Date: 05/08/2004
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: E Rasool: Feedback from Cabinet Lekgotla


MEDIA STATEMENT: FEEDBACK FROM CABINET LEKGOTLA, 5 August 2004

The Provincial Cabinet and Provincial Heads of Departments met this Tuesday and Wednesday in a Lekgotla in Saldanha Bay on the West Coast. Arising from the Lekgotla, I am able to convey the following:

100 Days - 20 Deposit programme:

The 100 Days ends on Sunday, 5 September. We are on track to success with all 20 Deposits on the people's contract in our Province as I announced them in my State of the Province address on 28 June. These signify the developmental, pro-poor and legacy correcting commitment and approach of this Government.

Important markers amongst the 20 Deposits that must be noted include:

1. The arrest of the first alleged 'high flyer' criminal: Mujahid Daniels and successful opposition of his bail application. He has been charged with drug dealing, perlemoen smuggling, murder and housebreaking. We are on course with the other 'high flyer' within the 100 days programme.

2. Arising from the first successful conviction under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act POCA, between 7 and 11 members of each of the Mongrels, Cisko Yakkies, American and Corner Boy gangs have been arrested and charged.

3. I will switch on the power at the last of the six schools to be electrified, St Boniface in Rietpoort on 31 August.

4. 74 000 Children who qualify for the Child Support Grant have started to receive payment and another 24 188 applications are being processed, thus already exceeding the goal of 92 929 children.

5. The new Railway Police will be deployed this January 2005.

6. A big surprise can be expected too in the total of HIV+ citizens receiving ARV therapy in our Province.

7. The Athlone Taxi Office has been opened

8. The Expanded Public Works programme will be opened by President Mbeki on 4 September

9. The launch on 1 September of Accessible Government

10. The Provincial Development Council amendment bill and Western Cape Youth Commission bill have been signed by Cabinet and will be handed to Parliament

11. The Clanwilliam Agricultural College, Augsburg for emerging farmers is being opened tomorrow

Each of these Deposits will be unrolled over the next month as we complete the first 100 days and secure the patience and goodwill of the people of the Province.

Unfolding the medium term:

We are concerned that the great backlog in our Province means that we can never allow iKapa elihlumayo, our strategy to grow and share the Cape to become a mere slogan. To build conffidence, it is essential that we focus on the medium term and underpin iKapa elihlumayo with the strategies, plans and frameworks needed to fight poverty.

We must also signal through our own confidence and work that the Western Cape is open for business. Investors, businesses and entrepreneurs, both domestically and internationally have looked for these signs from us.

For the first time, our Province can anticipate integrated strategies including the following:

1. Micro Economic Strategy
2. Provincial Infrastructure Plan
3. Spatial Development Framework
4. Social Capital Strategy
5. Human Resource Development Strategy

These will all be completed by June 2005 and will be reinforced by our health transformation programme: Health 2010, our preparations for the World Cup in 2010, our fight against crime, our transformation of the State and our empowerment drive in one harmonious plan to achieve our goal.

Terror threat:

I have been worried by reports concerning a terror threat. I have received a briefing from the Minister for Community Safety, Leonard Ramatlakane concerning the reported terror threat to the Western Cape. Minister Ramatlakane has consulted with the SAPS and National Intelligence who assure us that there is no such threat.

I am reassured by this, as I know we all will be. The Western Cape is safe and we have no reason to expect attacks. I have every confidence in inviting visitors and reassuring citizens that we are still the safe part of the world that was acknowledged by the international community after 9/11.

It is unfortunate that this sort of reporting is casually relayed to the world, doing great harm to our efforts in terms of business confidence, tourism and relationships amongst us as citizens.

All people from the Western Cape, including the Muslim community are fully behind our Government's work to fight and poverty and to build the bridges necessary to the Home for All. We need this inclusive climate to succeed.

We must recall too that even at the height of the urban terror that we experienced in the nineties, the state was able to limit human casualties and damage to a large extent. This was followed by successful convictions.

Premier Ebrahim Rasool

For any further enquiries, please contact:
Redi Direko
Cell: 082 805 9119
E-mail: rdireko@pgwc.gov.za
Clayton Edmund Wakeford
Communications Director
Office of the Premier of the Western Cape
Tel: (021) 483 3528
Fax: (021) 483 3921
Cell: 082 827 8792
E-mail: cwakeford@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial Government
5 August 2004