Date: 13/02/2004
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: M Stofile: State of the Eastern Cape Province Address


STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS BY REV DR MA STOFILE, PREMIER OF THE EASTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT, BISHO, 13 February 2004

RECONCILING VISION, STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP WITH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF POLITICAL FREEDOM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & SALUTATIONS

A. INTRODUCTION

Most South Africans will concede that our First Decade of Liberation and Democracy saw "the winter of our discontent made a glorious summer" of hope (if we may quote and paraphrase Shakespeare in King Richard III). I say most because there are those who will dispute this fact. Some will do so because they genuinely do not see the big picture. Others will deny this because there never was a "winter of discontent" in their situation.

Since 1994 Government has set out to dismantle apartheid and create a democratic society based on equity, non-racialism and non-sexism. The legacy that denied blacks the franchise, land and socio-economic rights and privileges banished the majority to social exclusion and neglect had to be reversed as a matter of urgency. The "expansion of the frontiers of human fulfilment" and "the continuous extension of the frontiers of freedom" became our primary purpose. For this reason we have continually said that the very purpose of Government in the Eastern Cape is the reconstruction and development of society.

As we close the chapter of our first decade in government we have to assess the extent to which we succeeded in moving our province towards the place of our dreams. We will also try to highlight the obstacles we met on that road. We shall make no claims to easy victories. This is so because we have always known that the legacy of disparities created over three hundred years of colonialism and apartheid would not and could not be removed in one decade. Any claim to the contrary would be a product of either mischief, ignorance or both.

As the Government of the Eastern Cape we want to declare upfront: We met huge challenges and continue to be confronted by these. Even then we made great strides and advances to ensure the expansion of the frontiers of human fulfilment. The frontiers of freedom continue to reach the farthest corners of our province and cultures hitherto almost pushed to oblivion by past regimes.

B. NATION BUILDING

Fourteen years ago this week, Dr Rolihlahla Mandela was released from prison. He immediately embarked on nation building. Great progress has been made in this province in ensuring social cohesion, political stability, racial harmony and peaceful co-existence. The mass killings, political tensions, drive-by shootings and rampant racism of a decade ago are remote history. The odd racist who insults MEC Balindlela in East London and the odd farmer who molests workers and children in Barkley East are exceptions rather than the rule.

Today we boast of farmers who are prepared to assist erstwhile farm-workers and interested emerging black farmers to be successful farmers too. The farmer's mentorship initiative between Agri-East Cape, SA Wool Growers Association, our Department of Agriculture and emerging farmers is a case in point. The offer by Mr Norman Benjamin of Addo to have his farms used for the well being of black ex-farm workers has no parallel. Social integration is visible in cultural activities, sport, schools and residential areas. The Eastern Cape Culture Ensemble is the pride of this Province and excites South Africa and the world. The proclamation in 1955: South Africa belongs to all who lives in it, black & white" is becoming a reality in our lifetime. The adversarial and opportunistic nature of politics in South African has driven some parties back to politics of "swart gevaar" what some call "gogga maak baba bang" politics. We have refused to be lured into such cheap politics. We are challenged to deepen the democratic gains for the benefit of our children and our country.

The restoration of human rights for all reached its zenith when the remains of Ouma Sarah Baartman were reburied at Hankey. This event reaffirmed the humanity of the Khoi-San, of women and of blacks in general. It epitomised our several attempts to address the needs of people with physical challenges, children, woman and the aged. (People regarded until 1994 as nobodies.) This has taken the form of legislation, special programmes and special assistance to some victims of apartheid.

Much more must still be done to smash racism and tribalism that continue to show their despicable heads in disguised forms. No amount of sophistication should fool us. These dinosaurs are only bent on pulling us to the dark past with which, by the way, nobody was ever part of.

C. GOVERNANCE

Our government inherited an administration composed of five Bantustans: the Transkei, Ciskei, Cape Provincial Administration, House of Delegates and House of Representatives. It also had to absorb "new" blood that had hitherto never been part of government. The integration of the Public Service was, understandably a long and tortuous road. The anxieties, hopes and suspicions had to be skilfully managed. We can proudly announce that we successfully integrated the civil service. To a large extent we have also mended the broken hearts. The past is gone and gone forever.

The challenges of transforming the civil service have demanded a change of mindset or psyche for both the political leadership, civil service and the public. It requires a cultural change. Political leaders had to learn to take seriously the spirit of cooperative government envisaged by Chapter Three of the South African Constitution. To that extent the IMT intervention saw less resistance and animosity than the Ncholo intervention of 1996. By the same token, some subjective commentators failed to see the maturity and constitutionality of the IMT intervention of 2003. Whilst Ncholo was initiated by Central Government, the IMT is our own initiative and request to Central Government. The IMT was a great school for both Provincial and Central Governments. One lesson that came from this school is: there are no quick fixes in making the civil service perfect. The Eastern Cape has the policies systems and other basics right. But it needs more funds and expertise to implement them. Of course the Eastern Cape needs more decisive senior managers too. This is what comes out of that school of experience.

The IMT/JACT initiative also found no big fish that must fry for its being the brains behind corruption. On the contrary they found that most cases of corruption were a result of unscrupulous civil servants who exploited loopholes in the systems. The departments had meticulously caught and sometimes fired corrupt officials. But the South African Police Service (SAPS) failed to follow-up on cases until we appealed to the President two years after the cases had been waiting. When they moved, they moved swiftly. Many criminals are in jail or awaiting trial. We were thus able to show our resolve to weed out corruption. The question that remains is why did it take an appeal to central government for the justice system to deal with these cases?

You will ask, why then is the Eastern Cape perceived as the most corrupt province. We answer: Inherently corrupt people cannot comprehend how a moral person can act morally irrespective of the environment. They impute their incapacity not to be corrupt or immoral on everyone else. For me the first sign of corruption is lying and distorting the truth for selfish goals. This is the canker of our society and it is fanned on by reckless people who are in charge of manipulating public opinion.

Transformation is not a valley. It is a hill. We are willing, able, and ready to climb that hill.

Which side are you on is your own challenge. We do not see minority parties as our competitors in this. They are our complementors.

In short, corruption in our province has not been proved scientifically to exceed anybody else's. Not even that of the private sector. We cannot be compared to the Yukos oil of Russia, ENRON of the United States, K