Date: 31/10/2003
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molefe: Klerksdorp Executive Mayor's annual banquet
SPEECH BY NORTH WEST PREMIER, DR POPO SIMON MOLEFE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE KLERKSDORP EXECUTIVE MAYOR'S ANNUAL BANQUET, 31 October 2003
Director of Ceremonies,
The Executive Mayor of Klerksdorp, Dr Masike,
Members of the Mayoral Committee of Klerskdorp,
Executive Mayors, Mayors and Councillors present this evening,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am deeply humbled to be part of this year's Klerksdorp Executive Mayoral Annual Banquet. I am also very happy to receive the honour bestowed on me by the people of this city.
It is my considered view that this honour belongs to all those men and women of our province who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of the objective of a better life for all.
In their communities, in religious organisations, in the private sector and the non-governmental organisation (NGO) movement, these patriots are making a difference, on a daily basis, in the lives of the people of our province.
Their selfless contribution to the reconstruction and development of our country and province is the very reason we look back with pride on the path we traversed since our liberation in 1994.
As we bring to an end the first decade of liberation, we do so satisfied that we have made massive progress in moving our country away from the state of paralysis and stagnation that was characteristic of the previous order.
In our Province of the North West, the past ten years of democratic rule have been characterised by a gradual, step-by-step, erosion of the legacy we inherited.
As you will all recall, we inherited a bantustan regime that was corrupt, that lacked legitimacy and incapable of serving the interest of a democratic state. We also inherited a bloated civil service where principles such as Batho Pele were unknown. Racism, particularly in areas such as Klerksdorp, where we are gathered this evening, was one of the issues we had to deal with. We also faced the mammoth task of combining three disparate administrations, each with its own unique challenges, into one coherent administration.
That we have been able to overcome all these challenges in a relatively short period of time, is a fitting tribute to the hard work of the people of the North West Province, who rallied behind their government in an endeavour to build a better province.
It is to these hard working patriots that I dedicate the honour bestowed on me by the City of Klerksdorp.
Through their hard work and commitment to the objective of building a better province, we have managed to record an average 0,1 % growth in our provincial economy over the period 1995 to 2001. We estimate that the provincial economy grew by an impressive 2,1% in 2002.
Collectively, we have been able to develop an industrial and economic development blueprint, NWEDIS, as part of the North West 2012 Plan. This plan is the embodiment of the kind of province we seek to build for ourselves.
Acting together, we made good progress on critical areas such as black economic empowerment (BEE), job creation and widening the social security net.
It is a matter of pride that during the financial year ending March 2002, government tenders to the value of R448 million were awarded to businesses owned by historically disadvantaged individuals. This represents 68% of the total contracts awarded. Also impressive is that of the total amount of contracts awarded, contracts to the value of R28 million went to businesses owned by women.
Other stakeholders in the economy have also put their collective shoulder to the wheel in an effort to promote BEE. These include parastatals and mining companies that are engaged in major initiatives to promote BEE in our province.
We count among our successes the fact that unemployment in our province has been reduced notably, although it still remains a major challenge. The Census 2001 figures indicate that unemployment in the North West Province has decreased from 38% in 1996 to 25% in 2001.
Income distribution in our province has also shown some improvement. According to the Census 2001 figures a significant number of people in our province generate earnings that are above the minimum living level of between R1 to R400 per month.
More and more people in our province now have access to basic services that have eluded them for many generations. These include decent shelter, electricity, water, telephones, refuse removal, education and health.
Through interventions such as the ones we are making at the Kgalagadi Rural Development Node, we are recording progress in removing, from the shoulders of our people, the intolerable burden of poverty and underdevelopment.
We continue to expand the reach of our social security net as part of our ongoing effort to fight the scourge of poverty. Our provincial allocation for social security increased from R1,4 billion in the financial year 1999/2000 to R1,9 billion in 2001/2002.
In addition, the number of social grants beneficiaries in the province increased from 294 508 in January 2001 to 411 646 in December 2002. This represents a massive 39% increase.
By all accounts Ladies and Gentlemen, these achievements are significant. They are a result of collective action by all of us who are committed to the strategic objective of improving the quality of life of our people. No single individual can claim these victories. They are victories of a collective. It is this collective effort that is being acknowledged and honoured this evening.
As we prepare to enter the second decade of democracy, we must summon this collective will in order to deal with the challenges ahead. We must ensure that we build the spirit of united action towards a common goal.
Programme Director, the City of Klerksdorp is seized in the important task of regenerating itself following the declining contribution of mining activities to its economy. This is a city hard at work to reduce its reliance on the mining industry, once the backbone of its economy. We wish to salute the leadership of this city for taking the initiative to plan for the city's future beyond the era of mining. We wish them well in this important endeavour.
As one of the sites of early gold mining activities in South Africa, Klerksdorp has huge potential as a tourist destination. We are encouraged by efforts to showcase the city's tourism icons such as the Goud Koppie and the Klerksdorp Museum.
Equally, we are encouraged by efforts to develop other sectors of the city's economy such as manufacturing, motor vehicle retail and financial services. We are pleased that the city is making good progress in attracting new investment.
We also note with appreciation efforts to promote agricultural development in areas such as Tigane. We also are pleased that the Council has prioritised the issue of developing small, medium and micro enterprises.
We draw great courage from the fact the business community has thrown its weight behind effort to regenerate this city. Clearly, this is a city united towards a common goal. We are indeed inspired by the path the city has chosen for itself.
I urge all stakeholders to continue working together. The people who have placed their trust in you demand that you do this. You dare not let them down.
Once more, thank you for the honour you have given to me. I am truly humbled.
I thank you!
Issue by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
31 October 2003
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molefe: Klerksdorp Executive Mayor's annual banquet
SPEECH BY NORTH WEST PREMIER, DR POPO SIMON MOLEFE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE KLERKSDORP EXECUTIVE MAYOR'S ANNUAL BANQUET, 31 October 2003
Director of Ceremonies,
The Executive Mayor of Klerksdorp, Dr Masike,
Members of the Mayoral Committee of Klerskdorp,
Executive Mayors, Mayors and Councillors present this evening,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am deeply humbled to be part of this year's Klerksdorp Executive Mayoral Annual Banquet. I am also very happy to receive the honour bestowed on me by the people of this city.
It is my considered view that this honour belongs to all those men and women of our province who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of the objective of a better life for all.
In their communities, in religious organisations, in the private sector and the non-governmental organisation (NGO) movement, these patriots are making a difference, on a daily basis, in the lives of the people of our province.
Their selfless contribution to the reconstruction and development of our country and province is the very reason we look back with pride on the path we traversed since our liberation in 1994.
As we bring to an end the first decade of liberation, we do so satisfied that we have made massive progress in moving our country away from the state of paralysis and stagnation that was characteristic of the previous order.
In our Province of the North West, the past ten years of democratic rule have been characterised by a gradual, step-by-step, erosion of the legacy we inherited.
As you will all recall, we inherited a bantustan regime that was corrupt, that lacked legitimacy and incapable of serving the interest of a democratic state. We also inherited a bloated civil service where principles such as Batho Pele were unknown. Racism, particularly in areas such as Klerksdorp, where we are gathered this evening, was one of the issues we had to deal with. We also faced the mammoth task of combining three disparate administrations, each with its own unique challenges, into one coherent administration.
That we have been able to overcome all these challenges in a relatively short period of time, is a fitting tribute to the hard work of the people of the North West Province, who rallied behind their government in an endeavour to build a better province.
It is to these hard working patriots that I dedicate the honour bestowed on me by the City of Klerksdorp.
Through their hard work and commitment to the objective of building a better province, we have managed to record an average 0,1 % growth in our provincial economy over the period 1995 to 2001. We estimate that the provincial economy grew by an impressive 2,1% in 2002.
Collectively, we have been able to develop an industrial and economic development blueprint, NWEDIS, as part of the North West 2012 Plan. This plan is the embodiment of the kind of province we seek to build for ourselves.
Acting together, we made good progress on critical areas such as black economic empowerment (BEE), job creation and widening the social security net.
It is a matter of pride that during the financial year ending March 2002, government tenders to the value of R448 million were awarded to businesses owned by historically disadvantaged individuals. This represents 68% of the total contracts awarded. Also impressive is that of the total amount of contracts awarded, contracts to the value of R28 million went to businesses owned by women.
Other stakeholders in the economy have also put their collective shoulder to the wheel in an effort to promote BEE. These include parastatals and mining companies that are engaged in major initiatives to promote BEE in our province.
We count among our successes the fact that unemployment in our province has been reduced notably, although it still remains a major challenge. The Census 2001 figures indicate that unemployment in the North West Province has decreased from 38% in 1996 to 25% in 2001.
Income distribution in our province has also shown some improvement. According to the Census 2001 figures a significant number of people in our province generate earnings that are above the minimum living level of between R1 to R400 per month.
More and more people in our province now have access to basic services that have eluded them for many generations. These include decent shelter, electricity, water, telephones, refuse removal, education and health.
Through interventions such as the ones we are making at the Kgalagadi Rural Development Node, we are recording progress in removing, from the shoulders of our people, the intolerable burden of poverty and underdevelopment.
We continue to expand the reach of our social security net as part of our ongoing effort to fight the scourge of poverty. Our provincial allocation for social security increased from R1,4 billion in the financial year 1999/2000 to R1,9 billion in 2001/2002.
In addition, the number of social grants beneficiaries in the province increased from 294 508 in January 2001 to 411 646 in December 2002. This represents a massive 39% increase.
By all accounts Ladies and Gentlemen, these achievements are significant. They are a result of collective action by all of us who are committed to the strategic objective of improving the quality of life of our people. No single individual can claim these victories. They are victories of a collective. It is this collective effort that is being acknowledged and honoured this evening.
As we prepare to enter the second decade of democracy, we must summon this collective will in order to deal with the challenges ahead. We must ensure that we build the spirit of united action towards a common goal.
Programme Director, the City of Klerksdorp is seized in the important task of regenerating itself following the declining contribution of mining activities to its economy. This is a city hard at work to reduce its reliance on the mining industry, once the backbone of its economy. We wish to salute the leadership of this city for taking the initiative to plan for the city's future beyond the era of mining. We wish them well in this important endeavour.
As one of the sites of early gold mining activities in South Africa, Klerksdorp has huge potential as a tourist destination. We are encouraged by efforts to showcase the city's tourism icons such as the Goud Koppie and the Klerksdorp Museum.
Equally, we are encouraged by efforts to develop other sectors of the city's economy such as manufacturing, motor vehicle retail and financial services. We are pleased that the city is making good progress in attracting new investment.
We also note with appreciation efforts to promote agricultural development in areas such as Tigane. We also are pleased that the Council has prioritised the issue of developing small, medium and micro enterprises.
We draw great courage from the fact the business community has thrown its weight behind effort to regenerate this city. Clearly, this is a city united towards a common goal. We are indeed inspired by the path the city has chosen for itself.
I urge all stakeholders to continue working together. The people who have placed their trust in you demand that you do this. You dare not let them down.
Once more, thank you for the honour you have given to me. I am truly humbled.
I thank you!
Issue by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
31 October 2003
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
