Date: 31/08/2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Launch of Gauteng Expanded Public Works Programme
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE GAUTENG EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, Jabavu, Soweto, Johannesburg, 31 August 2004
The Premier of Gauteng, Mr Mbhazima Shilowa
The National Minister of Public Works, Nkosazana Stella Sigcau
The Deputy Minister of Public Works, Mr Kganyago
The MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works, Mr Ignatius Jacobs
The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Mr Amos Masondo
Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Community of Jabavu, Soweto
Distinguished Guests
Gauteng remains one of the bedrocks of the struggles for humanity in more ways than one.
Many millions of years ago the ancestors of the human race, as we know it today lived on this soil and bequeathed the world with its human form.
This cradle of humankind became, millions of years later, an engine of economic growth and social development in South Africa.
Ironically, some of the worst historical inequities and political and economic inequalities were also crystallised on the industrial stage of Gauteng more than a century ago. Unequal development, economic apartheid and political complicity in the face of oppression and deprivation found comfort in the sprawling industrial communities of this region. It is therefore not surprising that this region also became the nerve-centre of political change in South Africa.
The people of Soweto and other parts of Gauteng experienced oppression in its sharpest forms and that is why it is not surprising that the Gauteng, and Soweto in particular, played a prominent role in the struggle for liberation in our country. For that reason, it is proper that we meet in Soweto today, to launch a programme that seeks to contribute to alleviating the suffering, which is a result of our unfortunate apartheid past.
We thank the Sowetan community for hosting us today. This ceremony confirms the strong partnership between government and our communities in building a better South Africa.
Since 1994, the government has instituted various programmes and other initiatives to alleviate poverty, create jobs and improve the quality of life of all South Africans. Most of these efforts were largely uncoordinated and although progress was recorded under this period, successes were more sporadic and highly localised.
Very successful anti-poverty programmes such as the Community Based Public Works Programme and the Working for Water Programmes began to make inroads into poor areas and brought relief through improved social services, infrastructure development, job creation and community empowerment as a result of direct consultation and involvement.
In the final analysis government felt that despite their distinct successes, these programmes needed to be reviewed with a view to align them holistically and make them directly responsive to immediate socio-economic challenges as defined by joblessness, skills paucity and service delivery backlogs.
In February 2003, the government announced its intention to invest more than R100 billion in infrastructure development in the following 5 years.
This was our positive response to the private sector's call that government increases its infrastructure investment, which was vital to stimulating economic growth and job creation.
At the social level, government also never lost sight of the importance of infrastructure development in improving the quality of life and alleviating poverty.
As a developing country, South Africa needs to ensure investment primarily in housing, schooling, health and transport. The aim is to transform the social life of the historically disadvantaged parts of our country and bring essential social services closer to the beneficiaries.
The announcement to increase government spending in infrastructure was intricately linked with our vision to utilise public sector funding to expand the job absorptiveness of various procurement services that government was involved with on regular basis.
Part of that funding would be used to create massive jobs for the unemployed and poor sectors of our people by identifying projects that have the propensity to use labour intensive technologies in the supply of goods and services on behalf of government without compromising on quality.
This, we believed, would significantly contribute to the creation of short-term jobs and assist with the reduction of unemployment. At the same time government was aware of the challenge brought by lack of skills to enable the poor to reach employment, render quality work and be able to make a transition from the second to the first economy so that they too can benefit from the growth opportunities inherent in that economy.
The Expanded Public Works Programme was therefore born as a government intervention to achieve the following core objectives:
* Job Creation
* Skills Development
* Improved Social Services
The successful implementation of the programme, using public sector funding, should in the next five years create work opportunities and improve the skills base of the population, while also ensuring that social services including infrastructure development and environmental management are enhanced.
In summary, the Extended Public Works Programme seeks to provide much-needed public goods and services while simultaneously creating more work opportunities coupled with training.
Today sees the fourth of the eight provincial launches which will be completed by September 2004, making the programme a truly national affair. Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga have had successful launches in the past week. The challenge for the provinces is to cascade the programme to their regions including district and local municipalities.
We urge the municipalities to identify and execute labour-intensive projects, which will encapsulate the spirit and letter of the Expanded Public Works Programme and fulfil the three objectives mentioned above. In the week ahead, both the Western Cape and Eastern Cape are expected to launch their programmes.
The greatest challenge henceforth is to mobilise all municipalities, provincial departments and other public sector bodies to implement the programme.
Let me therefore urge the Gauteng Provincial Government to work tirelessly to ensure that the programme becomes a success, and makes a difference in people's lives both socially and economically.
To the wonderful people of Soweto, thank you for hosting us, and please continue to work with us to reconstruct and develop our country.
I thank you
Issued by: The Presidency
31 August 2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Launch of Gauteng Expanded Public Works Programme
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE GAUTENG EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, Jabavu, Soweto, Johannesburg, 31 August 2004
The Premier of Gauteng, Mr Mbhazima Shilowa
The National Minister of Public Works, Nkosazana Stella Sigcau
The Deputy Minister of Public Works, Mr Kganyago
The MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works, Mr Ignatius Jacobs
The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Mr Amos Masondo
Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Community of Jabavu, Soweto
Distinguished Guests
Gauteng remains one of the bedrocks of the struggles for humanity in more ways than one.
Many millions of years ago the ancestors of the human race, as we know it today lived on this soil and bequeathed the world with its human form.
This cradle of humankind became, millions of years later, an engine of economic growth and social development in South Africa.
Ironically, some of the worst historical inequities and political and economic inequalities were also crystallised on the industrial stage of Gauteng more than a century ago. Unequal development, economic apartheid and political complicity in the face of oppression and deprivation found comfort in the sprawling industrial communities of this region. It is therefore not surprising that this region also became the nerve-centre of political change in South Africa.
The people of Soweto and other parts of Gauteng experienced oppression in its sharpest forms and that is why it is not surprising that the Gauteng, and Soweto in particular, played a prominent role in the struggle for liberation in our country. For that reason, it is proper that we meet in Soweto today, to launch a programme that seeks to contribute to alleviating the suffering, which is a result of our unfortunate apartheid past.
We thank the Sowetan community for hosting us today. This ceremony confirms the strong partnership between government and our communities in building a better South Africa.
Since 1994, the government has instituted various programmes and other initiatives to alleviate poverty, create jobs and improve the quality of life of all South Africans. Most of these efforts were largely uncoordinated and although progress was recorded under this period, successes were more sporadic and highly localised.
Very successful anti-poverty programmes such as the Community Based Public Works Programme and the Working for Water Programmes began to make inroads into poor areas and brought relief through improved social services, infrastructure development, job creation and community empowerment as a result of direct consultation and involvement.
In the final analysis government felt that despite their distinct successes, these programmes needed to be reviewed with a view to align them holistically and make them directly responsive to immediate socio-economic challenges as defined by joblessness, skills paucity and service delivery backlogs.
In February 2003, the government announced its intention to invest more than R100 billion in infrastructure development in the following 5 years.
This was our positive response to the private sector's call that government increases its infrastructure investment, which was vital to stimulating economic growth and job creation.
At the social level, government also never lost sight of the importance of infrastructure development in improving the quality of life and alleviating poverty.
As a developing country, South Africa needs to ensure investment primarily in housing, schooling, health and transport. The aim is to transform the social life of the historically disadvantaged parts of our country and bring essential social services closer to the beneficiaries.
The announcement to increase government spending in infrastructure was intricately linked with our vision to utilise public sector funding to expand the job absorptiveness of various procurement services that government was involved with on regular basis.
Part of that funding would be used to create massive jobs for the unemployed and poor sectors of our people by identifying projects that have the propensity to use labour intensive technologies in the supply of goods and services on behalf of government without compromising on quality.
This, we believed, would significantly contribute to the creation of short-term jobs and assist with the reduction of unemployment. At the same time government was aware of the challenge brought by lack of skills to enable the poor to reach employment, render quality work and be able to make a transition from the second to the first economy so that they too can benefit from the growth opportunities inherent in that economy.
The Expanded Public Works Programme was therefore born as a government intervention to achieve the following core objectives:
* Job Creation
* Skills Development
* Improved Social Services
The successful implementation of the programme, using public sector funding, should in the next five years create work opportunities and improve the skills base of the population, while also ensuring that social services including infrastructure development and environmental management are enhanced.
In summary, the Extended Public Works Programme seeks to provide much-needed public goods and services while simultaneously creating more work opportunities coupled with training.
Today sees the fourth of the eight provincial launches which will be completed by September 2004, making the programme a truly national affair. Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga have had successful launches in the past week. The challenge for the provinces is to cascade the programme to their regions including district and local municipalities.
We urge the municipalities to identify and execute labour-intensive projects, which will encapsulate the spirit and letter of the Expanded Public Works Programme and fulfil the three objectives mentioned above. In the week ahead, both the Western Cape and Eastern Cape are expected to launch their programmes.
The greatest challenge henceforth is to mobilise all municipalities, provincial departments and other public sector bodies to implement the programme.
Let me therefore urge the Gauteng Provincial Government to work tirelessly to ensure that the programme becomes a success, and makes a difference in people's lives both socially and economically.
To the wonderful people of Soweto, thank you for hosting us, and please continue to work with us to reconstruct and develop our country.
I thank you
Issued by: The Presidency
31 August 2004
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