BACKGROUND - EASTERN CAPE PRESIDENTIAL PROJECT

Issued by: Ministry in the Office of the President (RDP)

BACKGROUND February 23, 1996

THE EASTERN CAPE PRESIDENTIAL PROJECT

The Eastern Cape Presidential Project was initiated through a discussion between Minister Jay Naidoo, Minister in the Office of the President, and Eastern Cape Premier Raymond Mhlaba, mandated by President Nelson Mandela in October 1995.

An elaborate consultative process involving the national and provincial governments, business, labour and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was undertaken, culminating in the formulation of a project management team. The team was constituted in administration, finance, private sector, labour, security and technical areas.

The basic principle guiding the functioning of the Presidential Project Team is that various national and provincial departments and local authorities will retain the responsibility and accountability of their line functions. The team's work is an interventionist strategy designed to enhance the capacity of statutory bodies to perform their functions in an efficient and effective manner.

The Eastern Cape Presidential Project includes all aspects for the development of the province but its initial thrust will be concentrated in region D, E and part of B (formerly known as the Transkei).

Five areas have been selected where priority action will commence. These are Umtata, Butterworth, Cala, Mt Ayliff and Port St Johns.

The tasks of the Presidential Project Team are to:

• Carry out a situational assessment and analysis of all Government structures with a view to creating a detailed budget for all infrastructure projects;
• Enhance the benefits of all Government projects aimed at uplifting communities in the region;
• Restore administration in key areas;
• Facilitate and expedite the completion of existing projects;
• Develop an effective and efficient strategy of security;
• Restore onfidence in the criminal justice system; Promote the roe of the private sector; and
• Promote a healthy, environmentally sensitive development.

The short-term key areas of focus of the Presidential Project Team are.

• Agricltural development;
• Electrifcation; Community water supply and sanitation;
• Rural roads;
• Urban bulk infrastructure;
• Housing/serviced sites;
• Public works buildings (health, eduction, etc) ad
• Local uthority ervices (focuing initially on the fiv prioity areas).

The scope of work faced by the Eastern Cape Presidential Project Team is underscored by statistics which show the depth of poverty in the former Transkei area. Not only does it lag far behid te rest of the country in the provision of infrastructur (more than 75 percent of the people living in informal structures; more than 85 percent of the people do not have adequate access to sanitation or water supply and do not have electricity), but also,

• The number of pupils per teacher ratio (in excess of 42) is the highest in the country;
• Only 30 percent of the population is urbanisd ad 26 ercent of the population is involved in subsistece farmng (te national average is 15 percent);
• The number of people supported by a single person participating in the labour force is 3,7 (the national average is 1,9);
• The male absentee ratio is 31 percent compared to the national average of 5 percent;
• The population growth rate is 2,6 percent (the national average is 2,4 percent);
• The infant mortality rate is 60 percent compared to the national average of 42 percent.

The poverty rate is 73 percent is higher in the Eastern Cape than any other province. This equates to one quarter of the population of the poor in the whole country. If one looks at the former Transkei area alone, the poverty rate increases to 92 percent.

This project represents a partnership between national, provincial and local government acting in concert with business, labour and community organisations.

ISSUED BY: Connie Molusi Ministry in the Office of the President (Reconstruction and Development Programme) Phone: (021) 45-5541 Fax: (021) 461-9319 Cellphone: 082 552 1939

PLEASE CONTACT CONNIE MOLUSI FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.