Frances Baard District Municipality, Kimberley
10 July 2019

Honourable Speaker,
Members of the Legislature,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Members of the Media;
Comrades and friends
Madam Speaker

July is a significant month for us as South Africans. It is the birth month of the father of our nation, the late Dr Nelson Rolihlala Mandela, our world icon and peace laureate. Not only are we joined by the world in commemorating his birthday annually on the 18th of July, but this year is also the first year of the “2019 - 2028 Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace”. This was declared by the United Nations at the Nelson Mandela Summit last year. The UN political declaration calls for redoubling of our efforts to pursue global peace and security, development and human rights. Very important is the fact that this decade commences as we enter the second half of the AU declared 2014-2024 ‘Nelson Mandela Decade for Reconciliation in Africa.”

Madam Speaker

We remain humbled to stand on the shoulders of this humble giant and to walk in his footsteps. The single greatest honour that we have is the opportunity to build on his legacy of freedom, democracy, reconciliation, human rights and development.

Madam Speaker

Just yesterday, we commemorated the 37th anniversary of the killing of Ashley Kriel on the 9th of July 1987, at the age of 20. He was shot dead by apartheid police while handcuffed in a house in Hazendal, Athlone, on the Cape Flats. After that there was an elaborate cover-up by the police. This cover-up was recently exposed.

Preceding this important month was the Youth Month, which serves to commemorate the Soweto Student uprising. It is estimated that more than 20 000 students took part in the protest against the introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction at schools. The youngest of the more than 700 killed students on that day was Hector Pieterson, then only 13 years old.

Madam Speaker

Today would have been the 63rd birthday of the late Solomon “Kalushi” Mahlangu. He joined Umkhonto weSizwe camp in Angola in 1976 when he was only 20 years old. At the tender age of 22 he was executed by the apartheid government for a crime that he did not commit.
From our own province we have Khotso Flatela who was harassed by the security branch and got detained on a number of occasions. He left the country in 1985 to join UMkhonto weSizwe at the tender age of 18 and died in exile. We have many more young people in the province, who during the difficult years of apartheid, sacrificed everything for the liberation of this country.

These are young people, who followed in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela and decided to risk everything, including their lives, in the struggle to achieve their dream and burning desire of a free country.  Hector Pieterson (13), Ashley Kriel (20), Solomon Mahlangu (22), Khotso Flathela (18) and many others, never betrayed the cause of struggle for selfish interest.

Madam Speaker

Allow me therefore to use this opportunity to call on all of us, particularly our young people in the province, to take heed of the immense sacrifices that were made by these young gallant fighters. These are young people who were willing to put themselves at a disadvantage to create an advantage for the oppressed masses of this country in a racially segregated country. Their cause of struggle was for the political liberation of this country.

So putting oneself at a disadvantage is an ideological stance, it is driven by a political agenda and particularly in this political dispensation of liberal democracy.

Madam Speaker, allow me to explain this, to this august house. In a liberal democracy there are fundamentally three actors. It is business, political elite and the general masses (workers and the generally the poor).  Business and the political elite are the prime actors are using the masses as mere conduit. The general masses are the mere conduit to make business rich by accumulation of profit and they are also a conduit that elects the political elite into office. In this 6th Administration we are going to turn this configuration around to have the masses as prime actors and prime beneficiaries of our programmes. I am quite aware that this approach will generate a great deal of discomfort and raging anger from the beneficiaries of the present establishment, but we are more than ready to carry the scars of that anger.

Madam Speaker

Our struggle 25 years into democracy is to eradicate the humiliation caused by socio-economic deprivation. I am delighted to note that yesterday all opposition parties acknowledged the importance of this struggle. Political bickering between us as political parties will not assist while the Province is on fire due to high levels of unemployment and poverty. We need to work together to ensure that this generation of ours, as the generation of Mandela, Kriel, Mahlangu and Flathela, also puts itself at a disadvantage to create an advantage for the poor and downtrodden of the province. Our precarious fiscal position requires all of us, particularly elected leaders, to make little personal sacrifices towards the dream of building a modern, growing and successful province.

In the words of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: “If your dreams do not scare you, then they are not ambitious enough”. So, with the fiscal challenges that are confronting us we should be very bold in seeking alternatives in the way we do things. In this regard, Madam Speaker, I would like to borrow from Michael Castro Setlhogomi the First’s Facebook post which reads “A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, sleepless nights and hard work”.

I would like to use this platform to thank the Members of the Executive Council for their determination to put them at a disadvantage. This, in a practical way, is taking a cue from the sacrifices of our forebears.

Madam Speaker

Putting ourselves at a disadvantage is not a populist gimmick; it is an ideological stance that derives its existence from the congress tradition within which some of us were brought up. Making sacrifices for our people is not a foreign behaviour, but an intrinsic part of our makeup, it is who we are and that is integrity. Integrity requires of us, as leaders, to choose our thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain. What is foreign to the congress tradition is self-indulgence, political arrogance and deification (being made demi-gods).

Madam Speaker

After delivering the State of the Province Address, I had an opportunity to interact with different people on different platforms.  I have taken note of the concerns of our people. From the issue of failing health and education systems in Douglas, water problems in Longlands, gatekeeping around recruitment processes, irregular and wasteful expenditure at local government level as well as job scarcity in general in the province. This results in out-migration; people from the province going to other provinces with much better opportunities.

However, Madam Speaker, I also noted the number of congratulatory responses from people who are very excited and enlisted into the vision, expressing their commitment and willingness to contribute towards the development of a modern, growing and successful Northern Cape.

It is against this background that I want to put to rest the notion that I am a lone ranger in this drive to construct a modern, growing and successful province. This vision is fully anchored in the ANC’s 2019 Manifesto; which invites all South Africans to grow South Africa together for a better life for all.

I stated in my acceptance speech, that criss-crossing the province on the campaign trail was not just a mere political excursion, but to listen and engage with the people of the Northern Cape. From these engagements there was a single call that came from our people that they are yearning for a province that is modern, a province that is growing and a province that is successful.

Therefore, the notion that I am a lone ranger for this vision cannot be further removed from the truth. I can therefore confirm that this is a shared vision to which all of us are truly committed and truly want to attain.

Madam Speaker

Let me then take this opportunity to thank all the Honourable members who participated in the debate yesterday. I personally found your inputs quite helpful to our conceptualisation of what constitutes a modern, growing and successful province. From your inputs it is quite clear to me that we all have a common purpose here: we want good things to happen in the province.

Honourable Jack, Honourable Bartlett, Honourable Manopole and Honourable Maneng, all brilliantly articulated the core tenets of this shared vision for which we are collectively accountable. They further highlighted some important interventions that we must immediately implement to work towards the achievement of this goal. Thank you honourable members for your progressive debates.

Madam Speaker

I would therefore also like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the opposition parties represented by Honourable Louw, Honourable Coetzee and Honourable Tlhaole for acknowledging that our vision is appealing and appropriate. I am deeply humbled by their preparedness and willingness to put their shoulders on the wheel to eradicate the humiliation of poverty and unemployment in the province.

When I delivered the State of the Province address, I highlighted the policy priorities based on our electoral mandate, and that electoral mandate accordingly informs our programme of action for the 2019-2024, five-year term. I delivered quite an elaborate State of the Province Address, citing our successes over the first 25 years of our democratic government, while also boldly stating where we have not done well. I am therefore not going to repeat the general issues raised on unemployment, poverty, health and education since they were substantially covered in the SOPA.

Madam Speaker

We will work very hard to see visible and tangible changes within the next 5 years.  Our programme of action for the period 2019 - 2024 will reflect clear indicators and targets that are realistic and achievable.  Members of the Executive Council will elaborate further during their respective Budget Vote Speeches soon.

We will however respond to the issue of the accreditation of Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College and the Emergency Medical Services College. The fact of the matter is that the Henriëtta Stockdale Nursing College will not lose its accreditation. The current qualifications namely,  the 4-year Diploma : Registered Nurse,  2-year Higher Certificate Bridging Course and 1-year Diploma in Midwifery will terminate at the end of December 2019 as per the Declaration by the Minister of Higher Education in line with the provisions of the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act 101 of 1997), that the last enrolment date for first time entering students into academic programmes that are not aligned to the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) is 31 December 2019. This implies that only students who were already enrolled and started their training prior to 31 December 2019 will be allowed to complete their training courses in the aforementioned qualifications.

New nursing qualifications, that meet the requirements of the Higher Education Qualifications Sub- Framework, were approved and the Department of Health through the Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College, are in the process of applying for accreditation for the new nursing qualifications, namely Bachelor's degree in Nursing and Midwifery, Diploma in Nursing: General Nurse (Current Staff Nurse) as well as Higher Certificate in Nursing: Auxiliary Nurse. The process is managed in a manner that will ensure accreditation is obtained for all the new nursing qualifications, some of which will commence in 2020.

The same holds true for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) College. The phasing out of old qualifications that are not aligned to the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework for which the college was accredited for does not constitute the loss of accreditation. It merely means the college must apply for accreditation for the new qualifications that are aligned to the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework. However, since the college itself does not meet the requirements for registration as an Institute of Higher Learning at present, plans are underway to partner with the University of Johannesburg to develop and empower the provincial college to roll out the Higher Certificate (NQF Level 5) and the Diploma in Emergency Medical Care (NQF Level 6) qualifications in the Northern Cape while building the necessary capacity and capabilities towards full accreditation.

Madam Speaker

There is also change in the EMS training landscape influenced by a paradigm shift from patient transport to actual on-scene evidence based practice and quality of care. The short courses have given way to the three tier National Emergency Care education and Training qualifications on the Emergency Medical Care Qualification Framework. The shift from short courses to formal higher education has led to the professionalisation of EMS.

Madam Speaker

We certainly are not proud about the massive overruns and delays in the Mental Health Hospital project. We will do everything in our powers to ensure that such is never repeated ever again in the Northern Cape. Hence, the interventions with regards to strengthening of the planning, design and implementation capacity of Infrastructure projects. I am however happy to announce that the Mental Health Hospital will indeed be officially opened in September 2019.

Madam Speaker

The War Room on Unemployment will be integrated will the War Room on Poverty. Poverty and Unemployment are the evil twins whose common denominator is lack of and inadequate schooling or education. You cannot deal with either one in isolation. The biggest difference in this 6th Administration is that the Premier will chair the War Room and it will be convened and coordinated by the Office of the Premier. For now it is convened by the Department of Social Development. As the Premier, I will also be chairing the Human Resources Development Council. In this we will be seeing higher levels of integrated planning, monitoring and oversight in the implementation of the Human Resource Plan.

Madam Speaker

We commit to a zero tolerance stance against corruption, maladministration and mismanagement.  The allegations by the Honourable Louw about Honourable Matika meddling in the affairs of Sol Plaatje Municipality and blocking Council from dealing with the Section 106 report are unfair. Honourable Matika is not a Councillor at Sol Plaatje Municipality. However, we can commit that we will make Sol Plaatje to function properly. Sol Plaatje municipality must become the engine for the construction of modern, growing and successful province.

We can confirm that the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs has tabled the report to Sol Plaatje Council. The report was however taken on review by the Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer who are implicated in it. The matter is therefore in the hands of the courts and neither the Premier nor Sol Plaatje Council can do anything about the report until competent courts have expressed themselves on the matter of review.

Madam Speaker

We are equally concerned about the levels of irregular and unauthorised expenditure. In this regard, we can assure the Honourable Louw and this house that the newly promulgated Public Audit Amendment Act ushers in a new dispensation and consequence management regime with regard to how non-compliance will be dealt with.  The Act gives the Office of the Auditor-General more powers to act against officials and employees that waste taxpayers’ money, as well as those who are aware that money is being siphoned but do not take action. It is against this background that I reaffirm what I said, we will implement, at all times, the recommendations of the Auditor-General without fear, favour or prejudice.

Provincial Government will also rollout a massive clean-up campaign starting in Kimberley on the 21st of September 2019 after the Waste Khoro to be held from 18-20 September 2019.  This campaign will be rolled out to all districts. It is our hope that municipalities will sustain the campaign to become an everyday activity. The cleanliness of our city, towns and environment starts with us.

In responding to Honourable Tlhoale, we have noted your request for the Premier’s intervention in the issue of South 32’s and versalite mining.  My office will engage the Honourable member to get more details on the matter. We will follow up on the matter once we have received the detailed information from Honourable Tlhaole.

Regarding the issue of clinics opening for 24 hours, we can assure the Honourable Member that we have already identified the need and have tasked the department to work on a strategy that could be phased-in over a period of time commencing with the most remote and rural areas that are far from Primary Health Care Centres or hospitals.  The issue of closed schools will also be revisited as part of our interventions to address overcrowding in our schools.

Madam Speaker

We wish to reiterate that an important attribute of a Modern, Growing and Successful Province is safety and security for its residents. A province where our people, especially women and children, can freely enjoy their streets without fear of being molested or abused. Because of crime and the fear of crime, our people, especially women and children cannot freely enjoy their streets and environments. We therefore agree that the police must step-up their game in creating a safe and crime free environment for our people. In her Budget Vote Speech the MEC for Safety and Liaison will present to us the strategies on the implementation of the Provincial Safety Strategy.

We need to build structured relationships and partnerships with communities and community based organisations if we want to make our communities safer. I therefore repeat my call to all men and women, LGBTQI sector, NGOs, business, communities, churches, one and all, to work with government to put an end to all forms of violence against women and children, especially the devastating scourge of killing of women and rape. It is a shame and disgrace that even our grandmothers do not escape this scourge. It is utterly disgusting and heart wrenching to learn of the 82 year old Mama from Blikkies in Upington as well the 13 year old From Kuruman who allegedly fell victims to sexual violation of the worst order. We call on the police and criminal justice system to spare nothing in pursuing justice for them.

Madam Speaker

I once more want to thank all our honourable members for their vibrant participation in the State of the Province Debate. We appreciate the spirit of cooperative opposition in the interest of the people of this province.

In conclusion, let me quote Peter Senge, in his book The Fifth Discipline where he asserts the following: “The team that became great didn’t start off great; it learned how to produce extraordinary results.”  As this 6th Administration, we realise that those in support of the status quo may be overwhelmed, but through hard work and courage we are willing to take risks as we learn how to produce extraordinary results in building a Modern, Growing and Successful province.

Just as the Chinese brilliantly put it, "crossing the river by touching the stones". We will cross this river as well by touching the stones, and we are not going to drown. These stones are the justified hopes and dreams of the people of the Northern Cape. It is these hopes and dreams that fuel us to think creatively and outside the box. Madam Speaker, these hopes and dreams we dare not betray.

I thank you