Date: 26/03/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut


EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, SPEAKING TO MEMBERS OF THE AFRIKAANSE HANDELSINSTITUUT, Cape Town, 26 March 2003

The NNP/ANC agreement on co-operative governance applies to all three spheres of Government, national, provincial and local in South Africa. In the Western Cape this has resulted in our provincial NNP/ANC Coalition Government of Hope, representing the majority of the people of the province, and bringing together communities and people who have, for too long, been divided by our past.

For the people of the Western Cape, this vastly improved relationship between the two major parties in the province, has already shown the fruits of co-operative governance:

1. Greater Stability: Our coalition Government has brought stability and a real focus on service delivery to the Western Cape. It is a government committed to building human dignity and putting the interests of all the people of the province first. It has also brought about a better working relationship with local governments across the province, which is critical for co-ordinating the delivery of basic services, developing infrastructure, and fighting poverty.

2. Beating the Gangs and Crime: Organised crime is being tackled head-on in the Western Cape. Closer partnerships between national, provincial, and local government have resulted in asset forfeitures, special courts, Defence Force and navy actions, increased arrests, and a series of successes against the criminals. On issues like drug busts, stopping the flow of illegal perlemoen, and bringing down levels of violent crime, the criminals will lose. National Government has also allocated 3213 new police recruits to battle crime in the Western Cape - this is 64% of the total number of new recruits in South Africa for 2003 and will make a significant addition to our crime-fighting capacity.

3. Better Hospitals: The Western Cape received the second largest conditional grant for Health in the country this year - R1500 million, and we will also see major hospitals in the province, like those in Vredenburg, George and Worcester upgraded over the next three years. The Western Cape will also benefit from the fact that the provinces have been allocated an extra R2, 3 billion over the next three years to attract and retain doctors, pharmacists and other health-care professionals with critically needed skills.

4. Improved Education: More than 30% of our Provincial Budget will this year be spent on education, with an extra R1, 1 billion over the next three years. R419 million has been allocated for learner support materials like books and teaching aids over the same period.

5. Faster Land Reform: In partnership with National Government, the NNP/ANC have fast-tracked meaningful land reform in the Western Cape. 3944 new farmers from disadvantaged communities have been established, with another 17 000 hectares now being made available. The Provincial Government aims to have settled 7000 emerging farmers in the next few years.

6. More Support for the Needy: Child support grants will be expanded to include children up to the age of 14 over the next three years. Old age pensions will increase by R60 a month and child support grants by 14% this year.

The single most important message which the continued success of our Western Cape coalition government is sending to the rest of South Africa is that parties and communities succeed best when serving in government together in the same way that coloured, black, white and Indian South Africans succeed best in partnership. Even if there are some areas of difference the key remains for every community and every person in the Western Cape to play an active role in building the success of our shared future and our World Class Province which Cares.

Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
26 March 2003