PREMIER 'S ADDRESS
Mr. Speaker, William Lubisi
Madame Deputy Speaker Mrs Pinky Phosa
Honourable members of the Legislature
Mpumalanga delegates to the NCOP
Their Majesties the Kings
Honourable Amakhosi
Mayors and councillors
Excellencies
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Every time I speak in this house I do so with great hope and expectations for our people and our province.
Hope because as a province we can proudly look back at six years of achievement.
Naturally we are filled with gratitude and humility for our prosperity and progress. But we can also watch in awe and joy at what lies ahead and with absolute determination to make the most of it.
The frontiers of possibility are grander than they were this time last year. And as always the people of the province black and white must take credit for having gone some way in setting in motion our goal to work together for change.
A year ago this time some of our people in villages and townships around the province and in neighbouring Mozambique were submerged.
It was no coincidence that the devastation was most severe in the under-resourced and under-developed townships and villages dotted around our province.
As we counted our loss in both material and human terms, our people rose above political differences to lend a hand to those in desperate need of help.
The physical and emotional scars of the flood damage were so deep that they will remain with us for years. Allow me to thank all those who contributed to the alleviation of the untold suffering of our people.
I would like to particularly thank the Flood Disaster Committee and all those who worked tirelessly to distribute food and other essentials to our people.
I would also like to thank those who gave generously of their time and resources.
That is what we mean when we talk about the development of a people-centred society.
We also congratulate the thousands of our youth that successfully completed their matriculation.
We salute them, the principals, teachers and parents who all combined to ensure that we achieve better results than in the previous years.
I believe that we should reward and recognise our best educators, learners and schools. Those who do not match up must be encouraged to do so.
However, those that continue to undermine the culture of learning and teaching must get out of the system. They must shape up or ship out.
We also take this opportunity to thank the millions of our people who came out to vote to advance the project of the further democratisation of our country and to express their firm confidence in their movement, the ANC.
I also want to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to the House of Traditional Leaders for the role it played in ensuring that the masses of our people in the rural areas exercised their right to vote.
We are also pleased to note that some traditional leaders have opted to participate in the municipalities.
Equally pleasing is the fact that they do this while their role and powers are being finalised at national level.
We appreciate such participation and would encourage other traditional leaders to do likewise.
Mr. Speaker, the fact that our people voted us into power in all the
municipalities in the province is a sign that we enjoy their confidence.We shall
always be sensitive to their needs and feelings and will, as far as we can,
respond quickly and correctly to their needs.
Let us also take this opportunity to congratulate the mayors and the councillors on their election. We would also like to remind them of the critical importance of the sphere of government of which they are in charge.
We draw their attention to the powers given to it actively to work to improve the lives of all our people, across the boundaries that had been created by the apartheid system.
This financial year we will intensify our Batho Pele campaign to ensure an efficient and peopled centered public service. Particular attention will be paid to improving the quality, efficiency and people centredness of services in all departments.
On our part as government we shall vigorously embark on our capacity-building programme for local authorities.
As government we recommit ourselves to accelerate the eradication of the final vestiges of the apartheid state and ensure its replacement by a democratic one.
We have made progress in setting up state institutions that act as instruments of change and we have established policy frameworks that give direction to these instruments.
But we need to deepen the scope and extend the reach of state transformation, in order to expand the quantity and quality of services to all South Africans, especially the poor.
How can we not be hopeful when the latest figures indicate that our economy as a province is growing?
Our economy can only grow from strength to strength. A number of research findings indicate the economy of Mpumalanga will grow the fastest.
According to the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Mpumalanga is projected as a Province that would have the highest annual growth rate.
On the other hand, the study by the Bureau of Market Research also indicate that our provincial growth will be the highest with an expected growth of 3.22 percent for 2000, And between 3.2 and 3.8 percent for 2001.
The Mpumalanga Investment Initiative attracted eight new manufacturing projects in the past year. The total value of the projects is R32, 4 million creating 658 jobs. Five projects to the value of R18 million and 114 direct jobs are in the final process of being completed.
These projects are expected to be established during the course of this year. These investments will cover areas like timber processing, clay brick manufacturing and various activities within the Agricultural sector.
The honourable MEC JI Mabena will elaborate on these and other projects.
There are other reasons to be hopeful.
Our housing programme continues to make an impact in the lives of ordinary citizens.
By the end of December we had built 13 644 houses. We had built 8 401 houses through the Project linked Subsidy Scheme.
- 739 houses were built through the individual subsidy scheme.
- 2797 built under the Discount Benefit Scheme and
- 1707 under the Consolidation Subsidy Scheme.
We remain on course to meet the projected target of 187 54 houses by the end of this financial year alone.
During November 2000 a total of 160 Households in Siyabuswa B received Title Deeds to their respective properties.
The Tenure Upgrading Projects are a high priority since they are the first major step to free the rural areas in the R293 and R188 towns, from the poverty trap, and enable rural people to enjoy ownership of land.
In all these we have realised that it was essential to have an integrated approach.
Bulk services such as bulk water supply, disposal of bulk sewage for and access road to link the housing project site with the central building areas of the Town Council are not only essential but should be timeously installed.
They should be available when the houses are completed and occupied by the beneficiaries in order to avoid unauthorised occupation and damage by vandals.
In order to assist municipalities with infrastructure, projects focusing on bulk water supply have been completed. Communities such as Mzinoni, Daantjie and other areas in the Province have already benefited from this initiative.
Mr. Speaker, infrastructural projects to the value of R69 million are expected to be completed during the course of the coming financial year.
It pleases us to also announce that the National Department of Provincial and Local Government has approved 12 Housing related bulk infrastructure projects to the sum of R 21.18 million under the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme.
These are being implemented jointly by our provincial
Department of Housing and Land Administration and the Department of Local
Government and Traffic.
The Province has provided R5.99 million from its own budget and 16 projects
are under way.
Mr Speaker, R7,1 million was allocated for flood relief and a further R91million was allocated for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood damage in the province.
Due to the gravity of the damage, a further R150 million was allocated for flood damage reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Mr Speaker, we are pleased to inform this august assembly that we were able to complete the construction of 3 803 houses. We have also done well in offering assistance to farmers affected by the floods. An amount of R6 million was spent on repairing damage infrastructure.
These include the repair and/or rebuilding of farmer access roads. More than 40 kilometers of roads were thus repaired mainly in the Nsikazi-North area.
Access by road to all areas damaged by floods was restored.
Major rehabilitation was done on roads between Nelspruit and Barberton, Plaston and White River; White River and other areas in the province.
Eighteen bridges and culverts were repaired between various roads such as Siyabuswa, Hendrina, Luphisi, Makoko, Malelane, Schoemansdal , Mdladla, Gutswakop, Driehoek, Hazyview and Sabie, etc.
Streets have been regravelled in villages at Nhlazatshe, Tjakastad, Edulindini, Badplaas, Empuluzi, Nkomazi, Nsikazi, Kabokweni, Daantjie, Buffelspruit, Schoemansdal and Jeppes Reef.
The following projects were undertaken and completed, namely Phiva community Hall, Sacred Heart Community Hall, Vezubuhle Community Hall, Mbangwane Multi-purpose Centre, Leandra Storm Water drainage, Moloto Self-employment project and Matshiding to Siyabuswa road.
The following roads will be reconstructed in the next financial year, namely, Mayflower to Lothair, Allermandrift to Senotlelo, Middelburg to Bethal, Bethal to Hendrina, White River to Hazyview and Moloto to Moteti.
Four bridges are expected to be constructed in Kabokweni, Khumbula, Malekutu, Dludluma and Ngwenyeni.
Four community-based projects to be undertaken at Kgobokoane, Morgenzon, Orghistad and Perdekop.
Flood damage is estimated in excess of R480 million.
This, Mr. Speaker, is what it will cost us to restore the province to its state prior to the floods.
Mr Speaker, we have increased the number of people who now have access to clean water, free primary health, education and land.
Through our redistribution and restitution processes the people of Boomplaas, Doornkop, Kalkfontein and other areas were able to return to their land.
The land care programme has been expanded and several new projects were started in all three regions in the province.
An amount of R2 million as part of a R3.4 million grant from the National Department of Agriculture from donor funds.
Mr Speaker, we also participated vigorously in the drafting of the new Land Reform and the Agricultural development programme, in close cooperation with the Department of Land Affairs.
This programme forms the basis for regional land
redistribution.
The primary aim of this programme is to render post-settlement support to
various projects in different regions of the Province.
We were very successful in the containment and eradication of a potentially explosive foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Middelburg and Nkomazi by vaccinating 14,500 cattle and 51,000 pigs in three days.
Mr. Speaker, due to the commitment and dedication of farmers and other stakeholders, we were successful in containing the spread of this disease.
The cordon and movement control of people and animals proved hugely successful thanks to the sterling efforts of the veterinary services.
Mooi so .
Last Tuesday we acted swiftly to quarantine Dientjie and Elandsfontein villages near Graskop, This was done after the partially decomposed cow carcass displayed characteristic of anthrax symptoms.
I need to commend the honourable MEC, Mrs. Candith Mashego-Dlamini and her team. Mr Speaker, at the level of social transformation we have done well.
The province presently pays 234 607 social grants every month.
The new child support grant aimed at caregivers of children under seven years from poor households has increased by 56 992 over the last nine months and continues to grow by more than 5 000 children every month.
Backlogs in applications for social grants have been eliminated, and in some districts, we have achieved a turn around time of thirty-five days in processing an application in contrast to the normal three months waiting period.
A total of fifty-eight poverty alleviation projects benefited directly from an allocation of R9, 7 million over this financial year.
Poverty projects supported include remote villages such as Ekulindeni, Nhlaba, Oshoek, Perdekop, Zandspruit, Moretele, Kwalitho, Vaalbank, Waterval, Zamekoms, Clau-Clau, Thweni, Bhuga, Mdladla, Mangweni, Ntunda, Figtree and Ngwenyeni.
The provincial government finances 19 old age homes accommodating 1 565 frail older persons.
A further 1 338 older persons benefit directly from government funded community based service centers.
The objective of Operation Dignity launched during 2000, is to mobilise families and communities in support of our endeavor for older persons to live and function in the community for as long as possible.
A specific focus during the current financial year, Mr Speaker, was to give support to poor rural communities and projects serving people afflicted by HIV/AIDS.
The development of integrated home-based care models for people affected by HIV/AIDS remains a challenge.
The Africa School of Mission initiated a home-based care model in Masoyi with the support of government, and further funding was provided for its expansion.
The Masoyi home based care model is widely regarded as a good practice model and other projects are being encouraged to build upon its success.
An integrated care model is being piloted in Tonga involving key government departments, such as the departments of Social Services, Health and Education.
In fulfilling our mandate to take services to our people including primary health care, the following clinics have been completed;
The Mametlake Perimary Healthcare Clinic, Lefiso Clinic and the Verena Health Clinic.
There is an on-going process of upgrading other health facilities in the province. Plans are in place to upgrade Themba Hospital, Perdekop Clinic and others.
The transformation of education is on course. In these we are working in partnership with all stakeholders.
In the present financial year we have built 91 classrooms, four administration blocks, 150 toilets and 20 specialist classrooms. In the next financial year, this programme will be continued so that we address the lack of capacity to accommodate learners.
The inherent racism that is still prevalent in our schools, must as a matter of urgency be addressed so as to ensure equal opportunities to all our children.
Mr. Speaker, allow me to congratulate MEC. Padayachee and his team, which unveiled the stark realities of the scourge that still rears its ugly head in some of our schools.
The challenge however, is for the School Governing bodies, School Management and Learner Representative Councils to map a progressive strategy of eradicating this diabolic disease inherited from our, not so distant, racist past.
Mr. Speaker it is now mandatory that all state subsidised or funded vehicles must be registered in Mpumalanga Province.
We believe that such an initiative will increase the provincial revenue as collected by the Traffic department. We also appeal to our people in this province to heed this call to regster their vehicles in Mpumalanga.
The Honourable MEC for Local Government, Traffic Control and Traffic Safety will soon launch personalised number plates. It is hoped that this will generate a lot of interest and also generate revenue for the province.
Mr Speaker, the Mpumalanga Province prides itself as not only being a scenic and picturesque place, but also a province of immense creative talent and sporting prowess.
We have established five multipurpose sports centres in areas such as Swalala, Marapong and Driefontein.
This programme has been established in partnership with SCORE (Sport Couches Outreach) and is funded by the European Union.
Furthermore, the department has established and Arts and Culture Council, which shall be able to realise significant development, improvement and promotion of arts and culture.
The province has also established a mobile craft clinic, which is an association of handcrafters that move from one area to the other to promote the skill and development of crafters.
In this way crafters are encouraged to operate as units and their produce can then be easily transported in bulk to open markets so as to generate income and earn foreign exchange for the promotion of their talents and creation of jobs.
Mr Speaker, we can never have proper services to our people while there is rampant crime.
A democracy can be measured by, among others, the creation of an environment where people are free to walk the streets at whatever time of day or night.
An environment of peace and security.
A crime free society implies stability and conditions conducive to trade and investments.
Neither the private sector nor individual citizens can enjoy their rights under conditions where there is fear of attack.
Whilst we accept that poverty and unemployment have a great impact on the rise of crime levels, we cannot wait for a prosperous Mpumalanga before we deal with crime.
We must root out crime in our cities and villages. Criminals must have no place to hide.
The President recently announced that the strength of the police would be increased and that more money would be spent on the fight against crime.
This is welcome.
On Wednesday Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced a R4,6 billion allocation to the criminal justice sector for increased personnel, additional vehicles and an improved salary dispensation for police.
We are pleased with the successes of our police officers and their related Departments in busting criminals of all shapes and sizes. Progress has also been made in rooting out corruption and racism in the service. Transformation of the SAPS is ongoing.
Our government is portrayed as being soft on crime. Our understanding tells us otherwise.
Last week a robber was killed and his accomplice arrested after they robbed 59-year-old Letta van Niekerk of her bakkie along the main road in Perdekop.
The operation was a joint effort by the police, local farmers and SA National Defence Force members in the area.
Already the police have made a breakthrough in the attack of farmer CG Volschenk on his farm Morgenster near Breyten. Two men have been arrested.
Two weeks ago police in Mpumalanga destroyed approximately 320 000-dagga plants worth R64-million in the Piet Retief and Burgersfort areas.
The Child Protection unit has also achieved success. Between February 2 and February 8 a number of people were arrested in Nelspruit, Middelburg, Secunda and KwaMhlanga in connection with rape.
In the same period Operation Crackdown netted 238 people in connection with serious crimes.
Our attitude to serious crime is demonstrated by the refusal of bail to two men on indecent assault charges in Belfast.
We cannot standby idly and watch while these misfits conduct a reign of terror in our townships; suburbs and villages; on our farms; in our schoolyards and indeed in our own backyards.
We must, as a matter of urgency, reclaim our streets, our driveways and our farms. Through our own Operation Gijima Tsotsi we managed to deal with a number of cases related to farm attacks and assault.
The recent arrest of a number of police and government officials after a five-year long investigation into large-scale corruption and vehicle smuggling is a commendable act.
Mr. Speaker, this does not mean that everything is under control as far as crime and the economy are concerned. We are the first to admit that a lot still needs to be done.
But allow me to call on our people to join community policing forums and to really serve as the ears and eyes of our law enforcement agencies. As government we reaffirm our commitment to intensify our campaign against poverty and underdevelopment.
These will include our campaign to ensure that we have health for all.
To this end we must provide health services, expand our primary health care to all and provide quality health care within the overall context of fighting poverty.
This will be done in a manner that improves the lives of poor and disadvantaged communities.
This demands greater integration and co-ordination in the operation of all structures of government, within national government and between the national, provincial and local spheres of government.
It is for that reason that I wish to call upon all public servants at all spheres of government - to ensure that they speed up the process of re-engineering government, so that integrated planning and implementation can become a reality.
These are our challenges. But there are more. Allow me to briefly spell out government's priorities for the year.
One of our priorities in government this year is to grow and expand the economy, the creation of more job opportunities and further strengthening the material base for the provision of a better life for all.
I believe that economic growth and human development are linked and should have the aim of achieving sustainable improvements in the quality of life of all South Africans.
A growing economy and a people-centred state are also a sure guarantee to providing electricity, water, housing and other necessary infrastructure to the people.
Every element which we describe as quality of life, flows from the structure and management of the economy. That is why economic growth must be sustainable, both economically and environmentally.
The success of growth and development must be measured also in terms of our economy's capacity to create new jobs and as far as possible safeguard existing jobs.
We have identified sectors of our economy that require special attention because of their potential to contribute especially to the objectives of higher growth rates and job creation.
In our province tourism, mining and agriculture are three key factors. Mining is a key sector for employment and foreign exchange earning. Mineral resources are inputs into many important value-adding industries. Maximising employment in agriculture remains a key focus for government policy.
To this end, land reforms resulting in smaller farming units will be pursued, as they are less capital intensive and will result in more jobs per unit of land.
Tourism is an important sector for job creation. It needs to be prioritised and adequately supported to enhance its performance and job creation in the economy.
The strategy to realise the potential of the tourism sector must be government led, private sector driven and community based.
Mr Speaker, together with the people, experts in the field and the leadership at local government, we must establish committees that will work tirelessly to increase job creation opportunities locally.
These efforts will then be co-ordinated at district and inter-district council level.
To this end I intend establishing an economic development think-tank in the near future. However, the government working alone cannot achieve these objectives.
The private sector must also be fully involved, from large to medium, small and micro enterprises. We call on the business community and labour to respond strongly and positively to the economic challenges we face as a province.
We are convinced that there are many opportunities waiting to be exploited.
The Small, Medium and Micro enterprises sector in Mpumalanga has a great potential for growth as well as the potential to make a significant contribution to the provincial economy by creating more jobs, assisting in poverty alleviation, black empowerment, and skills enhancement.
Government will use its influence to encourage big business to support emerging business by providing incentives and partnerships where necessary.
For the next financial year we have also set as a priority the establishment of an efficient and effective financial administration.
We will put into place a financial accounting system that is both efficient and effective.
A weak internal revenue agency brings about more shortfalls and deficits, which impair the government's ability to improve social services.
In the government sector, fostering efficiency and reducing corruption are basic though difficult reforms to undertake. Late last year the Executive Council of the province decided to introduce the Basic Accounting System, better known as BAS. At the moment we are using the Newfin financial system.
Mpumalanga is one of only two provinces who have been using a different financial management system.
All other provinces and national departments are either using BAS or the Financial Management System. But most national departments are migrating to BAS.
Implementing BAS in Mpumalanga will significantly improve financial management in the province.
According to National Treasury BAS has proven to be very successful in supporting good financial management at the national departments and the provinces where BAS has been rolled out.
The key features and benefits of BAS include:
- Improved financial information (online, real-time information available) to all levels of government.
- Higher level of financial control
- Ability to adapt to changing government structures.
It must be emphasised that the introduction of BAS is in line with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act.
This Act promotes financial accountability and makes all
heads of Departments accountable for the management of the finances in their
departments.
Mr Speaker, to indicate our seriousness in expanding our resource base allow
me to announce before this House that we will intensify the collection of own
revenue in the province.
The HODs have been instructed to form a committee that will take care of this matter. Our next priority concerns the issue of efficient and effective administration, including good governance.
Governance is the manner in which government manages society. Good governance means the effective and efficient ways government does what it is mandated to do.
This rests on three pillars: A sound, moral foundation. Second, a philosophy of transparency. And third, an ethic of effective implementation.
And these pillars are pillars that I call upon all government workers to respect and uphold. A first task of good governance is to have strong and competent internal institutions and structures. A corrupt and ill-equipped administration only gives life to criminality, which dampens productive activities.
In the government sector, fostering efficiency and reducing corruption are basic though difficult reforms to undertake.
Notwithstanding this difficult task, Mr Speaker, I want to inform this house that since the establishment of the Anti-corruption hotline a year ago, 4 320 calls were received.
This clearly demonstrates the confidence that the public has in nurturing and fostering a partnership to fight corruption.
Mr Speaker, particular attention will be paid during this year to improve the quality, efficiency and people-centeredness of services in all departments.
To this end we will focus on a number of concrete steps. The first entails the retraining of a new leadership, which is equipped with functional competence within a particular area of work.
A leadership that is able to understand the bigger picture. A leadership which can combine service delivery with strategic vision.
This leadership must be schooled in the kind of skills that are necessary to encourage the conditions for our developing province to expand and modernise our
economy,
ensuring that we raise the standards of living of all our people.
We require a leadership which fully and truly understands its responsibility to society at large, and which embraces a value system underpinning its actions that will contribute to the accelerated transformation of our province and our country, so that indeed we build the caring society which we have spoken so much about.
Leaders in the public service will therefore have to be more imaginative in their thinking and more creative in their practice,
remaining conscious at all times of the demands placed on them by the public, by business and civil society and as the implementers of decisions of their political principals in government.
Mr Speaker, that is why all Senior Managers within the Provincial Administration have entered into performance contracts.
This means that all Senior Managers are now held accountable for their actions. We believe it is important to bind politicians to private sector-type performance measurements.
As government we believe that we must be accountable to the ruled, and the citizenry must be well informed of various views and issues for them to make rational choices.
Decision-making should be predictable, transparent and participatory. The participation of civil society groups in public affairs must be enhanced if not institutionalised. These democratic processes are valuable in promoting government efficiency and responsiveness.
Mr Speaker, in this modern age these things happen as we grapple with the effects of globalisation.
None of our economies can avoid confronting globalisation. Indeed, globalisation is like a tidal wave that can either submerge nations in its wake or move them forward in its crest.
Good governance is key whether nations are overwhelmed or triumph by it. Information Technology as the twin sister of globalisation can make governments more responsive, effective and accessible. Recent technological developments transform radically the opportunities for good governance.
Investments in human capital and the so-called "social software" will become more and more important.
In developed countries, information technology has been playing an important role in the provision of social services, public safety, and criminal justice.
Computers have made social security claims processing quicker, education more accessible, and tracking criminals faster. If we are to succeed in governance, we need to bring up large segments of our populations from poverty. The hardest impact of apartheid fell on the poor and vulnerable sectors of our societies.
The most immediate task therefore is to mitigate this impact and to ensure that the harm done by apartheid will not have permanent and cascading impact on future generations.
Mitigating the social impact of apartheid is difficult enough. But it is even more difficult to effect lasting improvements in the productivity of a country's main resource - its people - through the provision of sufficient social services such as education, health and nutrition.
Mr Speaker, we have gone a long way. We have broken with the past. The recent municipal elections marked the beginning of a new era of local government.
The calibre of Mayors serving in the new councils is a reflection of the growing recognition of the importance of local government. The executive council of this province has recently decided in principle to include local government councillors in our cabinet cluster meetings held fortnightly.
We did this with a view of improving the co-ordination of service delivery at both provincial and local government spheres.
The new local government system offers heightened opportunities for the provincial and local government to work together to improve the lives of the people.
We now have an opportunity to combine resources to deal with poverty, economic development and service delivery. It is also a necessary step towards our objective of building a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist society, one where services to our people are rendered effectively, efficiently and equitably.
Much more needs to be done in this regard in order to ensure that the mass of the people are mobilised to become active participants in the process of change.
To the mayors and councillors: Any act of corruption will be
dealt with ruthlessly. Any act of ignoring the very people who voted for you
will not be tolerated.
Finally, Mr Speaker, today February 23, is the anniversary of the birth of one
of Africa's greatest sons, William du Bois.
As we gather for the opening of this august institution, let us seek to learn from the life of this great guide, philosopher and militant in the struggle against colonialism, racism and apartheid.
Dr Du Bois' prophetic words still ring in our ears as he warned that: "the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the colour line - the relation of the darker to the lighter races of men in Asia and Africa, in America and the islands of the sea".
The ANC has identified racism as a scourge that has over the years infected every facet of our lives.
It is rooted in almost every corner of our land, expressing itself daily in the workplace, educational institutions, sporting and other activities.
Only through the radical and accelerated transformation of our province and our country will the demon of racism be laid to rest.
Critical in this regard, is the challenge to change the economic, social, moral and other relations entrenched during the centuries of colonial and racial oppression.
But then we are glad that we remember Du Bois at a time when our history no longer glorify the colonialist and racist politicians and generals, the buccaneers and the robber barons, as the main actors in the affairs of humanity.
We remember his words as we pay homage to real leaders in the struggle to emancipate the great majority of the people of the world from slavery, humiliation and exploitation.
People like Mahatma Gandhi, Kwame Nkrumah and Frantz Fanon, Jose Marti, OR Tambo and Chief Luthuli, Joe Slovo and many others who laid down their lives so you and me can stand here today.
Equally entrenched in our society are the relations of gender inequality, which demand urgent and systematic eradication.
South Africa has, under the leadership of the ANC, made great strides n this regard.
We must encourage an atmosphere of zero tolerance of sexism and unite the people of South Africa in a determined effort to end all gender disparities in our society. But as long as domestic violence and abuse of women and children continue,
As long as infrastructure has not reached all corners of our province and our country. As long as poverty continues to characterise the lives of communities in rural and urban areas.
As long as attitudes of sexism continue to prevail in most areas of life we are obliged, as a matter of principle to pronounce, ALUTA CONTINUA , The struggle continues, and to act in unison to achieve a truly non-sexist society.
In conclusion, Mr Speaker, as we have done before, we will continue with our Cabinet Outreach Programme. We believe in putting our case to the people.
They remain our judges. They tell us what to do. We will go to every part of our province. We know that they want to hear about our plans for the next three years. That is why we are taking our message directly to them. Face to face, on the doorstep, in the shopping centre and at the taxi rank. That is the way we have always done it. That is the way we will always do it.
To keep on building mutual trust. To involve them in governance.
Allow me to take this opportunity to call on all the people of the province to focus on developing a common South African identity, embracing all sectors of our society in the building of a new patriotism. We call on all institutions and political parties to join hands with us to build a new society.
That is why I am impressed by the honourable member Mr Chiris McPherson's pledge on Wednesday when he told viewers shortly after Minister Manuel's budget speech that we will work together in uplifting the province.
Mr Speaker, the great Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, in his poem Gitanjali written in 1912, presents us with a new vision for India and the world. He describes an ideal place: and I quote:
"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by
narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening
thought and action
Into THAT heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."
I thank you.