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Date : 26/04/2004
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: E Peters: Acceptance of election as Premier of Northern Cape


ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY MS ED PETERS ON HER ELECTION AS PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN CAPE AT A SITTING OF THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE OF THE NORTHERN CAPE, 26 April 2004

Judge President Diale Kgomo
Cde Premier Manne Dipico
Madam Speaker
Honourable Members
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am humbled this morning by the confidence and privilege that you have bestowed upon me for this term. This poses a great challenge because the very complexity of our society presents many challenges but they are opportunities for creativity.

Congratulations to our newly elected speaker Ms CK Seoposengwe and the prospective deputy speaker. You are so "splinternuut uit die box uit". I urge you to work together for the benefit of the people of the Northern Cape Province. Make the Executive accountable to the legislature.

Let me take this opportunity Madam Speaker, to welcome the new members and returning members of the legislature, back to the legislature face the challenges of the next five years.

We have seen how the last five years quickly went by, which means the clock of life ticks on and our time is running out.

We must use our time productively and hit the ground running to improve the services rendered by the committee of the legislature. Let us not put off for tomorrow what can be done today.

Our people have spoken in the Northern Cape and now is the time for all of us to roll up our sleeves and get working. We are committed to making sure that we turn the tide on poverty and unemployment.

We have to improve the capacity of our civil service to become more efficient, effective, and user friendly. But also, our leaders, some believe that we can best lead and manage people by making assumptions more fitting to machines than people.

Therefore, as we attempt to change the public sector for the better we should also try to get people to change their behaviour. Since behaviour is controlled by the mind, the only way to get the change you want is to get people to change their own minds. We need a public service free of fraud, poor performance, inefficiency and wastage.

Comrades, Honourable Members, collectively irrespective of which political party you belong to, we have a responsibility to uphold human dignity and respect for every citizen. We must develop pride in our nation that will weld us together. Let us constructively engage each other for the betterment of our people out there.

I believe that every one of us is aware of the problems and challenges facing us, but not everyone understands the evolution that is taking place.

There is still a lot to be done, so we will ensure that the machinery of government is overhauled to be able to work better and efficiently.

As we approach the day of our 10th Anniversary of our democracy it is worth noting how far the building blocks of the progressive statehood have been put in place.

Our ability to communicate with each other is contained in our ability to share emotions, points of view, aspirations, and human experiences to reshape the future ahead of us. Important changes have already been made but we need further positive changes.

The other problem that still continues to pose a threat to our democracy is the extent of indirect and direct racism that still exists. We must accept that no one is born with hatred and prejudice.

There is also no justification in wanting to impose our will on others.

Men should not be judged by their tint of skin, the gods they serve, the vintage they drink, nor by the way they live or sin, but by the quality of their thoughts, their words or deeds.

All of us therefore as different parties in the legislature must penetrate and dismantle the racial divide that keeps us apart. Race and gender is not the only discriminatory fields where we must focus our attention.

People with disabilities have also suffered the indignity of being neglected and excluded. We must re-double our efforts to put things right.

We must place emphasis on creating jobs and improving the economy of the Northern Cape. The Public and Private sector should be seen as partners in the cause of growth and good governance and we should not allow a dichotomy to develop between these two.

The economy recovery plan for the province will be reviewed and strengthened to focus on the comparative advantages which need to be turned into sharp competitive edges, particularly mining, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism.

In order to exploit this sector, infrastructure investments will be crucial. In order to develop economic vibrancy we need to redouble our efforts to generate, and nurture the formal sector and the SMME sector.

We need to unleash the entrepreneurial energies of the people and also ensure effective empowerment of women. It is notable that the opposition benches are only male.

The other area of focus will be the development of the youth of our province. We need their active participation in the economy.

I will further announce the job creation plans for the youth in my speech on Friday. The areas of their involvement will include learnerships, use of skills development funds and other training opportunities.

Whatever, setbacks we have had, nothing can stop us now; we have learnt over the last 10 years how to govern. However, improbable it may sound to skeptics we will reduce unemployment.

Whoever we may be, whatever our immediate interests, whatever baggage we carry from our past, however much we have been caught by the fashion cynics and loss of faith in the capacity of the people nothing can stop us now, forward is where we are going. Those who want to work with Northern Cape government they must make sure that they are taking us forward.

We will implement the extended public works programme to ensure that the job creation is solidified.

The success and advancements forged in this province were due to the exceptional leadership of Premier Manne Dipico. The shoes he left for me are too big and masculine, but I know that he has empowered us to take people forward on the journey of hope towards real development and the betterment of our people.

Thank you, Mr Premier for your diligence and exceptional leadership. The people of this province will remain indebted to you. O nkalakatha ya Northern Cape Province.

I accept the nomination and election with all humility.

I have no choice but to seize every minute of every hour with courage and conviction because boldness has power, magic and genius in it.

We need to cherish the times we have to be able to contribute to the betterment of humanity.

Life is for growth, for movements for purposes and achievements. It is an arena filled with great events that teach, entertain and offers great climaxes. All we need to do is to focus on our core business and build our province.

I am motivated by knowing that there are men and women of your calibre who are committed to hammer relentlessly at the doors of success until they yield to you. As Premier of the Northern Cape I thank you.

For more information contact: Poka "Thabo" Lekhu
Cell: 083 448 9158
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
26 April 2004

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