Date: 23/11/2006
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Peters: Pixley ka Seme District Growth and Development Summit
Keynote address delivered by the Premier of the Northern Cape, Dipuo Peters, on the occasion of the Pixley ka Seme District Growth and Development Summit and launch of the district growth and development strategy
Programme Director,
Honourable Mayor of the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality Alderperson, H Jenkins,
Honourable mayors of the local municipalities and councillors within the district municipalities,
Members of the Executive Committee present,
Members of the Provincial Legislature present,
Representatives of the organised labour,
Representatives of the organised business,
Representatives of community-based organisation (CBO) and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector,
Representatives of DFIs and State Owed Enterprises (SOEs),
Officials of the national, provincial and local government,
Ladies and gentlemen:
Let me take this opportunity on behalf of the provincial government and the Executive Council (ExCo), to commend the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality's leadership on this bold initiative to be the first district municipality from the five in the province, to proactively and diligently respond to the call of developing District Growth and Development Strategies and holding the first consultative summit for the launching of the above mentioned strategy.
This historic occasion is happening three weeks after the Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's parliamentary announcement of government's plan to revitalise and renew the significant and important De Aar Railway Network. The very railway network that was central and a large part of the source of socio-economic life of this area.
Almost two and a half years ago on the occasion of the inauguration of the Premier and assumption of office of the current executive, we made the commitment and accepted that "the people of the province have mandated us the leadership of the Northern Cape to realise a clear set of goals and objective, including:
* reduction and eradication of poverty
* job creation and opportunities for all
* improving levels of knowledge, skills and expertise
* deepening healthcare for all * enhancing the capacity of local governments to deliver more efficient social services
* dealing with the abuse of women and children and the neglect of the elderly and disabled
* and creating an enabling environment for greater participation by all economically active in the economy of the province," "(2004: inaugural address by ED Peters)".
We further conceded that the above would be the main blocks for the socio-economic development strategy which the Northern Cape Provincial Government will unfold in the coming months and years to attain the goals contained in the African National Congress' (ANC) election manifesto which forms the essence of the provincial government.
True to the commitment we made in 2004 on the above-mentioned occasion and through the visionary leadership of the ExCo, the people of the Northern Cape adopted and launched the Provincial Growth and Development (PGDS) within a space of eight months, i.e. on 27 January 2005. The PGDS have since become this important integrated development planning tool for us and the work of government.
Through the PGDS we have been able to collectively define and agree to a development trajectory for the Northern Cape. We have agreed that together as a province for the coming five to ten years, we will pursue the following objectives:
* promote the growth, diversify and transform the provincial economy
* deduce poverty through social development.
These objectives will be actively supported for realisation by our conscious efforts to:
* develop requisite levels of human and social capital
* improve the efficiency, effectiveness of governance other development institutions
* enhance infrastructure for economic growth and social development.
At the beginning of this year on 27 January 2006, we celebrated the first year anniversary of the launch of the PGDS together with the launch of the Namaqualand Mariculture Park in the Richtersveld Municipality (Port Nolloth). The establishment of the park was one of the identified flagship projects of the PGDS (intended specifically to diversify and grow the economy of the province).
Programme Director, I have deliberately chosen to be temporal in this address, I am taking the liberty to proof to all of us that ours is a government that have a clear vision and agenda (informed by the needs and inspiration of our people) of eradicating poverty and creating the much needed jobs, a better life for all, is what we are striving for.
President Thabo Mbeki in his State of the Nation address of February 2006, directed that the district and metropolitan municipalities hold growth and development summits in their areas of jurisdiction. The President made this pronouncement against the backdrop of the introduction of the Accelerated and Shared Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA), which builds on the outcome of the National Growth and Development Summit of 2003.
Programme Director, may we together remember that ours is a government with a clear vision and agenda!
One of the lessons learnt from our ten-year review of government's performance in the first decade of freedom was that some of the good and positive programmes intended for improving lives our people did not measure up to maximum and satisfactory impact. This had happened because of lack of co-ordination and integration of all of government's programmes. As an immediate response to the above mentioned weakness, in the May 2004 State of the Nation address, the President called for the harmonisation of the National Spatial Development Perspective (NSDP), the PGDS and the Municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).
Since from that time and now, a lot of work has been undertaken and completed by the three spheres of government in pursuit of the above-mentioned presidential directive.
Programme Director, we gathered here today because now we know and agree that:
* development do not occur in mid-air but in a geographic space
* government's ability to accelerate growth and reduce unemployment and poverty is tied to the growth potential of different areas and regions (district municipalities)
* different regions have different economic potential and the spatial variations in the incidences of poverty are also different
* the national economy is a collection of effectively functioning local economies and developing these economies in integral to achieving the economic growth target of 10 percent by 2014 and especially the six percent by 2009.
And lastly, Programme Director, this summit today is about us having accepted that districts and metropolitans areas are the pivotal sites on which to build the understanding of the nature and distribution of regional potential across the country.
Pixley ka Seme District is currently regarded as the poorest of our five municipal districts in the province. Unemployment rate have recently been measured at 20 percent and the Human Development Index (HDI) of some major towns in the district measured at 0,43 compared to provincial average of 0,58.
Pixley ka Seme contributes only 10 percent to the total GDP of the Northern Cape. Poverty levels have worsened after the scaling down of railway transportation and freight utilisation by government and the private sector over the past years.
Agriculture and public and community services are the two sectors that contribute the highest in terms of the districts economy and provision of secured jobs.
Taking the above mentioned scenario, it becomes important once more to commend the district leadership for the pro-activeness and their resolve that it is only them, us and the rest of those gathered here as stakeholders who will and must extricate the people of Pixley ka Seme from the poverty, unemployment, lack of development and the general decline in the quality of life currently experienced in the region.
The district development strategy is intended to serve as a framework for the development of credible IDPs by all local municipalities within the Pixley ka Seme District. The strategy will also serve to promote local economic growth and development and improve the quality of life of the people of the district. The District Growth and Development Strategy (DGDS) further recognises the leadership role government must play in driving integrated, holistic, sustainable and participatory growth and development at a local level.
Programme Director, it is for this reason that I now call upon all of us that for the coming two days of the summit collectively as partners in the reconstruction and development of our country do the following:
* agree on the areas of potential that exist in the district and important for local economic development
* agree on actions to be taken as to contribute to the six percent target by 2009 and 10 percent target by 2014
* agree on a growth target for Pixley ka Seme based on opportunities and potential identified,
* propose and agree on the conditions for sustainable local economic development in the district,
* the summit to agree on the nature and package for skills development according to the make up and economic development vision of the Pixley ka Seme District and to clearly define and agree on the role of the private sector, CBO and NGOs the SOEs, local provincial and national government in pursuing the set growth target for the district.
It is my firm believe that the above mentioned task is possible if we can together pool our resources for the sake of turning the socio-economic situation of Pixley ka Seme District Municipality.
Through our clear vision and agenda, Pixley ka Seme is host to the Karoo Array Telescope upon which the South African bid for the Square kilometre Array (SKA) is launched, a total of R361 million over three years is to be invested in this municipality.
Pixley ka Seme District Municipality has the most suitable land and vegetation for the commercialisation of goats project. The district municipality stands to benefit substantially from the R45 million initial investment to be made in the project.
The district municipality further stand to benefit from the Precious Metal and Gems Stone Project that has been initiated and driven by the provincial government.
The district municipality has been selected with other 12 district municipalities and metros to participate in the Presidential Pilot Project on application of the National Spatial Development Perspective (NSDP) in municipal IDPs. This pilot project is intended to strengthen this process of the summits and implementation of the DGDS. It is also intend to feed into the process of developing credible IDPs. All municipalities should participate to get this regional industrial zone pilot a success. This is a way of ensuring that economic development is regionalised and all region's comparative advantages be tapped into.
Based on the above projects and programmes intended for the district municipality, as government we declare our readiness to take up our position, roll up our sleeves and contribute towards the improvement of the district municipality's economy through:
* the Vaal and Orange River programme with the 2 000 hectors of water rights
* the Karoo Water Scheme
* the lamb meat industry
* possibility of a tannery in the Siyancuma Municipality
* wool processing
* the furniture co-operative.
As government we also need to create the necessary condition for business to invest in growth while creating decent jobs. We also implore business to further contribute to the development of the necessary skills and expertise to expand the economy.
We will also call upon the non-State stakeholders like CBO and NGOs to engage government on their needs and at the same time ensure the strengthening of their organisations such that they are able to operate on the basis of mandates and accountability in relation to their constituencies.
When government and private sector consult with them it must be clear that they speak on behalf of constituencies and do report back to these constituencies.
As to whether this will be yet another summit and posh gathering for socialising and networking or an important start of a process for crafting a development trajectory/path for the district and subsequently implementation of summit resolutions will depend on all of us and what we will do once back to our work stations. It is however my firm believe that like with our struggle against apartheid and thereafter the building of our democracy we will be able to turn around the socio-economic fortunes of this district.
We will continue to draw on the collective will and determination of the people of the province, working in concert with government and stakeholders to bring about a growing, safe and competitive Pixley ka Seme regional economy.
Remember a vibrant economy releases the social developmental budget to focus on broader population needs and it can also help grow the economy by allowing government to invest in infrastructure supporting economic growth like roads, transport, electricity, water and all necessary ingredients.
Madam Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you for your bottom up approach to this summit which means all municipalities and stakeholders formed the building blocks for the strategy which will emerge. Congratulations and good luck in the implementation process.
Ke a leboga! Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
23 November 2006
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Peters: Pixley ka Seme District Growth and Development Summit
Keynote address delivered by the Premier of the Northern Cape, Dipuo Peters, on the occasion of the Pixley ka Seme District Growth and Development Summit and launch of the district growth and development strategy
Programme Director,
Honourable Mayor of the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality Alderperson, H Jenkins,
Honourable mayors of the local municipalities and councillors within the district municipalities,
Members of the Executive Committee present,
Members of the Provincial Legislature present,
Representatives of the organised labour,
Representatives of the organised business,
Representatives of community-based organisation (CBO) and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector,
Representatives of DFIs and State Owed Enterprises (SOEs),
Officials of the national, provincial and local government,
Ladies and gentlemen:
Let me take this opportunity on behalf of the provincial government and the Executive Council (ExCo), to commend the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality's leadership on this bold initiative to be the first district municipality from the five in the province, to proactively and diligently respond to the call of developing District Growth and Development Strategies and holding the first consultative summit for the launching of the above mentioned strategy.
This historic occasion is happening three weeks after the Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's parliamentary announcement of government's plan to revitalise and renew the significant and important De Aar Railway Network. The very railway network that was central and a large part of the source of socio-economic life of this area.
Almost two and a half years ago on the occasion of the inauguration of the Premier and assumption of office of the current executive, we made the commitment and accepted that "the people of the province have mandated us the leadership of the Northern Cape to realise a clear set of goals and objective, including:
* reduction and eradication of poverty
* job creation and opportunities for all
* improving levels of knowledge, skills and expertise
* deepening healthcare for all * enhancing the capacity of local governments to deliver more efficient social services
* dealing with the abuse of women and children and the neglect of the elderly and disabled
* and creating an enabling environment for greater participation by all economically active in the economy of the province," "(2004: inaugural address by ED Peters)".
We further conceded that the above would be the main blocks for the socio-economic development strategy which the Northern Cape Provincial Government will unfold in the coming months and years to attain the goals contained in the African National Congress' (ANC) election manifesto which forms the essence of the provincial government.
True to the commitment we made in 2004 on the above-mentioned occasion and through the visionary leadership of the ExCo, the people of the Northern Cape adopted and launched the Provincial Growth and Development (PGDS) within a space of eight months, i.e. on 27 January 2005. The PGDS have since become this important integrated development planning tool for us and the work of government.
Through the PGDS we have been able to collectively define and agree to a development trajectory for the Northern Cape. We have agreed that together as a province for the coming five to ten years, we will pursue the following objectives:
* promote the growth, diversify and transform the provincial economy
* deduce poverty through social development.
These objectives will be actively supported for realisation by our conscious efforts to:
* develop requisite levels of human and social capital
* improve the efficiency, effectiveness of governance other development institutions
* enhance infrastructure for economic growth and social development.
At the beginning of this year on 27 January 2006, we celebrated the first year anniversary of the launch of the PGDS together with the launch of the Namaqualand Mariculture Park in the Richtersveld Municipality (Port Nolloth). The establishment of the park was one of the identified flagship projects of the PGDS (intended specifically to diversify and grow the economy of the province).
Programme Director, I have deliberately chosen to be temporal in this address, I am taking the liberty to proof to all of us that ours is a government that have a clear vision and agenda (informed by the needs and inspiration of our people) of eradicating poverty and creating the much needed jobs, a better life for all, is what we are striving for.
President Thabo Mbeki in his State of the Nation address of February 2006, directed that the district and metropolitan municipalities hold growth and development summits in their areas of jurisdiction. The President made this pronouncement against the backdrop of the introduction of the Accelerated and Shared Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA), which builds on the outcome of the National Growth and Development Summit of 2003.
Programme Director, may we together remember that ours is a government with a clear vision and agenda!
One of the lessons learnt from our ten-year review of government's performance in the first decade of freedom was that some of the good and positive programmes intended for improving lives our people did not measure up to maximum and satisfactory impact. This had happened because of lack of co-ordination and integration of all of government's programmes. As an immediate response to the above mentioned weakness, in the May 2004 State of the Nation address, the President called for the harmonisation of the National Spatial Development Perspective (NSDP), the PGDS and the Municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).
Since from that time and now, a lot of work has been undertaken and completed by the three spheres of government in pursuit of the above-mentioned presidential directive.
Programme Director, we gathered here today because now we know and agree that:
* development do not occur in mid-air but in a geographic space
* government's ability to accelerate growth and reduce unemployment and poverty is tied to the growth potential of different areas and regions (district municipalities)
* different regions have different economic potential and the spatial variations in the incidences of poverty are also different
* the national economy is a collection of effectively functioning local economies and developing these economies in integral to achieving the economic growth target of 10 percent by 2014 and especially the six percent by 2009.
And lastly, Programme Director, this summit today is about us having accepted that districts and metropolitans areas are the pivotal sites on which to build the understanding of the nature and distribution of regional potential across the country.
Pixley ka Seme District is currently regarded as the poorest of our five municipal districts in the province. Unemployment rate have recently been measured at 20 percent and the Human Development Index (HDI) of some major towns in the district measured at 0,43 compared to provincial average of 0,58.
Pixley ka Seme contributes only 10 percent to the total GDP of the Northern Cape. Poverty levels have worsened after the scaling down of railway transportation and freight utilisation by government and the private sector over the past years.
Agriculture and public and community services are the two sectors that contribute the highest in terms of the districts economy and provision of secured jobs.
Taking the above mentioned scenario, it becomes important once more to commend the district leadership for the pro-activeness and their resolve that it is only them, us and the rest of those gathered here as stakeholders who will and must extricate the people of Pixley ka Seme from the poverty, unemployment, lack of development and the general decline in the quality of life currently experienced in the region.
The district development strategy is intended to serve as a framework for the development of credible IDPs by all local municipalities within the Pixley ka Seme District. The strategy will also serve to promote local economic growth and development and improve the quality of life of the people of the district. The District Growth and Development Strategy (DGDS) further recognises the leadership role government must play in driving integrated, holistic, sustainable and participatory growth and development at a local level.
Programme Director, it is for this reason that I now call upon all of us that for the coming two days of the summit collectively as partners in the reconstruction and development of our country do the following:
* agree on the areas of potential that exist in the district and important for local economic development
* agree on actions to be taken as to contribute to the six percent target by 2009 and 10 percent target by 2014
* agree on a growth target for Pixley ka Seme based on opportunities and potential identified,
* propose and agree on the conditions for sustainable local economic development in the district,
* the summit to agree on the nature and package for skills development according to the make up and economic development vision of the Pixley ka Seme District and to clearly define and agree on the role of the private sector, CBO and NGOs the SOEs, local provincial and national government in pursuing the set growth target for the district.
It is my firm believe that the above mentioned task is possible if we can together pool our resources for the sake of turning the socio-economic situation of Pixley ka Seme District Municipality.
Through our clear vision and agenda, Pixley ka Seme is host to the Karoo Array Telescope upon which the South African bid for the Square kilometre Array (SKA) is launched, a total of R361 million over three years is to be invested in this municipality.
Pixley ka Seme District Municipality has the most suitable land and vegetation for the commercialisation of goats project. The district municipality stands to benefit substantially from the R45 million initial investment to be made in the project.
The district municipality further stand to benefit from the Precious Metal and Gems Stone Project that has been initiated and driven by the provincial government.
The district municipality has been selected with other 12 district municipalities and metros to participate in the Presidential Pilot Project on application of the National Spatial Development Perspective (NSDP) in municipal IDPs. This pilot project is intended to strengthen this process of the summits and implementation of the DGDS. It is also intend to feed into the process of developing credible IDPs. All municipalities should participate to get this regional industrial zone pilot a success. This is a way of ensuring that economic development is regionalised and all region's comparative advantages be tapped into.
Based on the above projects and programmes intended for the district municipality, as government we declare our readiness to take up our position, roll up our sleeves and contribute towards the improvement of the district municipality's economy through:
* the Vaal and Orange River programme with the 2 000 hectors of water rights
* the Karoo Water Scheme
* the lamb meat industry
* possibility of a tannery in the Siyancuma Municipality
* wool processing
* the furniture co-operative.
As government we also need to create the necessary condition for business to invest in growth while creating decent jobs. We also implore business to further contribute to the development of the necessary skills and expertise to expand the economy.
We will also call upon the non-State stakeholders like CBO and NGOs to engage government on their needs and at the same time ensure the strengthening of their organisations such that they are able to operate on the basis of mandates and accountability in relation to their constituencies.
When government and private sector consult with them it must be clear that they speak on behalf of constituencies and do report back to these constituencies.
As to whether this will be yet another summit and posh gathering for socialising and networking or an important start of a process for crafting a development trajectory/path for the district and subsequently implementation of summit resolutions will depend on all of us and what we will do once back to our work stations. It is however my firm believe that like with our struggle against apartheid and thereafter the building of our democracy we will be able to turn around the socio-economic fortunes of this district.
We will continue to draw on the collective will and determination of the people of the province, working in concert with government and stakeholders to bring about a growing, safe and competitive Pixley ka Seme regional economy.
Remember a vibrant economy releases the social developmental budget to focus on broader population needs and it can also help grow the economy by allowing government to invest in infrastructure supporting economic growth like roads, transport, electricity, water and all necessary ingredients.
Madam Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you for your bottom up approach to this summit which means all municipalities and stakeholders formed the building blocks for the strategy which will emerge. Congratulations and good luck in the implementation process.
Ke a leboga! Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
23 November 2006
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