SPEECH BY ADV NGOAKO RAMATLHODI
Programme director, colleagues,
Once again we meet in this very important session to evaluate our progress
over the past few months and to consider strategies that will take our province
forward to meet the challenges of our time.
The Northern Province is at a critical juncture in history. In the past year
we have seen encouraging signs of growth, development and progress. In almost
each and every field of public activity we are making decisive and measurable
progress.
No longer do we languish at the bottom of the national statistics pile. We are
no longer the poorest province, nor are we the province where the matric results
are the worst. Almost every official statistic and indicator show that the
Northern Province is on an upward trend.
I believe we have achieved this through sound policy formulation, careful
planning and a consistent adherence to our provincial vision. Progress does not
occur overnight but it is rather the culmination of many months of dedication
and hard work.
But, the year ahead will test our resolve like never before. Our challenge is
to consolidate our gains and to maintain the momentum across all areas of
government activity. The process of policy formulation and development has been
completed . 2001 must be the year of accelerated implementation.
It is already obvious that our progress is being noted -- not only within
South Africa where there is a renewed interest in investment opportunities in
our province -- but also from abroad.
We have acquired a reputation as a solid and reliable destination for foreign
direct investment. Our trade missions to South East Asia have borne fruit
through formal bilateral relations and a number of new investments are already
in the pipeline. In the coming year we will take it another step forward and
also focus our attention on Western Europe and both North and South America.
One of our major focal areas in 2001 must be to bring substance to our Spatial
Development Initiatives (SDI). These initiatives have the potential to transform
economic development in our province, create immense opportunities for SMME
growth, stimulate tourism, encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, and
strengthen the relationship between the public and private sectors.
The Dilokong and Trans-Limpopo SDI's must be at the top of our list of
priorities and we should expect considerable progress on these two developments
within the first quarter. The Phalaborwa SDI has reached a stage where we can
start with the identification of specific projects and the planning phase for
the East-West corridor should be completed by the end of the year.
I am concerned about the slow progress we are making with the
commercialisation of the Letaba Ranch and the Manyeleti Nature Reserve. The
process has been hampered by land claims but it should be our aim to finalise
this issue with considerable speed and to unlock the potential that can generate
investment of more than R40 million.
The African Ivory project has reached an advanced stage of development with
seven of the camps already in operation during the past festive season. This
development has significant potential for job creation, SMME development and the
involvement of local communities in tourism activities. I trust that this
project will gain pace following its formal launch in March 2001.
Another major development on our door step is the Mapungubwe tourism
initiative which is being co-ordinated by the Development Bank of Southern
Africa. It is imperative that the provincial departments and agencies involved
in the planning process make considered inputs to ensure that the end result
reflects our provincial priorities and our commitment to community empowerment,
local initiatives, employment creation and poverty alleviation.
I am confident that the Tourism and Parks Board Bill will be finalised in the
Legislature within the first quarter and that this will provide us with an
important instrument to manage our tourism resources and our natural heritage in
a coherent and sustainable manner.
Our Local Economic Development Projects (LED) are showing encouraging returns
in terms of job creation and empowerment. However, we still need to do a lot of
work in this regard to ensure that they make a lasting impact in the creation of
sustainable jobs. The implementation of the Sustainable Livelihoods Programme,
jointly funded by the UNDP will help to sharpen our focus on these vital
initiatives to create jobs and alleviate poverty.
The lengthy process of selecting preferred bidders for the provincial casino
licenses is drawing to a close and I am confident that we will be able to make a
firm announcement within three months. No doubt this will provide a major boost
to the provincial economy and stimulate new developments in tourism and the
leisure industry.
It is therefore of the utmost importance that we have strategies and
programmes in place to gain the maximum potential out of the expected new
interest in the Northern Province. We have reached a stage in our development
where marketing will be a crucial factor in determining our future course.
I am concerned about the absence of a comprehensive and detailed marketing
plan that can project the province in a pro-active manner. We can no longer
afford that various departments and parastatals in the province follow separate
routes without clearly defined provincial objectives that can be evaluated and
measured.
Another area of concern is the future of Pietersburg International Airport
where the partnership with the foreign investor has encountered serious
problems. The Gateway Airport Authority Board has taken over the management in
the interim and it is of critical importance that we monitor the process and
take appropriate steps to intervene when required.
The restructuring of the Northern Province Development Corporation is
completed and the process of the disposal of its non-core assets will continue
on an ongoing basis. The new focus will be on SMME development and we trust that
this will pick up speed in the coming months. Together with the SMME Support
Agency, the newly established local business centres and the entrepreneurial
support centres we can help the small and medium business sectors to become
major generators of wealth and employment in the province.
Chairperson,
Another area that deserves our strong attention is that of mining. We have
identified it as one of the three pillars of our provincial economy, together
with agriculture and tourism. The new Minerals Bill, adopted by Parliament last
year has changed the face of mining activities and our provincial plans and
strategies must be adapted in accordance with its provisions.
I believe it is important that all stakeholders involved in the mining
industry in the province -- including government, the mining houses, small and
emerging mining operators and organised labour -- meet to develop a
comprehensive mining strategy for the Northern Province.
Such a sectoral summit will be a logical follow-up to our Growth and
Development Summits and, if successful, can be duplicated in other areas of
provincial activities such as agriculture and SMMEs.
One of the primary reasons for our recent success is our ability to engage the
broader civil society in both the formulation and implementation of our
provincial vision. We created the Development Oversight Committee as a unique
institution in our country but we still need to define its role more clearly and
to provide it with the required structure and powers to enable it to fulfil its
mandate.
At the same time our continuous interaction with communities through the
"Government meets the people programme" is keeping us firmly focused on the day
to day needs of ordinary people. Successful governance is the art of meeting the
valid aspirations of our people with the priorities of a responsible authority.
In this regard the establishment of fully democratic and accountable local
governments will present the provincial administration with both exciting
opportunities and formidable challenges.
The broad direction of policy is that responsibility for the delivery of basic
services will be increasingly devolved to local government level. Provinces will
remain primarily responsible for political decision-making and administrative
co-ordination.
However, this position will not be reached overnight. It may take us two to
three years to untangle the current system and ensure that functions are
executed at their most appropriate levels. Obviously this will have far-reaching
implications for the current distribution of financial and human resources.
During this initial period, however, provincial departments will be required to
render assistance to local authorities within the framework of our system of
co-operative governance.
In the immediate future we will start to implement the task team
recommendations on the re-alignment of provincial service boundaries -- a
process that will only be completed by 2003.
The position and role of traditional leadership within the local government
framework are currently being discussed at national level. We trust that we will
soon receive final answers to enable this important component of our society to
play a meaningful
Chairperson,
We are in the middle of a process of extensive reconstruction following the
2000 floods. The natural disaster put this administration before its greatest
test and I am confident that we passed this with distinction. It required of us
to reprioritise our budgets to address problems relating to emergency
infrastructure. Public works, housing, transport and local government have all
felt the impact of reconstruction and will continue to do so in the foreseeable
future.
In the case of roads, for instance, we are still saddled with a backlog of
more than R14 billion worth of government funded infrastructure that need to be
built to service the province. A further R1,75 billion is needed to upgrade
existing facilities and another R940 million for the rehabilitation of existing
provincial infrastructure.
The final draft of the Infrastructure Investment Framework should be on our
tables shortly as well as a comprehensive database of both existing and required
infrastructure. We also expect a report on the plans to convene a province-wide
infrastructure summit, in line with the recommendations of the 2000 GDP summit.
During the past year we have made considerable progress with the disposal of
redundant state properties and to date deeds of sale have been signed for 19
properties -- mostly houses being sold to existing tenants.
We are keenly aware of the problems being encountered at the Deeds Office and
the Department of Land Affairs. The process is slowed down by decisions that are
beyond our control and I trust that we will soon find practical solutions to
resolve the current impasse.
The restructuring of the ARDC is a lengthy and complicated process that will
occupy our minds for the foreseeable future. I trust that we will be able to get
agreements from all involved in the negotiations and that we will soon be able
to focus our efforts on the running of productive and viable farming projects.
Chairperson,
I am concerned about the slow pace of decentralisation of departments to
Lebowakgomo, Thohoyandou and Giyani despite a clear Exco decision in this
regard. I trust that we will receive feedback from individual departments at
this Lekgotla.
The 2000 floods have indicated weaknesses in our response to serious disasters
but I am proud to report that we have taken decisive steps to address our
shortcomings. A final provincial policy on the reaction to, and the management
of disaster is at an advanced stage of completion.
I am ware that the Department of Agriculture is keeping a close watch on the
drought situation on the Springbokvlakte and is prepared to take decisive steps
to intervene if it deteriorates and pose a threat to food production in this
vital part of our province.
The Department of Health acted with commendable speed to address the outbreak
of sporadic epidemics of malaria and cholera. I have visited some of the cholera
infected areas over the weekend and saw the excellent work being done by health
professionals, NGOs and volunteers to prevent the spreading of the disease.
Like HIV-Aids we should always be aware that the people of our province will
be vulnerable to illnesses which are made worse by conditions of poverty and
squalor. As a government we, therefore, have a duty towards the people of the
province to combat disease through improved living conditions and the
elimination of poverty.
Programme director,
The actions of government must be seen within the broader context of social
transformation. We are disturbed by the growing number of racist incidents
throughout the country, but particularly in the Northern Province. We are
dealing with this on a daily basis and we should never waver in our commitment
to eradicate it.
At the same time I am also aware of a growing number of concerned and
patriotic citizens -- both individuals and organisations -- who are prepared to
make a positive contribution to the future of our province. These are people
from diverse cultural, religious and language backgrounds who see for themselves
a future in the new South Africa.
As the leadership of our province we have a duty to our people to build an
administrative system where each and every individual can feel at home. I trust
that our discussions at this forum will help to take the Northern Province
forward on the road of peace, prosperity and unity.
I thank you.
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