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Polity
Published: 03 Sep 2004
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| Balindlela: Launch of E Cape Expanded Public Works Programme (03/09/2004) | |
| Date: 03/09/2004 Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government Title: N Balindlela: Launch of E Cape Expanded Public Works Programme PREMIER NOSIMO BALINDLELA AT THE LAUNCH OF THE SOCIAL SECTOR OF THE EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMMER (EPWP), Rotary Stadium - Ngangelizwe, Mthatha, 3 September 2004 Protocol is observed Today's launch of the Expanded Public Works Programme is yet another milestone in government's determined efforts to ensure a better life for all The first decade of freedom with its celebrated achievements and talked-about challenges, endowed us with greater wisdom to govern our country and our province better As the President acknowledged, we have firmly put in place the fundamentals that positioned our great nation among the nations of the world in a highly competitive environment of globalisation Founding legislative and policy framework is praise all round, institutions of governance are firmly in place with good and clean governance being progressively entrenched; the country's fiscal position and the economy are comparable to the world's best Borne out of objective analysis of development of our country and our province in the first decade, a Provincial Growth and Development Plan with clear and bold targets for creating a prosperous province was developed. The targets include halving unemployment and reducing poverty by up to 80% by 2014. To realise these goals a number of flagship programme have been developed and are progressively being implemented with commendable success. These include the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) which targets creating 200 000 jobs during the third term of democratic governance of the Province. We seek to draw thousands of our people especially the poor into productive sectors of employment providing them with highly needed income to escape abject poverty, skills to further contribute in the economy beyond the temporal employments some will get, while also addressing infrastructural needs of our communities The programme is divided into three sectors with each led by a Member of the Executive Council. These are Social Sector led by Social Development MEC Neo Moerane-Mamase, Environment and economic sector led by Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism MEC Andre De Wet and Infrastructure Sector led by Roads and Public Works MEC Sam Kwelita Each sector is already rolling out some of its programmes while also working on developing comprehensive one year and five year sectoral plans that will be finalised before the end of October 2004 These plans will be consolidated into a provincial business plan for the Expanded Public Works Programme with performance targets and standards, funding strategies, capacity building framework that looks beyond employment periods, as well as monitoring and evaluation mechanism which would include regular reports to a provincial Steering Committee Over R1.2 billion has already been allocated for the rollout of the programmes across the province, with various partners being an integral part of the programme from national departments, parastatals such as Development Bank of South Africa, Independent Development Trust and Rapid Infrastructure Delivery Agent We are approaching the implementation of the EPWP beaming with confidence as the evaluation of our "Vukuzakhe" programme aimed at localising infrastructure maintenance including access roads and public buildings gave top marks to this pilot programme. Our vision is clear in this regard; over the years beneficiaries will have skills and requisite capital to venture into business and projects as R40.00 is deducted from each for a savings programme. The Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) with nearly R3 billion allocated over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) is set to change the face of many poor areas of our province for the better. Water and sanitation are prioritised with over 50% allocated so that we can meet the targets set by the President in his State of the Nation Address in May 2004. Essentially the EPWP seeks to intervene in the second economy in a manner that would, over our ten-year plan, integrate this sector into the mainstream of our economy The challenges we face of meeting our targets of halving unemployment in ten years cannot be addressed through this programme alone. Hence our efforts to mobilise all development role-players locally, nationally and internationally to join in a true spirit of a people's contract in our new struggle for a better life for all Our interventions to strengthen and diversify the first economy will too contribute. The development of the Port of Ngqurha has already created over six thousand jobs, Kei Rail, East London IDZ, and the Massive Food Production programme are all strategies aimed at turning around the province's economy Eastern Cape's prospects for a bright future where all our people will be proud to live, work and invest in this province are reaching new unprecedented heights A contagious positive spirit enthuses and rejuvenates not only government and its delivery agencies but many partners and stakeholders that are critical in the governance of the province A national call has been made, let us all put our shoulders behind efforts of creating opportunities towards human fulfilment, with the poor, rural majority, women, youth and people with disabilities being centralised in our planning and programme implementation It is when those vulnerable sectors are also saying the Eastern Cape is indeed a compelling place to live, work and invest that we would have achieved our vision We should do all these remaining steadfast in our commitment to humility, honesty and integrity. I thank you Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government 3 September 2004 Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za) |
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