STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY IN THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

PRETORIA, 24 APRIL 1995

Issued by: Ministry in the Office of the President

The Ministry in the Office of the President is satisfied with progress to date with the implementation of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).

The Presidential Lead Projects (PLPs) that were announced by President Mandela at his inauguration last year have proved a major success in the process of transforming government and ensuring delivery. The PLPs have also been a learning curve to ensure efficient, transparent and accountable government.

Successes achieved so far among the Lead Programmes are:

• Free Health Care Programme: Four times more patients are now being treated in the rural areas since the inception of the programme. The RDP Fund has allocated R472,8 Million and R500 Million to free health in 1994/95 and 1995/96 financial years respectively.
• Clinic Building Programme: This programme supports access to primary health care. 172 clinics will be built or upgraded by the 1st of April 1996 to provide health services to those whose nearest clinic was more than 5 km away. Already there is a drop in admissions of young children to hospitals because of better health care.
• Electrification: A total of 378 171 houses were electrified in 1994, easily exceeding the RDP target of 300 000 houses. The programme seeks to profoundly change the lives of about 11 million people.
• Primary School Nutrition Scheme: More than 5 million children in 12 800 schools are benefiting from this programme. The target is 6,8 million children who would otherwise go to school on an empty stomach. Attendance at schools has increased and concentration on learning has improved.
• Urban Renewal Programme: Major integrated development projects are being up on the ground in the most crisis ridden areas. The programme aims to repair the social and physical fabric of our towns and cities. R1,6 billion has been allocated from the RDP Fund over a 5 year period. The benefits of these projects are already being felt in many communities.
• Rural Water Provision: The RDP Fund has assisted the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to redirect their resources to community water provision, as well as creating jobs and stimulating the economy. Several water projects have already been launched and nearly 1,3 million people will benefit.
• October Household Survey: This is the first comprehensive survey of all South Africans. It will be used as base information for future development planning and the Census taking place in 1996.

The Masakhane Campaign is the main vehicle through which the RDP will be implemented at local government level. It focuses on accelerating delivery of services in ways that stimulate economic development and create jobs. The campaign is already bearing fruit. In Soweto payment for electricity has increased from 20% to 65%. In Louis Trichart payment for services went up from 0% to 90%. Thousands of communities around the country are working together to build a better live for all our people.

However, there are bottle-necks resulting from a lack of representative local government in many areas. It is for this reason that we are encouraging people to register for the upcoming local government elections.

As we move forward with the process of reconstruction and development we face great expectations. We must however realise that at this point we have been attempting to redress 365 years of injustice and deprivation in 365 days.

On 27 April we will be celebrating the first year of delivery on the RDP, and we encourage the nation to celebrate with us on this special day - the message being "Nation Building - Let it begin with me".