Issued by: Office of the Premier
23 November 1999
Honourable Speaker
Honourable Members
Let me at the outset thank the ANC Chief Whip for proposing today's motion. The motion which underscores the ANC's commitment to ensure that government remains accountable to the electorate on its undertakings, affords us an opportunity to indicate some of the key activities of the Executive Council since my opening address on 28 June 1999.
In that address, which took place after the jovial mood (and sadness) after the election had receded, I outlined our key priorities for the next five years. While these priorities may differ with those of some in the opposition benches, they are based on our election manifesto. That is why I have no hesitation in once more pledging to do everything in our power to continue improving the quality of life for the citizens of this rather ironically rich and yet so poor Province.
The people of Gauteng placed their hopes on all of us across the political party spectrum. While a minority placed their hopes on the opposition, more responsibilities were placed on the shoulders of the ANC as the majority in the Province voted for it. While some may have come here to represent a narrow mandate for those who voted for them, our obligation as the ANC is to work tirelessly for all citizens of this Province, with a bias to the poor, women, children, youth and people with disabilities.
We must at all times be guided by the fact that in their most important voice, a vote, the electorate mandated us to ensure decent health care, decent shelter above their heads, employment, infrastructural development, quality education and a deep culture of learning and teaching.
Those who sent us here and gave us the mandate to govern, expect an environment where they will be safe from the hands of ruthless criminals - an environment where our women and children will not fall prey to the beastly rapists.
We have a responsibility to create a clean environment free of disease and pollution. Our people want safe transportation, where they are not going to be shot at while waiting to board a bus, train or taxi.
They want us to provide them with opportunities for recreation and the preservation of their heritage. Above all, they want all of us, not just the government, to ensure on their behalf that legislation and policy is passed to take them to a life free of degradation and poor conditions.
Their hopes that they will sail across the next millennium with the ravages, miseries and anguishes of their past safely buried in this century were placed on all of us as members of this Legislature.
On 28 June 1999, taking into account our election manifesto, and the call of the President for us to become a nation at work for a better life for all our people, as well as the need to move at a faster pace, we outlined the following key strategic priorities for the next five years:
We were acutely aware that the test was always going to be turning these priorities into concrete programmes, backed by a well-managed budget, and skilled personnel. We also made a commitment to remain accountable and transparent, the very reason today I give this report on how far we have traveled and what boulders and hard rocks are strewn along this path to a better life.
Honourable Speaker, I want to state with confidence and without fear of any contradiction that we are on course. Our achievements during the past few months is testimony of our commitment to our mandate. I can assure the citizens of this province that we are equal to the mandate and that their confidence in the ANC is not misplaced. As the saying goes, dogs can bark, but the wagon rolls, undeterred, steadily but sure. We will not be diverted from our chosen path. We are determined to reach our destination - that of a better life for all our people.
In all the areas identified as broad priorities we have already gone further to put in place structures that will ensure that these priorities become reality and that they are realised faster. At its first sitting, the Executive Council divided itself into two sub-committees focusing on economic growth and social services. The Sub-Committee on Economic growth is chaired by MEC Moleketi and comprises MEC's for the following portfolios:
Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism
Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land affairs
Public Transport, Roads and Works
Local Government and development Planning andHousing
The other five MEC's form part of the Sub-committee on social services which is chaired by MEC Ramokgopa. This division into sub-committees allows for integration, joint planning and co-ordination amongst departments. The legislature should discuss with the Leader of Government business on how co-ordination and synergy on these broad areas can be realised with portfolio committees.
The two task teams that I announced on June 28, have both submitted reports to me within the set timeframes. The task team on economic growth's proposals focus on a strategy to combine short, medium and long term plans to boost the economy and create jobs. These include mechanisms to use resources set aside for poverty alleviation effectively, reorganisation of staff within and across departments, and setting aside resources aimed at developing an infrastructure to encourage both South African and international firms to invest in Gauteng.
As part of this endeavor I will be leaving for Germany this Saturday accompanied by MEC Moleketi. The aim is to bring international firms on board our proposals alongside our South African counterparts.
The province has successfully implemented a new preference policy that targets SMME and PDIs. As a commitment to stamping out fraud and corruption, investigations into alleged Tender irregularities were conducted resulting in the cancellation and re-advertisement of 6 tenders. In our efforts to improve the procurement system, a compliance office has been established. As prescribed, Gauteng has successfully closed off its set of books for the 1998/99 financial year and submitted the financial statements to the Office of the Auditor General for audit purposes.
In creating a new set of books in 1998/99, we have managed to reconcile and transfer all balances from the old set of books to the new prior to closing off the financial year. A special section dealing with inter departmental and inter governmental claims has been set up to manage these transactions.
We have for the first time tabled a surplus budget. It is planned that there will be R288m surplus for the current financial year. No overspending is predicted for the year. Cash management has been enhanced by the introduction of the Virtual Bank solution and the overdraft, is projected to be cleared in April 2000. We are piloting new budget formats for the country that complies with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act.
Gauteng has initiated the only provincially driven spatial development initiative and has made substantial progress in taking each of the nine projects forward. We have promulgated tourism legislation that begins to impose tourism levies in the province.
The Consumer Court has begun operating with the swearing in of its members. The awarding of casino licenses has begun to pay handsome dividends with tax revenues averaging R5m per week from this source.
Honourable members, there is now a ray of hope that the once vibrant Province of gold is awakening. Just recently, The Star in its editorial (05 November 1999) adequately captured this reawakening when it said: "Slowly but surely, inexorably and without fanfare, the colossus that was once Johannesburg is rising back to its feet. Yes, a phoenix is emerging from the ashes of the dirt, crime and decay that saw business flee from the city centre for much of this decade."
This was not a poem designed to praise Gauteng or Johannesburg for our own sake. This was a reflection of the overwhelming evidence indicating the city's renewal. It is a comment on the continued stay of FNB, Standard Bank, The Star, key mining houses other businesses in the city.
Just this past weekend Anglo American unveiled its plan to upgrade the area around its office space in the CBD, saying, according to a City Press report, that such "will demonstrate its commitment to the rundown Johannesburg city. This development would contribute towards a clean and safe landscape route for pedestrians..."
These and other contributions, including the opening of ABSA Bank Head Offices on Main Street, indicate that many sectors of our society, including the private sector, have not lost hope in the CBD.
More importantly it was an acknowledgement of the recent move by Transnet and Game Stores into the city centre. Indeed, the promise of economic growth is no mirage, it is realizable. The combined ABSA and Transnet projects will put 10 000 office workers in the inner city. Already ABSA has invested R45 million in the new project which will be officially opened on the 25th November 1999.
A few weeks ago, I was touched when I was invited at the opening of Game stores. They too will bring more people into the city - their own workers and consumers. Their confidence in the city was expressed by their R10 million investment in refurbishing the old Dion premises and their anticipated sales of about R70 million in their first year of business.
The positive comments about our city were not written because all is well, but because there is evidence that serious work is being done. Businesses that moved into the city centre did not do so because all the problems in the city have diminished. They took these decisive steps as a response to our call for genuine partnership. Indeed they understand that together we can bring about the much needed change - thereby change for the better people's lives. They have confidence in our plans in the same way that we have confidence in our partnerships with them as well as the rest of civil society. It is clear that the wagon rolls on undeterred to a better tomorrow.
When we opened the Legislature in June, there was a media focus on our Hospitals. We moved swiftly to investigate the problems and have since then put in place concrete steps to deal with management problems in our Hospitals. Already Chief Executive Officers have been interviewed for both Chris Hani Baragwanath and Johannesburg Hospitals. A one-stop service for victims of child abuse, rape and family violence was launched in Eldorado Park in July.
It brings together services offered by the Departments of Health, Education, Safety and Liaison and Social Services and Population Development. A similar one will be launched on 25 November 1999 at Leratong Hospital.
"But, with the release of the report by the Commission of Inquiry into Hospital Care Practices, indications are that the province has taken a major step towards healing our beleaguered hospitals" "One also has to welcome the positive response by the Gauteng Health Department to the report. There was no defensiveness on the part of Health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa and her department when they released the report this week" The Citizen editorial had this to say: "Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa and his Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa deserve praise for holding the three-day inquiry. We hope the offenders are identified and punished"
Budget accountability has been made a priority in the Health department.
Our hospital based efficiency measures are already bearing fruit and our budget projections in this regard indicate that we will close the budget expenditure gap in this department by the end of this financial year. On 15 October 1999, a Health Information System Project went live at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. The system eliminates a lot of paper work on patients' records and stock monitoring.
To demonstrate how seriously we take the AIDS awareness campaign, we established the Premier's Committee on AIDS. On the 28th October 1999, we held a partnership conference attended by stakeholders in the campaign.
Through the Department of Health we have lined up a number of activities to mark the International Aids Day on the 1st December.
Unless you are an unrepentant cynic you will agree with me that we have run a relatively problem free matric examination thus far.
The examination began as scheduled and marking is proceeding. We plan to release the results on 29 December 1999.
In our endeavours to transform our education, the Department of Education has put in place a clear programme to develop and support teachers who will be implementing curriculum 2005 for the first time next year. Appropriate assessment procedures and material have been developed to support classroom evaluation and progression.
Preparation for the implementation of the National Admission Policy for Ordinary Public Schools in 2000 is high on our agenda.
This will allow us to ensure that learners of compulsory school age gain access to a school nearest to where they live, or where their parents work.
We are doing everything possible to ensure that most of the stationery is delivered to schools before the end of this academic year.
Once more let me assure you that the wagon rolls on steadily but sure and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We will continue with our efforts to bolster confidence in our public schools.
In August the minibus taxi industry in the Soshanguve area showed signs of crisis proportions. Again we moved swiftly. We spared no moment, for any moment, could have meant yet another death. Acting within the scope of Section 49 (1) of the Gauteng Interim Minibus Taxi-type Services Act 11 of 1997, we have closed taxi routes in Soshanguve for two months. It remains our well considered view that the crisis called for drastic steps as a signal to criminals that no one will be allowed to commit any crime with impunity.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the community, taxi drivers and taxi owners for their support. Based on the interim report and with the co-operation of all stakeholders I remain hopeful that the mediation efforts led by Acting Judge Dumisa Ntsebenza will lead to a situation where we will be able to open the rank for use by all.
Road safety remains high on our agenda and for this reason we have, together with local authorities developed business plans to implement the Arrive Alive Campaign. This process will run from 30 November 1999 to the end of the Easter Holidays in the year 2000. I call on all members of the legislatures to lead by example. Arrive alive! Don't drink and drive!
In July this year the World Heritage Site Bureau met in Paris and resolved to recommend the listing of the Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Kromdraai and Environs as a World Heritage Site. If this is announced as we expect it will be on 02 December 1999, we can be sure that it will enhance our tourism capacity.
In the past three months two major studies have been undertaken to further enhance the contribution of Agriculture in the GDP of Gauteng. A study identifying high value horticultural crops, supported by data on suitable areas for production, production requirements, and indicators of capital and labour input requirements, has been completed. This we hope will afford farmers the opportunity to convert to the cultivation of labour intensive commodities with the best internal rate of return.
We are continuing with processes of providing the poorest of the poor with shelter. The Inner City Projects like Newtown housing development, expected to deliver over 600 units have already been launched. Ten thousand houses in the Bophelong project have been completed, all at the total cost of over R172.5 million. This means that 20 000 people who did not have shelter now have decent houses on land that belongs to them.
Many people who have been waiting for the transferring of houses now know that their wishes are being met. We will continue with speed to close one of the sad chapters of apartheid. The programme of upgrading hostels and finally phasing them out into family units remain on course. Work in Meadowlands hostel bears testimony to this proud fact. Our aim is to ensure that we end the dehumanising conditions that our people find themselves in especially in hostels.
We pledged to work with our people and national government to spare no effort in crating a safe environment. Our department of Safety and Liaison has already initiated a process of stepping up police operations in areas like Greenfields and Mandela Park.
Criminals, some of whom have been on the wanted list for more than two years, have been arrested. A number of people are already facing charges relating to the massacres that occurred in the two areas.
The department has moved swiftly to respond to the escalating violence against women and children and projects aimed at dealing with such violence have been implemented. There are many other developments in the area of enhancing the relations between communities and police which will be announced soon. We are confident that the battle against crime will not be won by the beasts of criminality that seem ubiquitous across our Province.
We are busy with the construction of the last of the planned five police stations. Members are aware of the various roadblocks that have taken place across the province. Most attempts at hijackings and armed robberies have either been foiled or culprits have been arrested soon thereafter. The road ahead will not be easy. However our political will remains unshaken.
The involvement of our department of Sports and Recreation in the successful event of the All Africa games saw us emerge out of this momentous event with a sense of pride. As indicated by the motion passed by this house, we were equal to the task. We will do everything in our power to create opportunities of sports for our citizens. On 04 December 1999, a multi purpose centre will be opened in Dube. This marks but the beginning of a process to focus on amenities especially in previously disadvantaged areas.
The ironic poverty that characterizes our rich Province is always a constant reminder of our challenge to lift our people from degrading living conditions. Poverty alleviation features prominently in our plans. We have increased our child grant support programme by 504%. This means that more parents have access to resources to help them look after their children.
While this places immense strain on our resources, we are committed to continue with its extension since it assists poor and needy parents.
The Department of Development Planning and Local Government has finalised the Spatial Development Framework. Together with local government we will now have a common approach to development. This framework informs and is in turn informed by work on SDI and housing initiatives.
We undertook to work closely with communities, the labour movement and the private sector. I am happy to report that we have visited all Regions to meet with EXCO members and stakeholders including Business, Civics, Ratepayers Associations and Communities of faith. We found these meetings fruitful. We received valuable feedback and earned incredible lessons about our work. We heard it from the people themselves. Their confidence in this government is humbling. Our political will has been strengthened. We reject the DP's view that meeting with the electorate is a waste of time.
Like the wagon we will move on undeterred, steadily but surely. We remain committed to integration of government work. We are pursuing a new approach to providing essential support services to line departments.
This approach will culminate in the formation of a Shared Service Centre as an entity that will provide services to line departments. These services will range from financial and personnel administration, information technology and procurement services. This Shared Service Centre - once in place - will enjoy the benefits of economies of scale and the pooling of scarce resources. Currently, the ratio of support services to line function spending in smaller departments is 40:60 whereas larger ones are about 15:85.
We currently spend approximately R2 billion per annum on procuring a variety of goods and services. By introducing a shared procurement function, it is possible to target a 5% saving through efficiency gains. This translates into a potential R100 million per annum saving.
We spend close to R100 million per annum on IT and related matters. It is difficult to quantify what we get from this expenditure. Moreover, each department tends to develop its own silo of IT solution. We believe that we must pool our resources, rationalise systems and build common platforms that enhance efficient service delivery.
We committed ourselves to ensure that the Office of the Premier plays a critical role in ensuring that there is efficient delivery on the mandate given to us by the people. I announced on the 28th June that the Office would be restructured to fit the new mandate.
Notwithstanding the enormity of the task, I am proud to announce that alignment of directorates to fit this mandate is virtually complete. The appointments of top managers have been made and the Office of the Premier is on course.
This process of restructuring the Office of the Premier as you can all expect was not an easy one. It involved a lot of consultation between the Premier and management and between management and staff, directly and through their trade unions.
Where concerns were raised they had less to do with whether or not we should restructure, the office, but with anxieties that normally accompanies such processes.
However, I am satisfied that we are on course and the Office is becoming a political centre that will be more than capable to carry the tasks of our term. The Office of the Premier is tirelessly analysing the 5 year Plan completed by the Executive Council and will ensure proper co-ordination.
It would not have been possible for us to achieve what we have without partnerships with a wide range of people. The road ahead is even longer and will require our combined efforts. This Legislature will continue to receive reports on our progress. We will use lessons learned to strengthen our position and surge forward with greater determination.
The past few weeks have seen a raging debate on a plan to revitilise Johannesburg. While different sectors have taken what seem to be different positions, I have no doubt that we all share a common vision of developing Johannesburg into a world class African City. There is agreement that we need to act together as government, business, political organisations, civic organisations, labour and the communities to find solutions to the many problems which threaten to reduce Johannesburg into a ghost city.
A rejuvenated Johannesburg provides an opportunity for economic growth and strengthening of our domestic capital. Such growth should as far as is possible provide for job security, create sustainable jobs, provide infrastructure to benefit the majority of our people who suffer from brutal poverty.
It is our view as government that iGoli 2002 is an important and innovative initiative that deserves the support of all of us. As I said at the Igoli Summit, this is not to say that there are no areas that may need to be ironed out. It just means that we must isolate those areas that require further attention by the local government in order for the plan to succeed.
At the same time, even as we debate these differences, we must avoid turning ourselves into a debating society. There must come a time when we must as government, hopefully with the support of all stakeholders, move on with the implementation.
That time is now! We cannot allow bickering over minor details to derail the process of rebuilding our city. This would not be in the best interest of anyone. I hope that the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council together with IMATU and SAMWU will heed this call. Any other action will be a betrayal of the citizens of this beautiful city of ours.
The level of participation by the people of this province in our programmes has confirmed the correctness of our practice of working in partnership. It is for this reason ladies and gentlemen that I believe that this Legislature must encourage even greater civil society participation so that the concept of a people's government can live long throughout our term and terms beyond.
As part of our commitment to open, accountable and transparent leadership, we will be proposing that this house adopts a code of ethics for all of us.
This will require that we indicate what assets we have as well as other interests outside of the Legislature. This will enable us to adhere to one standard, one morality and ethics for the entire legislature. It will ensure transparency and accountability by all of us. I call on the electorate to judge all members of the legislature, to see whether we are remaining true to the mandate or simply serving a narrow constituency based not on the mandate, but on other commercial interests.
I believe it would be accurate to report that all members of this House have played their part in the work done so far and I want to thank them for that.
On the whole there has been a measure of co-operation with all political parties in this House. There has however been times when some have come very close to challenging the content of our mandate. I nonetheless extend my great appreciation to all of you.
Our ability to carry out our mandate depends on our co-operation with all the people of this Province. All of us here across the political party spectrum have a duty to take our people to the realisation of their dreams of better living conditions, freedom and peace. Let them sail into the new century with hope that better things await them and we, must make that a reality.
In two weeks time some of our people will begin Ramadan. We wish them well during the period of fasting.
Ladies and gentlemen, we value your lives. It is for this reason that we are sparing no effort in fighting HIV/AIDS. I hope this holiday will be filled with proper conduct and when we meet we will have reason to celebrate the long awaited year 2000.
A few weeks from now it will be Christmas. Let me take this opportunity to wish all the citizens of Gauteng a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Our road safety plans are designed to ensure that you are safe on the roads as you take your holiday. Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, I will see you at the Millenium bash in Pretoria on 31 December 1999 as we usher in the new year. You better rest since next year will be more hectic than this year.
I thank you
Issued by Office of the Premier
Gauteng Provincial Government