Issued by: Office of the Deputy President
27 September 2001
Madam Chairperson;
Honourable Premiers;
Honourable members;
In late 1948, as a little boy of less than 10 years, I used to hear a song which was popular at the time, with lyrics that said:-
Imithetho kaMalan isiphethe nzima, asazi la sofela khona. (Malan's laws are tough on us; we don't know where we will die).
One day, I asked my maternal grandmother who this Malan was, and she said "uMalan uhulumeni, indoda enkulu emhlophe, efaka amaklesibhande, ehlala le ePitoli" (Malan is the government, a big white man who wears braces, who lives in Pretoria.)
My grandmother's response was no different from that of millions of other black South Africans who were excluded from the political system by the apartheid government.
Given this background, as the first democratic government of this country, we had a historic mandate and duty to bring about dramatic and visible change to the concept of government and governance.
We had to establish a government of the people, and one that all South Africans could relate to and understand. This government had to be brought closer to the people.
We had to formulate and implement programmes that would ensure that government improved the quality of lives, and reduced poverty, inequality and vulnerability.
We have faced immense challenges, but through co-operative governance, we have built the necessary institutional capacity, formulated and implemented a range of policies, and strengthened our financial management systems.
Section 41 of the Constitution clearly spells out the notion of co-operative governance. The crux of this section states that all spheres of government and all organs of state must assist and support each other.
We are proud of the fact that in just a few years, we have succeeded in changing the face of government and the manner in which government conducts its business. We have done this in ways that very few countries haveachieved, in decades of democratic rule.
Madam Chairperson we strongly believe in our mission of bringing government closer to all our people, in particular the poorest of the poor. In this regard, we abolished the four provinces, which had been established in 1910, and replaced them with nine provinces and nine provincial governments.
This was aimed at ensuring wider participation of people in the governing of their lives, and to allow for greater access to government. This establishment of more than one sphere of government was to lay the basis for co-operative governance.
I am pleased to be addressing this House on this topic. As you are all aware, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) forms the backbone of co-operative governance, as the only structure that brings together the national, provincial and local spheres of government in one chamber.
The direct involvement of organized local government and special delegates from the provincial legislatures in the affairs of this House, means that you have your ears on the ground.
I am also aware that this House held a workshop recently on improving co-operative governance, in which a number of questions were debated. I look forward to reading the final report of the workshop with interest.
It is our well-considered view that co-operative governance facilitates creative and crosscutting thinking on policy issues. It also makes government more effective and efficient, as it allows for integrated policy development, prioritization, planning, execution and evaluation of government programmes.
At the executive level, co-operative governance is no longer a theory but daily practice. You are aware of the formation of the Cabinet cluster system, which effectively compressed 26 ministries into six clusters. This system is replicated at the level of Directors General, through the Forum of Directors General, which is also attended by the nine provincial directors general.
Co-operative governance between the national and provincial spheres is further facilitated through the President's Co-ordinating Council, which brings together the President and Premiers to discuss matters of mutual concern.
In addition, Ministers whose area of responsibility includes matters of provincial competence, meet with members of provincial executive councils, to ensure collective discussion on both the development and implementation of policy.
Madam Chairperson, our last leg in the democratization process was the finalisation of the local government sphere in December last year.
This truly brought the "big man" sitting in Pretoria to people's backyards. This has demystified the "big man" and made people realize that government is part of their daily lives, and is made up of ordinary men and women coming from within their own communities.
Compatriots, as you know, the ability of government to deliver, depends on how it plans and manages its finances. To ensure a properly functioning inter-governmental system, the government has passed enabling legislation and put in place the necessary financial management systems.
We have established the Budget Council that comprises representatives of national and provincial government, and which makes recommendations on provincial allocations. We have also established the Budget Forum, which includes representatives of all three spheres, and considers budget allocations for local government.
Furthermore, there is the Financial and Fiscal Commission, tasked with the role of ensuring equity in the division of nationally raised revenue between the spheres and within each sphere.
Madam Chairperson, it is pleasing to note that significant successes have been achieved in the area of financial management and budget reform. In 1998, the Budget Council oversaw the introduction of the three-year rolling budgets - the Medium Term Expenditure Framework.
This, together with improved political oversight and the early publication of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, has enhanced the transparency of the intergovernmental fiscal system, and has facilitated better alignment between policy and budgets.
This is not to suggest that the process has been smooth. But, in instances where problems arose, we were quick in finding good and lasting solutions, and were decisive in implementing them.
For example, in the 1997/98 financial provinces ran a combined deficit of R5.4 billion. Through co-operative governance, we were able to turn the deficit into a surplus of R0.6 billion by the next financial year.
A further monitoring tool we have now put in place through the Public Finance Management Act, is a statutory obligation on all departments and provinces to report on the state of their finances at least every quarter, so that we can identify potential problems before they reach crisis proportions.
Details on improvements in financial management at provincial and local government levels are contained in the Intergovernmental Reviews of 1999 and 2000. This year's Review, as you know, will be released in this House early next month.
I am informed that the NCOP is intending to conduct an intensive examination of the Review involving representatives of all three spheres of government.
In bringing government to the people, and ensuring co-ordination and co-operation among the three spheres, we are able to improve service delivery, and ensure that delivery points are brought closer to people.
We are proud that some residents of remote rural villages now receive basic services such as welfare grants, and can apply for birth, death and identity documents in their own villages without having to travel long distances.
This has been done through the government's Multipurpose Community Centre (MPCC) programme. The MPCCs are collaboration between different government departments, and have truly brought government to the people in a manner unthinkable before 1994.
There are already a number of MPCC success stories. As of July this year, 10 000 Birth Certificates and 5000 identity documents had been issued at the Tombo MPCC near Port St John, which was launched in December 1999. We are also informed that approximately 200 people visit the Namahadi MPCC in Qwa-Qwa daily.
Madam Chairperson, a real test of our intergovernmental system usually comes during times of disasters, as it did during the 1999/2000 financial year.
All spheres of government came together and worked out a strategy to fund emergency reconstruction, and implemented relief and rescue programmes. An additional amount of R895 million was allocated to provincial governments last year in support of their disaster relief programmes.
Further amounts of R600m in 2001/02, R400m in 2002/03 and R200m in 2003/04 have been set aside for provinces to complete the reconstruction process.
Another example of successful co-operation was in the combating of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and the cholera outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal. The co-operation of the different spheres of government ensured success in containing these epidemics.
Members of the House would be aware of Government's Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme, which is also premised on the ongoing interaction of all three spheres of government. This is one programme that requires the full attention of this House, as it will bring about visible transformation in the countryside.
While we are pleased with our successes thus far, we are aware that challenges will remain.
The nine provinces created out of the ruins of the apartheid infrastructure; no doubt had teething problems initially. These have been dealt with as shown in the financial turnaround mentioned earlier.
It is to be expected that there will be similar problems with the newly created democratic local government structures. We are however confident that we will face these challenges head on.
The successful delivery of services to the people also depends on the dedication of our public servants. I am saying this at the appropriate time, Madam Chairperson, as this week is Public Service Week.
This week's theme, which says, "I am Proud to Serve You," encapsulates our attitude as government to the public that we serve. We need a public service that is responsive to the needs of the people, in the spirit of Batho Pele, to ensure effective and efficient delivery of services.
Public servants should be ready and prepared to serve with respect, humility and courtesy at all times.
Madam Chairperson, let me reiterate that we are determined as Government to improve the conditions of the poorest of the poor in our country, and ensure a better life for all South Africans.
Our commitment to achieving this goal is unwavering, and our track record speaks for itself. The government cannot be accused that its policies are a deviation from serving the poorest of the poor. I am referring in particular to our economic policies and programmes.
Anyone who wishes to challenge government's programmes must check his or her facts thoroughly. It is of even greater concern if the accusations are made by those who purport to speak on behalf of the poor.
Most of the accusations have come from people who have been reflecting the interests of their narrow sectors and ignoring the bigger picture. On the other hand, as government we have to ensure that we serve the interests of all sectors.
What we need from everyone in the spirit of democracy, transparency and co-operation are constructive suggestions that would enhance the delivery of government programmes.
Madam Chairperson, the establishment of representative institutions such as the NCOP was something that was well thought out. These institutions help extend the participation of the people in the exercise of power. We need to enhance and enrich them for the sake of our people.
This House has a serious responsibility in the manner in which it works. It must continuously remind us about the correct decisions we took in the past in establishing these institutions.
Democracy may be expensive and time-consuming, but it helps to prevent autocratic and dictatorial tendencies. It stops a few people taking ill-considered decisions that adversely affect the lives of the majority.
This House is well placed to ensure that power is exercised fairly and properly in all spheres of government.
We have come a long way since 1994, and together, with all South Africans, we can ensure that South Africa ranks amongst the greatest nations of the world.
In closing Madam Chairperson, let me convey a message from the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, who said I should remind the House that today is World Tourism Day, and that we should reflect on how we can continue to promote our wonderful country.
I thank you.