Date: 19/08/2005
Source: Department of Public Works
Title: Kganyago: Opening of Galeshewe Community Safety Centre


Remarks By Deputy Minister of Public Works, Ntopile Kganyago, during the opening of the Galeshewe Community Safety Centre, Galeshewe, Kimberly

* Premier of the Northern Cape, Ms Dipuo Peters
* Minister of Safety and Security, Mr Charles Nqakula
* Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Malusi Gigaba
* MEC for Safety and Community Liaison, Ms Themsi Madikane
* The Speaker of the Northern Cape Legislature, Ms Connie Seopesengwe
* Executive Mayor of Francis Baard District Municipality, Ms Moira Marais-Martin
* Executive Mayor of Sol Plaatjie Municipality, Mr Patrick Lenyibi
* Distinguished Guests
* Ladies and Gentlemen

We are gathered today to officially hand over this marvellous structure which we have constructed as the Department of Public Works on behalf of various departments.

The Galeshewe Community Safety Centre cost R42 million, by the time it was completed, in February this year. In this structure will be housed four departments including the South African Police Service, the Departments of Housing, Justice, Home Affairs and Social Development.

This is the seventh such centre that we as government have constructed, the Free State and Mpumalanga will in due course receive their own centres. The central approach driving the emergence of these centres is government’s drive to create One Stop Shops around the country in a bid to bring much-needed government services closer to our people.

This is also the means by which we are narrowing the gap between our people black and white, male and female, by easing access to key services to all and in that way we are assisting in the development of democracy among our people.

This is because we believe that access to facilities is one of the key features which define the extent to which people who were previously oppressed, are now free to enjoy the benefits which follow the removal of their shackles.

It has been our experience as the Department of Public Works that there is a definite link between the lack of social and economic infrastructure and poverty among our people.

The quality of life changes dramatically when the communities suddenly do not have to travel long distances in order to access government facilities. The net effect of this structure is that the money that communities in the Kimberly surroundings previously used on transport will now be available to meet other needs

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) has also identified infrastructure as a key factor that will dictate the pace of economic growth in Africa, including South Africa. For this reason therefore, we see this structure as an important one in a long dotted line which we have to travel in order to reverse the infrastructure backlog.

According to the National Infrastructure Investment Report, a report government commissioned after liberation in 1994, South Africa then faced a backlog in infrastructure of at least R170 billion. This means that to be on par with other developing countries, the new government in 1994 had to find innovative ways to build infrastructure including houses, schools, hospitals, clinics, roads and others.

Other economic infrastructure such as dams, bridges, airports and ports were improved to cope with the increasing traffic in human and trade activities as South Africa was accepted into the international arena and our country became one of the preferred tourist destinations of the world.

We believe that this centre can be used as a catalyst to introduce new technologies into communities, therefore serving to integrate them in the modern evolving world which is globalising and changing on a daily basis.

This structure is therefore one of many which are the basis for the economic empowerment of communities, a major factor that will determine whether as a country and a continent we are able to take advantage of developments in their world.

In this facility the community of Galeshewe and surroundings will access welfare grants, ID and passport documents, public order policing and corrective rehabilitation programmes for inmates. The contractor, Belize Construction, successfully completed this project on time and used at least 40% local labour during construction.

We are happy that there are many other projects which will come in the province over the coming three to four years. The largest and most significant of these are the four New Generation Prisons which will give us a chance to create jobs as we provide much needed infrastructure. These projects will also give us a chance to increase our contribution to Black Economic Empowerment at the level of contractors while ensuring that new skills are imparted and remain in this community.

One of the key elements of the New Generation Prisons is that they are constructed in such a way that there is easy movement of inmates and there is emphasis on rehabilitation.

In addition we will as the Department of Public Works continue with our Capital Works Programme and the Repair and Maintenance that is part of our role as providers of accommodation to state departments. Our total Repair and Maintenance work this year will be in the region of R20 million, all on behalf of Correctional Services. We have in the 2005/2006 year budgeted R44 million on Municipal Services and R26 million on Rates and Taxes.

We are therefore celebrating today that this is one victory in the war against poverty in our country, but also the means with which we are leveraging Black Economic Empowerment as a means to transform this country’s economy.

We remain aware that each blow we deliver in the fight against poverty wherever we are, is a blow to poverty and deprivation everywhere.

We remain however equally aware that for us to truly attain the desired levels of infrastructure creation, we will have to work harder, smarter, only this way will we resolve this challenge.

I thank you.

I now hand over the Symbolic Key to Premier of the Northern Cape Ms Dipuo Peters.

Issued by: Department of Public Works
19 August 2005