services, 10 of the newly acquired 20 mobile clinics have been allocated to the OR Tambo District. Through the Republic of South Africa-Cuba collaboration, the Eastern Cape has sent 333 students to Cuba since 1998, of which 60 have qualified as doctors and are currently in our employ. In 2013 alone, the Province sent 105 young people to Cuba.
Honourable Speaker, as a result of the intensification of the fight against crime and corruption in the province, the rate of crime has generally stabilized since 2009. Contact crimes show a 4% decrease over the past four years, and the ability of the police to detect crime increased at a rate of more than 5%.
Our seriousness on the fight against violent crimes, especially against vulnerable members of our communities, is evident in the heavy sentences meted against those convicted of such crimes. For example, the Tholeni perpetrator was sentenced to 25 life terms in prison.
Following this conviction, calm has been restored in that area, and women are now living without fear. We also paid particular attention on developing and establishing anti-corruption mechanisms. Feedback by state institutions on cases reported through the Anti-Corruption Hotline has significantly increased from 15% in 2009 to 81% in 2013 while finalized cases improved from 5% in 2009 to 20% in 2013.
Due to the strengthened anti-corruption measures, more than 80 fraud related disciplinary proceedings have been instituted, resulting to at least 11 corruption and fraud dismissals and more than 30 criminal charges laid against culprits. The conviction rate has also improved from 93.9% in 2009 to 99% in 2012.
The Special Investigative Unit was appointed to investigate serious cases in departments. With the support of this Unit, government recovered more than R7 million in three departments, namely, Health, Education and the then Roads and Transport, and potential fraudulent payments worth more than R53 million in the Department of Education were averted.
The provincial government developed a price index to curb over pricing by service providers and collusion by government officials. It is also worth mentioning that the policy prohibiting employees from trading with government without approval was developed and is currently being implemented in all departments in the province.
One of the gains brought about by our Constitution is the right to freedom of expression. We should remember, though, that like any other right this right also comes with responsibilities. Therefore, as we exercise the right to protest when feeling dissatisfied with anything, we should not destroy what is already in place. Any destruction of property is condemned in the strongest possible terms and will not be tolerated.
The government institutions established through this democratic government should be used as channels for people to voice out their concerns. Amongst these channels is the Presidential Hotline which currently shows an increased resolution rate of community problems from 2% in 2009 to 79% in 2013.
This demonstrates that ours is a caring government. Honourable Speaker, with respect to the building of a developmental state, the improvement of the public service, and the strengthening of democratic institutions, leadership stability both at political and administrative levels has been the critical success factor of this term of government.
Last year, we saw for the first time since 1994 two government departments achieving clean audit results as well as the departments of Health and Education together moving away from the disclaimer zone.
I n this term, efforts to strengthen women leadership in departments bore fruit as Social Development and SpecialProgrammes, Office of the Premier as well as Safety and Liaison demonstrated that it is possible to achieve 50% women representation at Senior Management Services level.
Currently, 71% of the SMS feeder level managers undergoing leadership training at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University are women. A number of institutional development initiatives were undertaken and completed. These include the rationalization of Eastern Cape Tourism Board and Eastern Cape Parks Board into the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency; the merger of ASGISA-EC and ECRFC into the Rural Development Agency; the establishment of the Government Fleet Management Agency; as well as the promulgation of the Eastern Cape Planning Commission.
The fiscal position of the Province has improved, particularly in respect of conditional grants allocations, from R4.7 billion in 2009 to R9.4 billion in 2013, and in the provincial own revenue, from R765 million in 2009 to R899 million in 2013. During this term, measures were put in place to improve the functionality and viability of municipalities, and these included the monitoring of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant expenditure, payment of debts owed by departments to municipalities as well as municipal audit outcomes.
The instability and capacity constraints in some municipalities have undermined the successful implementation of Local Government Turnaround Strategy. As an intervention, during this term, the Provincial Government invoked Sections 139 and 154 of the Constitution in the affected municipalities, namely, Alfred Nzo, Sundays River Valley, Koukamma and Mnquma.
We are a Province that is prone to disasters. This is one of the effects of the climate change and global warming phenomenon. It is, however, unfortunate and sad that the people who are adversely affected by this are the poor people in the rural areas. As a caring government, our institutions are always on the ground, as part of implementing our disaster management strategy, whenever these conditions strike.
Moving forward, the Executive Council has taken a decision to work closely with relevant research institutions to find appropriate solutions and innovations to respond to the effects of global warming in our province.
Honourable Speaker, since the democratic breakthrough of 1994, we have sought to forge a new nation out of the ruins of a legacy of slavery, colonialism, and apartheid. By this time, twenty years ago, this very Eastern Cape was nothing more than its own scatterings. Yet today we stand here convinced that the Eastern Cape is, indeed, by far a better place than it was then.
The unity of our people, cohesiveness and functional integrity of the democratic state is in no small measure the product of our strategic objective on building cohesive, caring and sustainable communities. In response to the apartheid legacy of high levels of poverty in the Eastern Cape, the government developed measures to improve access to social grants as part of the comprehensive social security programme.
Annually, government invests over R19 billion in the Eastern Cape economy as transfers to the 2, 6 million beneficiaries, 72% of whom are children. Following the re-registration process, 232 544 beneficiaries who failed to show up for registration on the new biometric data bank for payments have been suspended.
This is part of our endeavours to combat fraud and corruption in this area. On improving social work services, the Provincial Government, has since 2009, appointed 2 131 social workers. As our contribution to skills development in this profession, Government supported 7 020 students with bursaries.
Based on the account of key development indicators, nobody can doubt that the quality of life of citizens in the Eastern Cape has improved significantly since 1994. Levels of poverty and inequality have declined, and the human development index continues to improve, qualifying the assertion that the Eastern Cape is now a better place than it was in 1994.
The Steve Biko Heritage Trail and Centre in Ginsberg; the Robert Sobukwe’s Grave; Chris Hani Heritage Multipurpose Centre; Ngquza Hill Massacre Heritage Site and the Bhisho Massacre Heritage Precinct were established and unveiled. As Honourable Members will recall, since we attained our freedom in 1994 we have been determined to ensure that all of our people who perished during our struggle for national liberation are brought home as part of our national healing and reconciliation process.
In partnership with Amathole District Municipality, the National Heritage Council and other social partners, we facilitated the repatriation of Nxele’s spirit from Robben Island back home to Tshabo in April 2013. Nxele joins a growing list of these South Africans, including Sara Baartman who now lies buried at Hankey. In a similar vein, we are pursuing the repatriation of the remains of David Stuurman from Australia.
Le mizabalazo ndigqiba kuyikhankanya ibifumana inkxaso emandla kubanini mhlaba, abagcinimafa nezithethe zethu, abantwana begazi, iinkosi zezwe lethu. Siyalibulela kakhulu igalelo nenkxaso yabo kwiinkqubo zikaRhulumente. Sikubonile ukuzinikela kweeNkosi zakowethu, zisebenzisana kunye namasebe kaRhulumente, kwinkqubo yolwaluko. Ndiyamemelela kananjalo ukuba siqhubeke sibambisene siwaqinise amaphulo esele siwaqalile.
Mawethu, ndicinga ukuba kufanelekile ngeli thuba ndiveze unxunguphalo lweenkokeli nabemi beli Phondo ngokubhubha koonyana bethu esuthwini. SinguRhulumente weli Phondo sigqibe ukuba singapheleli nje ekulikhalimeleni eli shwangusha, kodwa sibone kufanelekile ukuba size kuni ziNkosi, iinkokeli nesizwe ngokubanzi, sizokubonisana ngandlela zimbi zokungenisa abantwana bethu ebudodeni.
Akukho siko libaluleke ngaphezu kobomi bomntu. Ndiyazi ke ukuba ndichukumisa inyok’emsileni, kodwa ke xa kunje kunyembelekile. Akukho ngxaki ingasohlula xa sibambisene ngeenjongo zokuyisombulula. Into ethetha ukuthi xa sibambisene singasisa phambili isizwe sethu.
In the same spirit, let me take this opportunity to acknowledge the role played and contribution made by various philanthropists in the development of talent in our province. Today, we have in our midst Tat’uMthetheli Ngumbela from Dutywa, who continues to inspire all of us through his contribution to the advancement of young talent in this province, especially in cricket.
Mazen’ethole Ndlovu ngemisebenzi yakho. Sithi kuwe nakwabanye abanjengawe
nangamso, mathol’anyongande kukudlelana.
Honourable Members, please join me as I congratulate the following citizens for putting our province on the map through their endeavours especially in sport. These are Lusapho April, for achieving a bronze medal at New York marathon in the USA. He has now been selected for World-Half Marathon Champs in Denmark, as well as to participate in Boston Marathon in USA.
Kevin Paul, who added to his 2012 Paralympic medal, a World Championships gold medal in the 100m breast stroke SB9 category; Anaso Jobodwana, who reached finals in 100m sprint in the 2012 Olympics; and Anriette Schoeman, who won the Pick ‘n Pay / Cape Argus Cycling race for the 7th time in the women’s category.
Let us applaud our Team of Senior Citizens who collected 27 medals [11 Gold, 11 Silver, 5 Bronze] in the 2013 Golden Games. They received the highest number of medals, and thus becoming the National champions.
As I conclude, Honourable Speaker, I wish to express the appreciation of the leadership provided by the African National Congress which has been at the centre of the successes reported here today. On behalf of the Executive Council, I also take this opportunity to thank leaders in all sectors of our society who worked with us to serve our people.
You have demonstrated that leadership is not about the positions we hold, but it is about taking responsibility and being accountable for the strategic choices you make or fail to make.
I concur indeed with Peter Drucker that, “Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked, leadership is defined by the results not attributes.”
In order to sustain and accelerate the improvements in the quality of life of our people as we reported here today, we will henceforth focus on building a more inclusive economy; mobilizing resources to address social backlogs; strengthening government capacity; improving the capacity of local government; and developing the skills base of the province.
Our success moving into the new term of government will be determined by the active participation and involvement of citizens of this Province in the programmes of government. We cannot be spectators in the struggle for our own emancipation. As Dr Martin Luther King says, “Change does not roll in on wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom.”
I now take this opportunity to thank you Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the Presiding Officers and Members of the Legislature for your support. I also wish to express my appreciation for the collegial relationship I have with the Members of the Executive Council.
Last, but not least, my special gratitude goes to the Provincial Administrative Leadership for the job well done.
Honourable Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to thank the people of the Eastern Cape for the unwavering support given to our Government as well as for offering your shoulder for my family to cry on during the time of our bereavement.
As we know, the President has announced that the 5th democratic election date is the 7th of May 2014. I call upon registered voters in our Province to go all out to discharge their civic duty and exercise their hard won democratic right in voting for progress so that, together, we can move South Africa forward.
I thank you!
