Date: 19/08/2004
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: N Balindlela: Report on hundred days service delivery programme


ADDRESS BY EASTERN CAPE PREMIER MRS NOSIMO BALINDLELA, REPORT ON HUNDRED DAYS SERVICE DELIVERY PROGRAMME, Good News Centre, King Williams Town, 19 August 2004

Programme Director
Members of the Executive council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Executive Mayors
Members of the Interfaith Organisations
Business leaders
Leaders of political formations
Traditional leadership
Government officials
Members of the Media
Fellow South Africans
Comrades and Friends

Looking back at the beginning of our 100 days journey, most of us doubted our collective ability and wisdom to reach such a milestone as that contained in this 100 days report. Allow me then to salute the Executive Council, government officials and our stakeholders who had a zeal and determination in ensuring that our 100 days commitments are not a dream but a reality. You are making all of us proud to be associated with this Province of distinguished and good leaders.

I am glad to note that the public will now be able to follow government's progress and programmes, as we implement our plans of action, anchored in the Provincial Growth and Development Plan. This makes it easy for the public, our partners in the various sectors to be in dialogue with government. They now can share their views directly with government as the rhythm, pace and style of our governance is brought to the public domain.

The approach is meant to improve the capacity of the Premier and the Executive Council to discharge our functions of oversight, co-ordination, monitoring, support and evaluation. More work is being done to speed up the effectiveness of our policy implementation through the Premier's Co-coordinating Forum, with MECs, Executive and Local Municipality Mayors. The quarterly meetings with our Traditional Leaders, Faith based organizations, business sector and our social partners will remain a character of how we practicalise our people's contract theme.

All departments are working on business plans on various tasks they have to carry out with clear indications of allocated resources, time framed and beneficiaries. This is to ensure that the departments that had been supported through the IMT intervention, are able to realize the turn around plans they have developed, informed by the IMT findings and recommendations.

A monitoring mechanism through Cabinet Clusters has been set up chaired by various MECs to co-ordinate, monitor and ensure the implementation of government's programme of action. The various MECs, heads of departments who belong to various clusters meet monthly, to asses progress regarding to tasks relating to each cluster.

Let us share with you some of our achievements as contained in our 100 days report; what we were able to achieve working as a team:

1) A Mr. Galelekile Mlityalwa who struggled for 14 years to access his funds, through customer care services at my office, got his money with interest through TEBA bank
2) The building of humps in Mdantsane after the husband of Mrs. Nosimo Loliwe was struck down by a vehicle. Through co-operation between Buffalo City Municipality, the community members, peace was restored. The business people who supported the family in giving their eldest son a decent funeral are thanked once more
3) "Thetha Norhulumente Wakho Centre" where all the District Municipalities and the Metro can link with the Department of Social Development to discuss official matters at far less an expense to the department
4) The employment of community development workers in all our municipalities to build a cadreship of public service who are developed within the principles of Batho Pele each being paid R888 00 per month
5) The massive food production programmes at Peddie, Mfundisweni in Flagstaff, Libode, Bizana, Kwenxura, Koukamma, where we talk of maize production, citrus fruits, potatoes, cabbages and carrots. This is crowned by a Kei Fresh Produce Market in Umtata where a turnover of R1, 3 million per month has been achieved. Jobs for men, women and the youth have been created
6) The Ngcingwana community where the following companies offered financial assistance that is Eskom for electrification, Courier and Freight gave 3 containers plus concrete slabs and Department of Water Affairs and Forestry which built the required structure. Now there is water, electricity for the schools, computers and storage facilities
7) The R38 million being spent in reviving the Magwa Tea scheme and 1600 people have retained their jobs. The partnership of Gokal, Ferrostal and ECDC, have bestowed the dignity of our people
8) A youth entrepreneurship business centre opened in May 2004 in King Williams Town has already created jobs for five employees and 200 young people and women are benefiting through business, computer and technical skills. This is a partnership between Department of Social Development, Investec, Ford Foundation and Buffalo City. R277 778 has been spent on this project
9) 45 schools have been provided with toilets, which are environmentally friendly at a cost of 10 million across the province
10) The Deep Water Sea Port in Coega was launched on time
11) The Bavianskloof Mega Reserve listed during the 28th World Heritage Committee convention in China in July 2004. It falls within the Cape Floristic Region and has flora plants found only in this area of the world. US$ 11million grant has been secured with the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme for agencies to develop the area further
12) The launch of the provincial website and e-news letter on the 10th August 2004, with website managers to ensure that it is updated
13) The six purpose built trucks were handed over to the six District municipalities for impounding stray and dangerous animals in the roads
14) 48 women trained in house building construction in the Chris Hani, Alfred Nzo and O.R. Tambo District municipalities. These women have their own contractors and the preferential procurement policy gives these women an opportunity to utilize the skills they have acquired and not be job seekers but job-creators
15) One on one meetings have been conducted with MECs and the Senior Managers of all ten departments. Meetings with the Executive Mayors, Mayors of local municipalities, Councillors and Ward committees of all the 6 District municipalities and the Metro have been conclude with reports being compiled for presentation to the Executive Council. We now have felt the pulse of government at all levels and have a better understanding of how we are to move forward and accelerate service delivery
16) The Kei-rail link between Umtata and the Buffalo city has been launched and its now all systems go in rehabilitating this railway line to be that conduit for our produce. 800 people are with jobs now
17) A 17 km tarred road R61 from Ntafufu to Lusikisiki has been completed, opened and handed over to the O.R.Tambo District municipality. 289 women, 347 youth and 4 disabled persons have been skilled and employed during the construction of this road. The cost of the project being R88 941 856.

CONCLUSION

I challenge all of us here and those who are the citizens of this Province to be humble servants of this our glorious future. Pixley ka Isaka Seme described that as "THE BRIGHTEST DAY IS RISING UPON AFRICA". Let thy day rise upon our province and its people. Allow me to state that we have achieved 83% of our work in terms of our planned programme. We are now to concentrate on those areas that we have not achieved or concluded. Those will become areas of focus including the 100 days for the District and Local municipalities.

Let me on behalf of the Executive Council commit ourselves to bettering the lives of our citizens, with all of us acknowledging that "step by step not all at once, each step will be a miracle.

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
19 August 2004