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Date : 24/02/05
Source: Department of Transport and Public Works, Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Skwatsha: Launch of EPWP

Launch of the EPWP - Central Karoo Region, by Mr Mcebisi Skwatsha, Minister for Transport and Public Works, Mandlenkosi, Beaufort West

24 February 2005

Master of Ceremony
District Mayor of the Central Karoo District Council
Acting Mayor of Beaufort West
Fellow councillors
Government officials
Guests and Friends
Allow me first to express my message of condolences to the Mhlaba family. The sudden death of comrade Mhlaba has been a blow not only to the Mhlaba family, but to the people of South Africa as a whole. Death has indeed robbed us of our leader, a stalwart of our revolution, a great hero and a lion of Africa.

Hamba kahle Ndobe, Qhawe lama Qhawe.

Master of Ceremony
Most of you have heard about the death of this leader. It is true sometimes that we have a tendency of underestimating and even give little recognition to the sacrifices, and unwavering commitment of some of our leaders during their lifetime, and we only reflect on these issues when these comrades are longer with us. We then speak only to ourselves about our appreciation of their contribution and sacrifices. Perhaps this may be one of the defining characteristics of human nature. I think that this is one habit that we perhaps need to change. You will agree with me that Oom Ray may not have been given the necessary recognition by society, in the same way that some of his comrades may been given.

The best recognition that we can that we can give him under this circumstances is rededicate our resolve to the struggle to build a non racial, non sexist and democratic South Africa, those political ideals that Oom Ray lived for, throughout his life.

Master of Ceremony, fellow guests
During the debate on the Premier's State of the Province Address in the Legislature, I made the point that the Province of the Western Cape has been honoured by hosting the closing ceremony of the first decade of our freedom.

This celebration were necessary because they were about the acknowledgement and the appreciation of significant gains that were made during this period, and they were also about recommitment to our resolve to move decisively in the realisation of our noble objectives of creating non-racial and non-sexist democracy in a truly free and prosperous country.

The Government of South Africa conducted a comprehensive review of the first decade of our freedom and discussed in detail the major advances made in this period. This document also made the point that, whilst recognising these achievements, there are also setbacks and challenges and if these are not tackled and our development path continue in this trajectory, then the negatives may overshadow all the good work done during this period.

One of the major challenges that the country is faced with is the urgent need of tackling the problem of unemployment and poverty.

Master of Ceremony
We have set ourselves as government, civil society, private sector and the organised business, the target of cutting levels of unemployment and poverty by half in 2014. Government further set the target of a creation of a million job opportunities through the implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programmed in the next five years. The Expanded Public Works Programme, the EPWP as is commonly known is a government Programme aimed at targeting those who are without jobs and do not get government's social grants. This programme encourages the use of labour intensive methods, where labour gets the necessary training to acquire skills needed for economic growth. These programmes are short to medium term in nature are also about encouraging Public Private Partnership and the pursuit of other government objectives such as the BEE and small and medium size business support.

Master of Ceremony
In the Western Cape this programmed is branded as Saamstaan and was officially launched in September by President Thabo Mbeki in Gugulethu. Following this launch we made an undertaking that we will come to the length and breathe of the Western Cape, embarking on a massive roll out programme and ensure that our people get the necessary information so that they can participate in these programmes.

Master of Ceremony
We are here today, to launch, the mobility strategy project and to showcase of Zenzele Road Maintenance Programme as part of the Saamstaan programme. The first project will be largely about the provision of non – motorised transport facilities, the development of public space and commercial opportunities, as well as public transport services for the community aimed at improving the mobility of learners and farmworkers. This project will be rooted on government's desire to uplift Central Karoo and market it as a tourist destination.

The Zenzele Road Maintenance Programme is already running. There are 24 people employed 12 men and 12 women. They were trained in skills ranging from basic concrete skills, base courses on surfacing to environmental awareness and site safety and health procedures.

These and many other projects which government will be implementing are aimed at increasing levels of investment, economic growth, equity, job creation and people centred development.

Mandlenkosi has been identified as a site for infrastructural development and in so doing we are effectively delivering on our promise we made to the people of Beaufort West of creating a better life to the people of Beaufort West, the surrounding areas and Kwa-Mandlenkosi in particular.

There are other road infrastructure projects that my department is implementing in Central Karoo. During the 2004/5 financial year, my department awarded 19 contracts to 19 emerging contractors. The work entailed the routine maintenance of our roads in the Laingsburg, Prince Albert, and Murraysburg area. The total value of all these contracts was R1.7 million and approximately 160 jobs were created. We have also set aside R7 million for maintenance contracts during the 2005/6 financial year.

Master of Ceremony You must have heard through mass media that the government of the people of Western Cape, and my department in particular made government facilities available for the victims of Joe Slovo fire disaster. There has since been racist incident orchestrated by the forces opposed to change, where peoples despair for houses, shelter and comfort has been used by these forces to incite racial hatred and intolerance. We have had insinuations such as keep the Bantus and Kaffir our area in the Ravensmead and Bokmakerie area and these were led by some of the prominent leaders of the Democratic Alliance and the ACDP respectively.

These incidents undermine effort by the national to build national unity and ensuring that Western Cape becomes a home for all. We must consciously expose the dark forces that perpetuate racial divisions in our communities and isolate them. We must continue to strive to ensure that, never again will a racial minority dominate the majority of the people of South Africa, and no single individual must be victim and racial divisions and intolerance
Master of Ceremony
Government will continue to work for nation united in diversity. It is imperative that communities must work with government in rooting the evil demon of racism. We must equally redouble our efforts to move decisively in undoing the legacy of Apartheid colonialism, which continue to provide material conditions and fertile ground for racial polarisation.

The accelerated implementation of the EPWP will transform the second economy in a fundamental way and thus pave the way eradication of poverty and the satisfaction of the material want of all South Africans.

We must therefore pursue these objectives mindful of the necessity to work for the realisation of the ideals of the Freedom and thus ensure that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.

I thank you
Issued by: Department of Transport and Public Works, Western Cape Provincial Government 24 February 2005 Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)

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