Issued by: Office of the Premier of Gauteng Province
12 June 2001
Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Honourable members
MECs
The budget presented by MEC Moleketi on 27 February 2001 and elaborated on by MECs during their budget votes over the past month gives content to the policies, priorities and programmes we outlined at the opening of the legislature.
The significance of the budget allocations lies in the fact that they give effect to the political programme of this provincial government and the realization of our mandate to create jobs, fight poverty and build a better life for the people of this province as part of our five-year programme of action.
Building on the previous five years of ANC rule, and guided by the key strategic priorities we set for ourselves as well as continued input by our people, we have consolidated a vision for the social transformation of the province. The budgets of the past two years bear testimony to our commitment to change the lives of our people. Our strategic priorities remain unchanged. We will however continue to identify specific programmes and projects that need to be implemented to take forward these strategic priorities.
Our budget allocations are evidence of our commitment to prioritise social spending and quality service delivery in the areas of health, education, housing and social services. The political outcomes, which will serve as indicators of our success in this regard, include:
The budgets that the House has considered will enable us to continue to pursue the bold initiatives we have undertaken to stimulate our provincial economy, to develop infrastructure, increase local and foreign investment in economic activity, enhance sustainable job creation and attack the roots of poverty and deprivation. In doing this we will enhance black economic empowerment and small business participation in the economy. Our work over the past period has responded to a number of challenges.
These include:
The political outcomes that will result from the implementation of our programme will be measured in terms of the key priority areas: delivery of quality basic services, economic growth and development and good governance.
Gauteng's strategic location as the economic hub of South Africa and the continent with its current contribution of more than 40% and 9% to the country and the continent's GDPs respectively presents us with even greater challenges. This means that the work that we do to grow the economy of the province is not just for the benefit of the people of Gauteng but for people of South African and the continent as a whole.
In line with our decision to focus on trade and industrial strategy, skills development and investment in social infrastructure, we continue to pay attention to micro economic issues as part of the implementation of the macro economic strategy. The aim is to facilitate the development of existing business while attracting further investment.
Since 1999 we have undertaken a number of foreign visits. The purpose of the visits was to consolidate relations with governments with whom our province had entered into twinning and sisterhood agreements, to explore new areas of co-operation and seek foreign investment.
In all the places we visited, we were warmly received by the host governments, business and the general population. We have already reported to this House some of the economic benefits that accrued from some of these foreign visits. Last month we visited Singapore and Malaysia and, hardly two weeks after we returned, we hosted a business delegation from Singapore, which had come here to follow up on the investment opportunities linked to our projects. We will continue to strengthen and consolidate service delivery in a manner that contributes to employment creation, economic growth, equity and social delivery.
This calls on us to continue to employ a range of options that draw on the public and private sector, in partnership with our people, to fight poverty and degradation.
We will continue to look at ways to improve the way we use our CAPEX projects to create short-term jobs by making them more labour-intensive.
This means that as we build roads, hospitals, clinics, schools, houses or other infrastructure, we will simultaneously contribute towards job creation and skills transfer in our province.
We have made significant advances towards ensuring joint planning, co-ordination and integration across the provincial government. We are developing a strong tradition of integration in all of our work, reversing an age-old trend amongst public service departments of working in "silos".
Examples of this joint planning and integrated approach can be seen in the manner in which we planned and are implementing projects such as the Alexandra Urban Renewal Project, the Cosmo City project and HIV/Aids programmes.
The forthcoming World Summit for Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg in September 2002 provides a unique opportunity for us to focus our energies and resources on ensuring the sustainable usage of our resources and our environment in the interests of all our people.
Our generation's response to these challenges will determine the social and economic livelihood of future generations. The challenge facing Gauteng is even greater because of our urbanised and industrialised character.
We are currently developing strategies to integrate our efforts in terms of sustainable development by focussing on environment and waste management.
Within the next two months, MEC Metcalfe will be presenting a proposal to the Executive Council on how these goals will be achieved.
Work has begun on the renewal of Alexandra. The President formally launched the project on 9 June 2001. The project is a model of our urban renewal strategy and the building of sustainable communities in Gauteng.
A critical component of our integrated approach to service delivery is around our poverty alleviation strategy, which underpins our work across government departments.
The aim is to provide a coherent framework that will outline long term goals that tie with our economic development objectives, propose medium term outcomes and yet continue to deal with issues such as food security in the short term.
We are developing financing models that will promote the establishment and growth of development nodes and contribute to local economic development.
However, merely funding individual poverty relief projects will not in itself have a significant long-term impact on poverty. Our strongest weapon against poverty is economic development, and it is thus critical for local economic development strategies to interact closely with the broader provincial efforts to grow the economy.
As part of our efforts to align policies of all spheres of government for effective economic growth, development and service delivery, we are currently examining Integrated Development Plans (IDP's) of various municipalities and suggesting ways and means in which they can be linked to the provincial strategy.
A meeting to discuss the implementation of a joint strategy to rejuvenate the West Rand was held yesterday with the District Mayor. A further meeting with the executive Mayor of Sedibeng is scheduled for 19 June 2001.
Together with the private sector in these areas, we are determined to reverse the decline in economic activity and to develop opportunities for economic growth.
As a relatively wealthy province, it is often incorrectly assumed that the people of Gauteng enjoy a better quality of life than in other parts of the country. This assumption often masks the legacy of underdeveloped infrastructure in the province. According to the Department of Housing, an estimated 25% of Gauteng households do not yet have access to water borne sewerage, clean running water and electricity.
MEC Fowler has been tasked with the development of a plan to ensure the provision of these basic services to all Gauteng residents within the next three years. This will require a close working relationship and joint planning with national and local government.
The last Gauteng Intergovernmental Forum (GIGF) agreed on a range of measures aimed at strengthening the capacity of local government and working together to ensure the effective delivery of services, including the provision of minimum amounts of free water and electricity, and improving the billing system.
We have noted reports on problems related to the payment of electricity bills in Soweto. We call on the residents of Soweto to work together with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council and Eskom to find an amicable and speedy solution to the provision and payment of electricity services.
One of the challenges facing cross border municipalities is how to provide uniform quality services across provincial boundaries. Together with the provincial governments of Mpumalanga and North West, we will continue to look at effective ways to manage cross border municipalities in ways that are beneficial to the citizens of the respective provinces.
Once agreements have been reached on joint management by the respective MEC's for local government, these will be tabled in the legislature. In this way Members of the House will have a common understanding of the challenges facing these municipalities and how we intend to deal with them.
Section 139 of the Constitution states:
When a municipality cannot or does not fulfill an executive obligation in terms of legislation, the relevant Provincial Executive may intervene by taking any appropriate steps to ensure fulfillment of that obligation, including -
(a) issuing a directive to the Municipal Council, describing the extent of the failure to fulfil its obligations and stating any steps required to meet its obligations; and
(b) assuming responsibility for the relevant obligation in that municipality to the extent necessary -
(i) to maintain essential national standards or meet established minimum standards for the rendering of a service;
(ii) to prevent that Municipal Council from taking unreasonable action that is prejudicial to the interests of another municipality or to the province as a whole; or
(iii) to maintain economic unity.
Over the past few weeks we have engaged in discussion with political parties in Nokeng Tsa Taemane regarding their failure to ensure an effective administration and functioning Executive.
Following their failure to ensure effective administration, the Executive Council last week took the decision to intervene in terms of section 139 (1) (a) and appointed a Municipal Manager to run the administration.
We have given the parties until noon tomorrow to restore political authority failing which we are going to intervene in terms of section 139 (1) (b) and assume executive authority to ensure effective service delivery.
The decision to intervene was not taken lightly. We took these drastic steps because we take seriously the need to have effective and functioning administration and government. We also want to warn everyone concerned that we will not allow anyone to assume power by stealth or through illegal means. We are committed to the rule of law and respect for the Constitution.
The new dispensation gives all of us an opportunity to under new conditions of democracy belong to a party of our choice. Since I became a member of this House I have however noticed with disquiet a rather backward tendency by members of the House, from both sides of the House. Often, a black person who joins a predominantly white party, historically linked to apartheid, is referred to as a "sell-out" while a white person who joins a predominantly black party is referred to as having betrayed the "volk".
Members Joggie Boers, Sam de Beer, Vincent Thusi, Professor Themba Sono and Sibongile Mahlangu have often had to bear the jeers and abuse from members who do not want to accept that they too, like any other South African, have a right to freedom of association and to belong to a party of their choice.
The House should be setting a good example to the rest of the citizens of Gauteng by accepting and respecting the right of individuals to belong to a party of their choice and by affording them the dignity they deserve.
The progressive African Nationalism that the ANC has always embraced would never condone such tendencies. One of the stalwarts of our revolution, Walter Sisulu, describes non-racialism as the leitmotif of the struggle.
Nelson Mandela said about progressive African Nationalism:
"Those who help to perpetuate white supremacy are the enemies of the people, even if they are black, while those who oppose all forms of racism form part of the people irrespective of their colour".
This non-racial perspective is as relevant today, in post-apartheid South Africa, as it was during the struggle for freedom. A key challenge today is to redefine the relationship between political parties from that of enemies, who by definition have no common interest, to one of political adversaries who share a common destiny, but differ on how to get there.
In 2005, the country will mark the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter in Kliptown. It is important for us to mark that date and location so that this remarkable event and place will become a documented part of our collective history. The provincial government in collaboration with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council will be developing an integrated plan for the development of Kliptown that will include a monument at this historic site. This is in addition to the significant investment by the provincial government in a large housing project in the area, announced by MEC Mashatile.
The development of our human resources has become a critical imperative in ensuring effective service delivery. A more flexible and responsive civil service will be more able to respond to the diverse and ever changing needs of the citizens of Gauteng and live up to the principles of Batho Pele.
As part of this strategy before the end of the financial year we will be announcing the creation of awards for the public service that will recognise outstanding service and adherence to the Batho Pele principles.
The restructuring of the Office of the Premier resulted in the redundancy of certain posts as well as the creation of new ones. While most of the new positions have been filled, there are a few vacant potions that remain to be filled. Except for the critical positions, all funded but unfilled posts will be abolished by the end of the financial year.
We will continue to ensure the prudent utilization of public resources, including through the effective implementation of the Public Finance Management Act, so as to maximize the availability of resources to address our economic and social backlogs.
We will continue to give expression to our commitment to people-centred governance through a sustained programme of direct interaction and engagement with the people of this province, where they live. We will continue to take government to the people through face to face communication with those we were elected to serve and lead.
Since 1999, many thousands of our people have engaged in direct dialogue with ourselves through our Roving Executive Councils as part of our Let's Talk campaign. This year we have visited Randfontein, Zenzele and Bekkersdal on the West Rand, Van der Bijl Park and Evaton in Sedibeng and Bronkhorstspruit, Zithobeni and Rethabiseng in the Metsweding district.
Tomorrow we will be going to Daveyton in Ekurhuleni. More are planned for the remainder of this year.
This programme is a living expression of direct government accountability to the people. It gives effect to people's right to know what government is doing and plans to do. It enables citizens to make their voices heard and impact directly on service delivery in their areas. This direct interaction with our people is a permanent feature of our work. It will continue to sustain and nourish our democracy and ensure that communities are active participants in social transformation.
The challenge of empowering our people through access to information is also being addressed through the Multi-Purpose Community Centres. We will continue to work hand in hand with national and local government, the private sector and community bodies, to set up MPCCs to provide one-stop services to our people. Two have been launched and at least another three are planned this year.
The new municipal structures have created important new opportunities for the three spheres of government to work together in serving the people's information and other service needs. Beyond the launching of new centres, the challenge is to ensure their sustainability and to effectively use new technology to expand public access to information.
It is the masses of the people who made our democracy possible and who remain the guarantors of our freedom and our democracy. It is their mandate that we bear and to whom we are accountable, not to the opposition parties, in continuing to entrench our vision of a prosperous, non-racial and non-sexist democracy.
The implementation of our multi-faceted HIV/Aids strategy remains on course.
This comprehensive strategy involves every provincial department and reaches every sector of society and community in our province. It involves widespread social mobilization and organisation at provincial and local level geared towards prevention and awareness raising as well as the provision of care for people living with Aids and their families.
Two major new research sites on the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/Aids are now up and running in line with the national guidelines. This follows extensive preparations including the training of health workers at these sites. The first site includes the JC Dumane clinic and Natalspruit Hospital, which we visited last month. The second site is the Pretoria West/Kalafong Hospital site, which came into operation at the end of May. These are in addition to existing research at Chris Hani Baragwanath and Coronation Hospital.
Following widespread training and capacity building, we are proceeding with the implementation of our integrated community and home-based care model throughout Gauteng. This forms part of the strategy to develop comprehensive Aids care in all regions and districts in Gauteng.
We are looking forward to presenting a comprehensive report on the work of the provincial government in addressing HIV/Aids. We will be approaching the Speaker very soon to request a special sitting of the House to present the 2000/2001 Annual Report on HIV/Aids in the province.
Issues of employment equity strike at the very heart of the transformation of the civil service. Figures at the end of February 2001 showed a close correlation between GPG employment figures and the population of the Gauteng province. We must continue to improve our implementation of the Employment Equity Act. Within the context of the Act, the following issues also require our attention:
In a recent report compiled by the Department of Labour regarding Employment Equity among large companies in the country the following facts were revealed. At management level 31.63% of employees were black, 29.99% were female, and 0.72% were employees with disabilities.
At the skilled level 55.52% were black, 44.02% were female, and 0.53% were employees with disabilities. While black men comprise 38.75% of the total workforce amongst these large companies, only 10.47% of management are black men. White men constitute 13.31% of the total workforce profile, but 51.84% of the management level.
The gender representation also shows an interesting trend by race: black men and black women have almost equal representation in management, at 10.74%. For the remaining race groups, men have a much higher representation in management than women.
The figures for Gauteng revealed that at management level 20.45% are black, 24.76% are female and 0.56% are disabled. In the skilled category 41.40% are black, 36.11% are female and 0.65% are people with disabilities.
Gauteng Provincial Government figures reveal that our employment figures closely mirror the demographic profile of the province. Out of a total staff of 105 920, 71.% are women. Of a total of 406 senior management positions, women fill 25.4%. 80.7% of staff in the GPG are black and of 408 senior management positions, blacks fill 45.0%.
While these figures are encouraging and indicative of a significant change in the profile of government, more can still be done to improve the implementation of employment equity programmes.
As part of our continuing efforts to gather and consolidate information and disseminate it to our citizens, departments and the legislature we will be establishing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system. The information generated by this process will help to target programmes and projects more strategically and also inform future development. This process of managing information, along with the 2001 Census, will form a solid basis for our policy and planning processes in the future.
As announced last year, we will be launching the first of the Premier's Awards for Women in August this year. The panel, which will make recommendations to the Premier, has already started its work.
In July we will be hosting a provincial consultation process in collaboration with the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) that will feed into the national Gender Summit that will be held in August. Given Gauteng's importance to the economy of South Africa and the continent, the major topic of discussion will be the role of women in the economy. As you are all aware, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council has launched its Metro Police Department. We are starting to reap the fruits of their work already, with citizens and the business community displaying more and more confidence in the CBD of Johannesburg.
Earlier this year we met with Business Against Crime and other private sector representatives who have their businesses in the city centre to discuss ways in which we can combine our efforts to curb crime through among others the utilisation of CCTV cameras some of which are located in their buildings.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council has submitted its application for the establishment of its Metro Police Service. Initial meetings have been held to assess the application and to offer advice.
The past few months have seen improved communication between the Office of the Premier, the Legislature and the permanent delegates to the NCOP.
Through the Leader of Government Business, we will continue to improve issues related to the strengthening of the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.
In addition to the tabling of the annual reports the report back by the Premier at the end of the year, we reaffirm our commitment to table for discussion and public distribution the mid term report next year.
In just four days time, we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the heroic mass action by students in Soweto and many townships of South Africa.
We must use this year's celebration to help to shape and mould the new generation of youth to take a keen interest in education, skills training, civic responsibility and social transformation. The debate planned for Friday 15 June 2001 should help this House develop a common understanding of the challenges faced by today's youth as well as appropriate responses.
Debates we have had in this House on racism, human rights, nation building and sustainable communities, must spur us to forge a common programme to build a united, non racial, non sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa. Together we must help deal with incidences of racism and xenophobia whenever they rear their ugly heads. It does not matter whether the perpetrator is a farmer in Bapsfontein, or a black South African in Hillbrow. They must all be dealt with in terms of the laws of the land. Members of the house must also take the lead in promoting the respect that our constitution, national days and national symbols such as the national anthem and the flag deserve.
A few years back aspersions were cast on the Gambling Board and the MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs. An investigation by the Special Investigation Unit found the allegations to be false. Those who made the allegations should be ashamed of themselves for having wasted our much-needed resources on unfounded allegations. Assuming that the Party that made the allegations has any soul, we hope that they will have the guts to publicly apologise to the citizens of this province for their malicious act.
Not withstanding our impressive achievements, there still remain many challenges. We will continue to develop strategies to fight poverty, grow the economy, deliver quality services and create jobs.
As we have pointed out earlier, the budget is not about numbers, but a commitment of resources to the policy choices we have made. The budget we have put forward is not meant to please members of the opposition, the DP in particular. It is not meant to give content to their policies. It is aimed at demonstrating to the citizens of our province that we remain committed to the policies that got us elected.
No party worth its soul changes its programme to please those who lost an election. Any party that wants to govern and thereby get the opportunity to implement its programmes, first has to win an election.
However it is also possible to be in opposition and still appreciate the challenges faced by the government of the day and to join hands in programmes aimed at implementing the electoral mandate. In this instance, the focus is on holding the government to its commitment. This is the approach adopted at least in this Legislature by the IFP and UDM and to some extent the ACDP. We know that there are areas of our policies and therefore the budget that they are not happy with. They however acknowledge that overall the plans and budget we have put forward will improve the lives of the majority of South Africans for the better.
Our sincere thanks to the Standing Committee on Finance for their honest engagement with all departments and MECs and for pointing out areas for improvement. They will become a critical pointer of how we prepare our budgets and programmes in future years.
Thank you.