Pretoria 11 October 2001
The Minister of Public Works, Ms Stella Sigcau, today addressed the National Council of Provinces on the role of her department in rural infrastructure development and poverty alleviation.
Since 1996, the National Department of Public Works has invested more than R1, 5 billion in building community- owned assets and creating employment, initially targeting South Africa's most poorest communities in rural KwaZulu - Natal, Eastern Cape and Northern Province.
To date more than 2 500 community projects and 84 300 job opportunities had been created, including 6 300 sustainable jobs, targeting local labour.
About 42% women and 43% youth have benefited.
In 2001/2002, a budget of R 374 million was made available to the Department via its poverty alleviation programme of ILIMA/LETSIMA -a Community Based
Public Works Programme - for poverty relief.
About 27 district municipalities in six provinces will be the beneficiaries.
Some of the projects include:
(a) Community Production Centres
First introduced in 1999, the CPCs are established with a view to promoting production activities for the market. They promote community and emerging farmer participation and ownership with contracted support where necessary from the public and private sectors. The basis for success of the CPC approach lies in the effective co-ordination, partnership and the blending of the respective policies and strategies by the relevant government, private and community role-players. The Departments of Agriculture, Land
Affairs and Water Affairs are some of the key stakeholders for this concept
An amount in the region of R28 million has been allocated for this initiative in 2001/2002.
(b) Multi Purpose Centre Multi-Purpose Community Centres (MPCCs) are designed to provide "one stop" service centres within rural areas for government service to communities.
These are well located with appropriate facilities and occupied by key service providers, in order to provide a quality one stop administrative service to rural communities.
When these centres are fully operational, it is envisaged that the following key departments and parastatals will be accommodated:
The Department of Public Works through the CBPWP has made an allocation of R25 million in the both 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 financial years towards the establishment of Multi-Purpose Centres in the Eastern Cape, Northern Province and KwaZulu Natal.
(c) Youth Working Towards Environmental Accessibility Implemented in 2000/2001 as a partnership with the National Youth Commission and the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, this project was a success beyond expectations. It has met the following objectives:
Achieve socio-economic development and empowerment through training, appointment of service providers and provision of sustainable facilities.
Public Works have put in R5 million for the continuation of the project this year.
(d) HIV/AIDS Infrastructure Support Programme
This is new project aimed at creating infrastructure development which will be beneficial to rural communities to offset the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS. For example, local clinics which are in dire need of repair will be upgraded. Contributing R10 million, Public Works is co-operating with the Department of Health and the Department of Welfare.
(e) KZN Cholera Infrastructure Response Programme
A partnership with the KwaZulu Natal Department of Health to respond to the outbreak of cholera in the Nongoma/Mahlabathini District of KwaZulu Natal.
The project will involve the building of toilets and the protection of springs and has been funded to the tune of R3 million.
The ILIMA/LETSIMA, (CBPWP) is a specific job creation and poverty relief programme of government, targeted primarily at the rural poor. Its objectives include the following:
The CBPWP targets the following groups:
- Local labour: at least 30% of the project budgets are to be spent on local labour;
- Women: at least 50% of the people employed should be women;
- Youth: at least 15% of the people employed should be youth; and
- Disabled: at least 1,5% of the people employed should be those with disabilities.
Issued by:
Chief Directorate:
National Department of Public Works