Date: 01/03/2007
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Title: Ndebele: Provincial Budget Speech dinner
Remarks by KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, during the provincial budget speech dinner
Partnership, a key to a safe and economically prosperous KwaZulu-Natal
Your Majesty, Hlanga Lomhlabathi
Other members of the royal family
MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize
Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) of KwaZulu-Natal
Members parliament and councillors
Heads of departments
Member of the business community
Ladies and gentlemen
I am not here this evening to deliver a speech at all. That has already been done by the MEC for Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize, earlier today. I have however decided with your permission to use this opportunity to make some remarks around the key drivers of our economic success.
As you are aware we are, at 16,5% today the second largest contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after Gauteng. This is no mean feat but it is the result of the painstaking work that we have engaged in slowly, quietly but effectively since we took over in 2004.
Allow me to share with you my thoughts on why I think that we are doing so well.
There is stability in KwaZulu-Natal. Political animosities have subsided. A return to the conflict of the past is simply inconceivable. Nobody wants it. As I have said before we lived through the negative energies and we decided to embrace a future of peace and stability instead. This was a very important choice to make.
Secondly, we have the sea. We have built and extended our ports such as Richards Bay and Durban in anticipation of the coming economic opportunities offered by the growth of China and India among others. Economists and political strategists predict that during the 21st century these countries will rival the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) as major trading and industrial giants. Durban and Richards Bay are well placed to take advantage of this.
Thirdly, tourism has become a major international industry. We are drawing the most number of domestic tourists to KwaZulu-Natal. This growth trajectory will continue. Our scenic grandeur and climate are unrivalled. From the majestic Drakensberg to the diversified coral reefs, the pristine wilderness and the big five of eco-tourism on lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, we all have this in one province. In fact in one place, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, we actually have the big six with whales added to the list.
Fourthly, there are few countries in the world, let alone provinces that have our vibrant history. We are a cultural melting pot. Last year we celebrated the centenary of the Bhambatha Uprising and the beginning of the Satyagraha Movement. These started in KwaZulu-Natal.
On 11 March this year we are commemorating possibly the country's first African Christian martyr in Maqhamusela Khanyile. This year we are also remembering 40 years since Chief Albert Luthuli died in 1967. Very few places in the world will have such a rare combination of historical highlights as we do. Let us move from being a footnote in history to making our own history. Let us tell the story of the Zulu people and that of the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
I want to say tonight that it is not possible to sustain this optimism through the activities of government alone. We require the consolidation of the solid partnership we have already started. This partnership includes business. This partnership includes the people of KwaZulu-Natal whether they are in Gauteng Cape or anywhere in the world.
We are pursuing the successful KwaZulu-Natal alumni wherever they may be, in Cape Town, Gauteng, the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), Australia and Asia. Wherever they are we want them to deploy their scarce skills and experience towards the sustained development of KwaZulu-Natal.
This partnership includes traditional leadership. The Zulu Royal House is very important in the success of KwaZulu-Natal. It is more than a repository and arbiter of Zulu culture. The royal house in the person of his majesty the king represents the unity of our people and the uniqueness of our social and historical experience.
This partnership includes labour in all its formations. There are few economies in the world which have grown on a sustainable and long term basis without the full partnership of the workers.
This partnership must of necessity include various levels of government working in concert towards one goal. This is a partnership for all. It must therefore include as beneficiaries and active partners, each and everyone who has the interest of KwaZulu-Natal at heart.
Armed with this partnership, I do not see how any of the challenges we face today can stand in our way. I do not see how criminality can thrive against the solid popular anti-crime front which a partnership with our people will produce. Criminals will have no quarter to hide.
Employment levels cannot but continue to rise when we have business, government and labour, working together towards one goal; that of growing this economy from average to outstanding.
Thus we can multiply by a factor of 10, the hope of our people everywhere that one day their part of the world, their corner of Africa shall be free.
We shall together be free from hunger because we shall have jobs.
We shall be free from criminality because none among us shall take or touch without permission anymore.
Let us rise together and take our rightful place in the country and the world.
Masisukume sakhe!
I thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 March 2007
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Title: Ndebele: Provincial Budget Speech dinner
Remarks by KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, during the provincial budget speech dinner
Partnership, a key to a safe and economically prosperous KwaZulu-Natal
Your Majesty, Hlanga Lomhlabathi
Other members of the royal family
MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize
Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) of KwaZulu-Natal
Members parliament and councillors
Heads of departments
Member of the business community
Ladies and gentlemen
I am not here this evening to deliver a speech at all. That has already been done by the MEC for Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize, earlier today. I have however decided with your permission to use this opportunity to make some remarks around the key drivers of our economic success.
As you are aware we are, at 16,5% today the second largest contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after Gauteng. This is no mean feat but it is the result of the painstaking work that we have engaged in slowly, quietly but effectively since we took over in 2004.
Allow me to share with you my thoughts on why I think that we are doing so well.
There is stability in KwaZulu-Natal. Political animosities have subsided. A return to the conflict of the past is simply inconceivable. Nobody wants it. As I have said before we lived through the negative energies and we decided to embrace a future of peace and stability instead. This was a very important choice to make.
Secondly, we have the sea. We have built and extended our ports such as Richards Bay and Durban in anticipation of the coming economic opportunities offered by the growth of China and India among others. Economists and political strategists predict that during the 21st century these countries will rival the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) as major trading and industrial giants. Durban and Richards Bay are well placed to take advantage of this.
Thirdly, tourism has become a major international industry. We are drawing the most number of domestic tourists to KwaZulu-Natal. This growth trajectory will continue. Our scenic grandeur and climate are unrivalled. From the majestic Drakensberg to the diversified coral reefs, the pristine wilderness and the big five of eco-tourism on lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, we all have this in one province. In fact in one place, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, we actually have the big six with whales added to the list.
Fourthly, there are few countries in the world, let alone provinces that have our vibrant history. We are a cultural melting pot. Last year we celebrated the centenary of the Bhambatha Uprising and the beginning of the Satyagraha Movement. These started in KwaZulu-Natal.
On 11 March this year we are commemorating possibly the country's first African Christian martyr in Maqhamusela Khanyile. This year we are also remembering 40 years since Chief Albert Luthuli died in 1967. Very few places in the world will have such a rare combination of historical highlights as we do. Let us move from being a footnote in history to making our own history. Let us tell the story of the Zulu people and that of the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
I want to say tonight that it is not possible to sustain this optimism through the activities of government alone. We require the consolidation of the solid partnership we have already started. This partnership includes business. This partnership includes the people of KwaZulu-Natal whether they are in Gauteng Cape or anywhere in the world.
We are pursuing the successful KwaZulu-Natal alumni wherever they may be, in Cape Town, Gauteng, the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), Australia and Asia. Wherever they are we want them to deploy their scarce skills and experience towards the sustained development of KwaZulu-Natal.
This partnership includes traditional leadership. The Zulu Royal House is very important in the success of KwaZulu-Natal. It is more than a repository and arbiter of Zulu culture. The royal house in the person of his majesty the king represents the unity of our people and the uniqueness of our social and historical experience.
This partnership includes labour in all its formations. There are few economies in the world which have grown on a sustainable and long term basis without the full partnership of the workers.
This partnership must of necessity include various levels of government working in concert towards one goal. This is a partnership for all. It must therefore include as beneficiaries and active partners, each and everyone who has the interest of KwaZulu-Natal at heart.
Armed with this partnership, I do not see how any of the challenges we face today can stand in our way. I do not see how criminality can thrive against the solid popular anti-crime front which a partnership with our people will produce. Criminals will have no quarter to hide.
Employment levels cannot but continue to rise when we have business, government and labour, working together towards one goal; that of growing this economy from average to outstanding.
Thus we can multiply by a factor of 10, the hope of our people everywhere that one day their part of the world, their corner of Africa shall be free.
We shall together be free from hunger because we shall have jobs.
We shall be free from criminality because none among us shall take or touch without permission anymore.
Let us rise together and take our rightful place in the country and the world.
Masisukume sakhe!
I thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
1 March 2007
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