THE PREMIER'S ADDRESS

Master of Ceremonies
Honourable Chairperson, Mr Dick Hattingh
Members of the Greater Nelspruit Business Association
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

I greet you all.

As I look around this afternoon I see many people who have become friends. People who have expressed - in both words and deeds - their support for this province of the rising sun. Indeed is a great honour to be amongst friends, to break bread with those you know.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank everybody - black and white - who have shown, and continue to show confidence in the future of Mpumalanga.

It is also an honour and a privilege that so many of you could take time off from your busy schedules to come and share with us views and ideas on how we as a nation in this province can get to work to build a better life for all.

We thank you most sincerely for your presence which itself constitutes a tribute to the millions of our people in this province and is a profound statement of hope that all of us will, together, continue to expand the frontiers of human dignity.

The fact that you have asked me to speak to you today is an indication of the bond you want to exist between yourselves as business people and government.

The Province of Mpumalanga is the powerhouse of Africa's fastest growing region, offering investment opportunities in industries as diverse as stainless steel, petrochemicals, timber, agriculture and tourism. Its growth rate of 3,4% a year is double that of South Africa's.

The positive economic growth in - Mpumalanga experienced over the past five years is an indication of the economic stability in the Province.

The Gross Geographic Product (GGP) of the Province has grown from R28 billion in 1993 to R48 billion in 1998 which represents 8% of the South African's output.

Only the economy of Nigeria is larger than the economy of Mpumalanga Province in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. The Province's economy is ten times greater than the economy of Swaziland, seven times than that of Mozambique and more than three times the size of the economics of Zambia and Namibia.

There are several reasons for this phenomenal growth. The favourable location of the Province enhances its inherent potential. Less than 100km from the border post of Mozambique lies the Maputo harbour. Now being upgraded the harbour is contributing to a brisk import/export trade with the Province.

Being close to Gauteng, the economic hub of South Africa has many advantages for economic development.

In order for us to be globally competitive, we will need to get onto the market, goods that are as good if not better than those from the Asian tigers in the east, the European Union countries, Cuba, the United States and all other parts of the developed world.

These goods need to be on the market on time, hence the need for an airport.

I have been asked to speak on the matter. I would have loved to make a public pronouncement on the matter, but because of the delicate stage, legal negotiations have reached, I would rather not pre-empt the outcome.

May I also mention that in discussions with Transport Minister Dullah Omar yesterday we have been able to get the stakeholders in the Tollgate stalemate talking and hope for a speedy resolution.

After all is said and done we can then safely say that Mpumalanga is ready for business, Mpumalanga is in business.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Maputo Development Corridor will result in a resurgence of investors' interest in the region, creating a stimulus for renewed economic growth and development. The key component of the initiative is the establishment of transport axis between Gauteng and Maputo to establish the shortest link to the export harbour.

The focus of the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, working closely with its cities, towns and villages, is two-pronged - growth and development are equally significant objectives.

A key focus in the next five years will be to extend the economic, urban, rural and human resource to compete effectively with the front-runner regional economies of the world.

Meeting basic needs and alleviating poverty. Equalising access to opportunities are equally essential components of a thrust for developing the people and the communities within our province. Our business is service.

Whichever way you look at it, the bottom line in our government is service excellence.

To this end we will enhance job creation, improve safety and security, deliver and maintain services, build a sound administration, strategically align our programs and communicating what we are doing.

We will go into more detail about the above later. Next week the cabinet goes into retreat to lend flesh to these noble ideals. We hope to get out of that workshop with a more focussed plan that require the combined capacity and resources of our colleagues in the local authorities and in national departments.

In addition, we will have to move in partnership with business, communities, labour and all other stakeholders in the province.

Let us turn our attention to foreign investments. Investors will give Mpumalanga a wide berth if we have too much red tape, too much state interference in private business and if people in government and in business in the province are corrupt.

Investors will avoid us if we are hesitant in taking decisions, if we have protracted licensing procedures and if we treat them like lepers.

Mr Chairman, our days will remain forever haunted when frightening numbers of young men and women remain poor and unemployed. It is a situation this province and this country cannot afford.

We need to create jobs.

Let me hasten to add that government is not in the business of creating jobs. What we in government can do is to create the necessary conditions, an enabling environment, for business to grow.

We are well aware that amongst you there are established business minds of profound credentials. That is why we would like to form a strategic partnership with you.

We appeal to the business community to join hands with government in fighting unemployment. We appeal to the private sector to source out those activities which are not necessarily their core functions so as to promote the development of the SMME's which can, when properly supported, be engines of growth for our economy.

All our grand plans will turn to zero if we cannot provide a safe environment for investors, tourists and the citizens of the province.

Plans are underway to make our province safe. As we promised in the legislature on July 6, criminals will be hounded day and night. They will trip on their bushy tails as they flee this province. An invitation is extended to all stakeholders to participate and co-operate with us to up-root crime in our communities.

On Saturday an Anti-Crime Campaign Rally will be held at Elukwatini. This project is undertaken to sensitise our communities about crime. We intend holding similar events in other areas of our province. We urge the communities and business to support these campaigns.

Recently the MEC for Safety and Security Mr Steve Mabona visited Kanyamazane Police Station in order to gain first hand information on the crime rate and the difficult conditions under which our police work. We are confident that the plans, which are being undertaken, will yield positive results. The government is determined to create no-go areas for criminals.

Much greater effort will be put into improving safety and security of the citizens. Serious and violent crimes will receive special and decisive integrated attention from the criminal justice system.

This objective will be achieved through firm leadership on the part of government. The operations of government will be streamlined, better co-ordinated, and more efficient. Laxity, laziness, arrogance and corruption will be dealt with relentlessly.

But government can only succeed in partnership with the people. This means a government that is in daily and respected contact with the people; a government that listens and learns from the people. It means communities that take full responsibility for their upliftment in partnership with government. It requires discipline and responsibility at work and at leisure.

In conclusion Mr Chairman, as South Africans whatever the difficulties, we are moving forward in the effort to combine ourselves into one nation of many colours, many cultures and diverse origins.

The struggle to transform our society to a true democracy,
The struggle to better the living condition our people,
The struggle to provide quality education,
The struggle for affordable and proper health care and indeed,
The struggle against corruption and crime

Will always rely on your willingness to confront these challenges head on.

As I said earlier, our days will remain forever haunted when frightening numbers of the women and children of our country remain victims of rape and other crimes of violence.

During the last elections our people spoke out loudly and clearly about the need for change in their lives - we cannot let them down.

We accept the challenges of the overwhelming mandate we received with humility and determination to do better. This mandate reflects the confidence of the people of South Africa in the process of change; in the effort to build a better life for all. Particularly the poorest of the poor are confident that together we can change conditions of life for the better.

South Africa faces the urgent challenge of pushing back the frontiers of apartheid and building a truly united, non-racial, non- sexist and democratic society.

Over the past five years, the policies and strategies to achieve this were worked out. The foundation for faster progress has been laid.

Even with limited resources, the programme to provide houses, water, electricity, better education and other services will be speeded up. Greater attention will be placed on ensuring better quality and sustainability of these programmes. Better conditions will be created for an economy that grows at a faster pace: an economy that creates jobs, ensure worker rights and provides even more resources for expansion of the programme to improve people's lives.

The face of apartheid cities and rural settlement will be changed through integrated programmes of rural development and urban renewal. Particular attention will be given to the needs of youth, women and the disabled.

Everywhere a new patriotism must make itself felt among citizens who care for one another; citizens who build one another; citizens driven by new morality in the public and private sectors.

In this way, we can together with our brothers and sisters in other parts of Africa and the world, work for a better life for all. We shall make the dream of an African Century, and a world of peace, justice and equity a reality.

As we enter the new millennium, South Africa must become a beehive of activity; a nation at work to build a better life!

I thank you.