User Rating: 5 / 5

Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas will deliver the State of the Province Address to Members of the Provincial Legislature during the Opening of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature on the 21 February 2014.

Read more: State of the Province Address - 21 February 2014

User Rating: 1 / 5

State of the Province Address by the Acting Premier of the Northern Cape, Ms Grizelda Cjiekella, on Friday, 01 March 2013 at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre, Kimberley, Northern Cape Province.

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature;
Members of the Executive Council;
Members of the Legislature;
The Judge President of the Northern Cape Province and Members of the Judiciary;
Members of Parliament and the National Council of Provinces;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
The Provincial Public Service Commissioner;
Heads of State Security Services;
The Chairperson of SALGA, Mayors and Leaders in our System of Local Government;
Veterans of the Liberation Struggle;
Religious Leaders;
Traditional leaders;
Business Leaders;
The Director-General and Government Officials;
Comrades and Compatriots;
Distinguished Guests;
Fellow Citizens of the Northern Cape;

Good morning to you all;
Goeie More;
Dumelang;
Molweni;
Sanibonani nonke

Mr Speaker, as the Acting Premier of the Northern Cape Province, it is my privilege to deliver the 2013 State of the Province Address under the custodianship and auspices of our glorious Movement and the Ruling Party, the African National Congress. This address, Ladies and Gentlemen, reflects the collective determination and resolve of the Northern Cape Provincial Government to deal with unflinching vigour regarding the challenges of creating jobs, reducing poverty, building infrastructure and expanding our provincial economy.

In this regard, the 2009 Manifesto of the Ruling Party reflected on the major challenges facing our society, namely high unemployment, poverty, deepening inequality and rural marginalisation. As a response to these challenges, the Manifesto identified the following five priority areas of the ANC government from 2009 to 2014:

• Creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods;
• Education;
• Health;
• Crime; and
• Rural development, including land reform, and food production and security.

It is clear, Ladies and Gentlemen, that acting in unison, much more can and will be done!

Mr Speaker, the creation and retention of decent work and sustainable livelihoods became the primary focus of all the economic policies of our government. It also means that there must be a direct connection between the economic programmes and the developmental priorities of government.

Key to addressing these priorities is the integration of economic growth with development, and the building of an effective developmental state, with the capacity to co-ordinate planning throughout government. One of the defining features of a developmental state is the state’s intervention in the economy, in favour of the needs of society as a whole.

Be that as it may, Ladies and Gentlemen, kindly allow me to digress for a few moments as we appreciatively acknowledge the contribution of a special human being in her endeavours to improve the quality of life of the people of our Province.

It is now a little more than a year since our Premier, Comrade Hazel Jenkins, who we also endearingly call the “Mother of our Province”, sadly suffered a stroke during the delivery of the State of the Province Address. The period in between has been long, difficult and extremely painful for the leadership collective and the people of the Province.

We are greatly inspired by your positive attitude, magnanimous personality and exceptional work ethic. Comrade Jenkins you have spread smiles and lit up lives wherever you went, especially in our Home Province.

Comrade Jenkins, you are a source of inspiration to us, your colleagues on the Executive Council, staff and ordinary citizens of our Province and country. You bring out the very best in every single one of us. With your levels of performance, dedication and professionalism, you indeed set the bar extremely high.

We now take this opportunity to salute you for the sterling role you play to put in place a stable, fully functional and sound administration to serve the people of the Northern Cape and improve the quality of life of its people. Your visionary leadership enables the Province’s governance collective to discharge its obligations efficiently and effectively. Comrade Jenkins, we assure you that your stabilising and unifying influence in our Province’s body politic will live on.

Honourable Speaker,
Fellow Citizens of the Northern Cape,

We are committed to building a transparent, responsive and responsible administration that has the capacity to deliver services and improve the living standards of our people. We are also committed to fulfil the promise that we made to the people of this province.

In partnership with the community of the Northern Cape, we will do more!

Mr Speaker, in view of the need for transparency in the work of government, I would therefore like to categorically point out that when government changes hands after each general election, the new administration takes over where the previous administration left and it assumes all the assets and liabilities of the previous administration. The current administration is not an exception. We inherited a bank overdraft of R357, 736 million of which First National Bank was owed R109,765 million and the Reserve Bank R247, 971 million and the Province was on the brink of a cash flow crisis.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to report that we have turned around this disastrous situation. At the end of March 2012 we turned around the overdraft to a positive bank balance of R90, 461 million. At the end of January this year the bank balance was R558, 623 million and yesterday it stood at R527, 410 million.

Mr Speaker, cash flow was not the only liability that we inherited, but we also inherited unauthorised expenditure amounting to R708, 892 million from the previous administration. Unauthorised expenditure during our last three financial years of this administration amounts to R203, 125 million. We are still battling to put together funds to pay this huge debt that we inherited from the previous administration. In view of the steady and ongoing progress we are making, we are certain that by the end of our term next year we will have liquidated our liability, including the inherited debt.

Today, we are greatly inspired with the targets and the new base lines emanating from the Census 2011 results so as to assist us to plan ahead and strengthen the implementation of the National Development Plan.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Census 2011 allowed us the opportunity to measure progress in a wide range of areas. Some of the results in key areas are as follows:

• The official unemployment rate for the Northern Cape has declined from a high of 35.7% in 2001 to 27.4% in 2011, while the average household income more than doubled over the same period;
• 82.4% of households reside in formal structures;
• The percentage of persons 20 years or older with no schooling has decreased from 22.7% in 1996 to 11.3% in 2011, while the percentage of persons with matric or higher more than doubled from 11.1% in 1996 to 23% in 2011;
• The Northern Cape, despite being by far the most water scarce province, managed to reduce the percentage of households without access to piped water from 6% in 2001 to 2.6% in 2011. This is far better than the national average of 8.8% and places the Northern Cape in 4th position nationally. Also, more than 90% of households have access to water inside their dwellings or in their yards;
• More than 85% of households use electricity as a power source; and
• Two thirds of our households have access to flush toilets. Although the percentage of households using the bucket system has significantly decreased from 10% in 2001 to 4% in 2011, the issue of acceptable levels of sanitation still needs attention.

It is indeed apparent that working together, we will certainly achieve more!

As we outline the plans, programmes and initiatives of the Provincial Government, you will realise that at the basis thereof is the National Development Plan. The Plan sets out various methods to tackle unemployment, poverty, inequality and other challenges facing our country. Some of the key programmes of the National Development Plan are already being implemented. These include the New Growth Path framework with its major infrastructure development programmes, as well as the state-led industrial policy. Our infrastructure drive is about providing housing, sanitation, public transport and running water for all South Africans.

It is about connecting rural communities to economic opportunities through building dams and irrigation systems, connecting farms and villages to the energy grid and building schools and clinics.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the province will host a Planning Indaba later this month and one of the most important aims will be to formulate a co-ordinating model that will attend to the overall needs of the Province in the most appropriate manner possible.

Upon reflection on the commitments made in terms of the five identified priority areas i.e. decent work, education, health, crime prevention and rural development which are aimed at eradicating the high levels of inequality, unemployment and poverty in the Province, we are proud of the progress made in this regard but also acknowledge that there are certain challenges that remain to be addressed.

Comrades and Compatriots, infrastructure expansion has been identified as one of the key pillars that must be used to improve the living conditions of our communities, whilst at the same time, creating job opportunities for our people.

To this end we will also explore ways to determine how best the Local Procurement Accord, the National Skills Accord, the Green Economic Accord and the Basic Education Accord finds resonance in our Province.

Honourable Members, we are extremely delighted about the very satisfactory Matric pass rate of 2012. The 2012 grade 12 results demonstrated a significant improvement in the pass rate which improved from 68% in 2011 to an impressive overall pass rate of 74 % in 2012. I therefore take this opportunity to thank the dedicated teachers, committed learners and anxious parents for the hard work they have undertaken to see to it that the class of 2012 achieved good results. We will continue to pay attention to teacher development and learner performance programmes.

This means that out of the 8 925 candidates that wrote, 6 661 candidates passed and 2 264 candidates were, unfortunately, unsuccessful.

We are also particularly encouraged by the fortitude displayed by the learners from the two study camps, who despite the trying and traumatic times that they faced, went on to record very commendable pass rates of 70.8% and 61.4% for the Keimoes and Deo Gloria Camps respectively.

The Keimoes camp accommodated learners from Olifantshoek Langberg High School and 17 of the 24 candidates passed, that is, 70.8% compared to only 45% passes last year.

The Deo Gloria camp accommodated learners from eight schools in the John Taole District, namely Ba-Ga Phadima; Bothithong; Dibotswa; Ikakanyeng; Kegomoditswe; Moshaweng; Nametsegang and Segopotso Secondary Schools.

A total of 229 candidates passed which is 61.4% compared to only 45% last year.

To increase graduate output in areas of skills shortages, Mr Speaker, it must be indicated that the Provincial Government has been able to provide bursaries for 260 students in the following areas in 2011 and 2012: Bachelors degrees in Arts, Business Administration, Commerce, Education, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Electrical, Mechanical, Aeronautical and Chemical Engineering, Law, Fine Arts, Medicine, Sports Science, Architecture and Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences.

In addition, National Diplomas in the entire Engineering spectrum, Business Studies, IT, Business Communication, Educational Psychology, Photography, Public Relations and Tourism were also pursued.

The invaluable assistance we are providing as government can be borne out by the letter of gratitude we have received from Mrs Ruth Oliphant from Colville, whose son Clive recently obtained his PhD in Physical Science with distinction. Excerpts of the letter from Mrs Oliphant read as follows: “It is with profound joy that I inform you that former bursary holder Clive Justin Oliphant is due to graduate from the University of the Western Cape for the course PhD Physical Science during the March 2013 graduation ceremony. As a single parent to this remarkable young man, I also wish to extend my gratitude to the Northern Cape Provincial Government for assisting my son with the financial means to further his studies. Clive, who turns 30 this year, grew up in the disadvantaged community of Colville in Kimberley and is currently employed as a metallurgist in Pretoria. I am writing this letter in the hope that the Northern Cape Provincial Government will join our family in celebrating this remarkable achievement of a child of the soil who has shown such commitment and dedication in his education, despite his circumstances. Thank you for opening the doors of learning to the previously disadvantaged children of our province.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, the student’s mother, Mrs Ruth Oliphant, is seated in this venue and kindly join me in acknowledging her presence by giving her a round of applause.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are on a joint mission to do more!

Early Childhood Development is a government priority as well as a Millennium Development Goal. To this end, enrolment in this learning category has trebled over 5 years with an enrolment figure of 14 571 learners in 337 Public Ordinary Schools catered for by 502 practitioners. 10 265 of these learners fall in the no-fee school category. In addition, an Integrated ECD Strategy, involving all stakeholder departments, was developed in 2012.

We are also pleased to announce that significant progress has been registered by the Ministerial Task Team established to oversee the establishment of a university in the province. Wits University has been appointed to provide technical project management services towards the establishment of the university. Land and space have already been identified and as announced by the Minister for Higher Education, the administrative seat of the Northern Cape University will be located in Kimberley. The projected budget for 2013/14 MTEF period is R4.2 billion to ensure the commencement of university programs with an envisaged intake of at least 5000 students by 2014.

The Northern Cape Provincial Government foresees the new university to become a symbol of the new order, democracy, inclusiveness, growth and opportunity as it will be the first post-1994 University for our country. The university will provide critical skills to the key sectors locally and will also serve as a much needed local knowledge partner to advance research and innovation. From being a mere concept in 2009, the new University will be a reality during the current administration’s term of office, with the Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan, announcing in his Budget Speech on 27 February 2013 that the construction of the University will commence this year. Good news indeed, Ladies and Gentlemen!

Mr Speaker, the infrastructure needs of the Province have been complemented by studies such as the Gamagara Mining Corridor. The intention of the study is to reinforce the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordination Commission (PICC) planned Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) Investments. Government recently adopted an Infrastructure Plan that is intended to transform the economic landscape of South Africa, create a significant number of new jobs, strengthen the delivery of basic services to the people of South Africa and support the integration of African economies.

Friends and compatriots, we continuously focus on growing an inclusive economy that must lead to the creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods. Mining and agriculture are currently the Province’s most important sectors.

The Province has tremendous mineral resources which includes well over 80% of the world’s manganese resource, ample iron ore, diamonds, lime, granite and much more. Therefore, it is no surprise that the Northern Cape has the Gamagara Mining Corridor which has the world’s richest manganese and iron ore deposits in the world. What is very worrying is that this region has been subjected to poverty for many years whereas mining activity is ever-increasing. The surrounding communities are largely neglected and little or no development is taking place. We call on the relevant role-players to effect the action necessary in order that our people live in dignity.

As government, we will take decisive and resolute action to accelerate growth and intensify our programme of economic transformation to overcome the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment which are at the heart of South Africa’s socio-economic challenges.

It is envisaged that the world’s largest manganese sintering plant and mine by Kgalagadi Manganese, owned by women, will serve as a crucial investment to pave the way for local value addition and manufacturing to tackle poverty and issues related thereto.

It is hoped that the mining investment taking place in the iron ore and manganese industries will provide a welcome boost to the construction and other economic sectors. The prospects for the construction sector are expected to improve with the planned construction of the University, the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, the investments in the rail upgrades for the Oryx Iron Ore line and the Sishen-Coega manganese line, amongst others.

The Sishen/Saldanha Rail Investment has the potential to create up to 16,000 jobs in the province. It will also support capital projects such as the Kathu Industrial Supply Park and Meat Processing Plant.

The intention of the Sishen-Coega Line is to increase capacity from 4 million tons to 16 million tons of iron ore per annum. The Presidency appointed DBSA as project managers for SIP5 that will attend to this development.

Mr Speaker, the Northern Cape has been identified as one of the provinces best suited and strategically located for the construction of a number of solar and wind renewable energy projects. These projects will be responsible for creating a number of green jobs in the province and will also contribute significantly to clean energy being transferred to the electricity grid. These projects will also contribute in reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a national level.

Moreover, greening the economy refers to the process of reconfiguring businesses and infrastructure to deliver better returns on natural, human and economic capital investments, while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions, extracting and using less natural resources, creating less waste and reducing social disparities.

Renewable Energy is a sector within the Green Economy and the Northern Cape has managed to create 4709 jobs in the 2nd Bid window which is the highest in all provinces, followed by the Western Cape at 1184 jobs.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are also planning to establish infrastructure for solar parks in the Northern Cape. This will enable private investors to take advantage of economies of scale and develop solar power plants with installed capacity of as much as 5 000 MW.

In partnership with private investors, the Province will achieve more!

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP) has awarded preferred bidder status to certain solar projects to be located in the Northern Cape. These would be South Africa’s first concentrated solar power plants to be built.

It is now abundantly clear that the focus of the Provincial administration on the green economy is starting to pay dividends.

Mr Speaker, as a Province we have taken a conscious decision that we will ensure that the Renewable Energy Sector finds a home in the Northern Cape. As a result we have packaged our application to the Department of Trade and Industry for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on the basis of the Solar Corridor. The Upington Solar Park has an estimated cost of R150 billion for development. We are humbled by the announcement that Upington will become the seat of the Special Economic Zone. In our plans, the Upington SEZ will not only be limited to the Solar Park, but will also include the Electronics Hub, Skills Development and the manufacturing of solar and related components.

Comrades and Compatriots, agriculture remains one of the key drivers of our provincial economy and continues to employ a substantial number of our people. The agricultural potential of this Province is massive for growth and expansion. We have been able to streamline this type of support in order to ensure that the focus is not only on production but on enabling producers to dispose of their produce and most importantly, to actively participate in the value chain.

The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and Ilima/Letsema are amongst the key programmes to provide requisite support to smallholder and black commercial farmers for production and marketing of produce, including value-chain activities.

To this end, R80, 578 million has been allocated in the 2013/14 financial year and will benefit about 4500 farmers. Support includes infrastructure for primary and secondary production, training and capacity building of farmers, research and marketing.

Ilima/Letsema has been allocated R70 million with a special emphasis on assisting farmers to increase production by providing them with production inputs as well as the revitalization of Vaalharts irrigation scheme.

As part of the Agro-processing and value adding initiatives, we managed to implement the following interventions:
85 small holder and 33 commercial farmers are participating in the project. Pasteurization of tea started in May 2011 and created 20 permanent jobs. With pasteurization and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) registration, the factory was able to export its products. On average, 23 seasonal jobs are created annually during the tea intake season. In addition, the project aims to increase tea production by smallholder farmers. The project successfully exported 950 tons of tea and sold 300 tons of tea locally. Currently the factory is processing an order of 350 tons.

Revitalization of Warrenton Super-chicken Project: A chicken abattoir and 5 houses with a total capacity of 45 000 birds per cycle were renovated and temporary jobs were created for the local community. 10 permanent jobs were created with the commencement of slaughtering and the packaging of birds for local consumption.

Mr Speaker, Ramskop Calvinia abattoir is a joint venture between KLK, the Workers Trust, small holder and commercial farmers to promote and support the ownership of market channels by small holder farmers.

Tshwaraganang Hydroponics in Windsorton: The project was supported to put up a packaging facility to package the cucumbers which they sell to Shoprite/Checkers through FreshMark. 18 permanent jobs have been created.

Vineyard Development Scheme: We are collaborating with the Wine Development Trust, the Orange River Wine Cellars and the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) in developing smallholder farmers in the province to be part of the production and processing of selected wine grape cultivars. It has been established that substantial shortages exist for raw material to go through the available cellar capacity, which therefore presents opportunities for the development of additional production units.

The important role of agriculture in food security and poverty alleviation cannot be over-emphasized. Based on landmass and the near organic production conditions, the Northern Cape is producing fruit, vegetables, meat and other products sought by global consumers. This is critical for rural development and employment, thereby ensuring food security for our country.

Moreover, Ladies and Gentlemen, we will continue with intervention programmes that will ensure food security particularly at household and community levels. Emphasis will also be placed on encouraging and supporting households and institutions to establish food gardens and other food security initiatives.

Honourable Members, we remain committed to ensuring that smallholder farmers have increased access to markets. It was in this spirit that the registration of Carnarvon farmers to market through the Karoo Meet of Origin Project was successfully done. In the same vein the provincial government allocated R9.1 million to the Commercialisation of Goats Programme. Through this allocation 94 farmers from various goat cooperatives throughout the Province received skills training.

R1.67million has been made available for the Nguni Cattle Initiative and procurement of livestock will take place when breed auctions occur from August to November each year.

As part of rural development, Comprehensive Rural Development Programmes (CRDP) will continue in Riemvasmaak as well as expanded CRDP sites, namely Schmidtsdrift, Renosterberg, Heuningvlei and Magareng. Focus will also be on CRDP institutional development and support to municipalities in these CRDP sites. The main objective of our rural development programme is to achieve vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities. To this end, it gives me pleasure to report on the following projects:

Riemvasmaak:

• 95% of Bulk water supply for irrigation water has been completed;
• The River pump station, the main supply pipeline, reservoir and the secondary pump station building have all been completed; and
• The irrigation system for the entire area has been surveyed and designed.

Heuningvlei Bulk Water Supply:

• The Bulk water supply pipeline was constructed during 2011/12 financial year; and
• Stock water reticulation systems will continue during the 2012/13 financial year.

In addition, Ladies and Gentlemen, the following enabler will be pursued in the quest for vibrant sustainable and equitable rural communities:

• Establishment of business initiatives, agro-industries, cooperatives, cultural initiatives, vibrant local markets in rural settings and skills development for rural communities.

Ladies and Gentlemen, SKA is another infrastructure project with great potential. The successful bid to host the SKA is a major milestone for the country’s science and technology efforts and development. We are indeed pleased that the Minister of Finance has allocated R2billion for the SKA Project.

The SKA project presents an opportunity to intensively recruit and train young South Africans to pursue careers in the field of science and technology. SKA Africa’s schools outreach programme is equipping maths and science teachers with new knowledge and skills so that they will feel motivated, confident and inspired in teaching these critical subjects. The express aim of the programme is to attract learners to study maths and science in order to meet the demands of a modern economy.

Remember, Ladies and Gentlemen, in 2009, SKA was a mere concept. Today, it is a reality!

In collaboration with the global community, Africa took a giant scientific leap forward!

Already, Ladies and Gentlemen, the project has had a positive impact on the socio economic situation within the area. The town of Carnarvon has benefitted from additional employment opportunities and local guesthouses have witnessed a significant increase in the number of visitors to the area.
Friends and Compatriots, in addition our Province continues to show good development in its tourism market. The unique size and natural conditions in the province effectively positions it to be the prime destination for extreme tourism in terms of culture, nature, heritage and sport. As a fitting example, this enables the province to shortly host the Bloodhound land speed record attempt which is expected to exceed 1 600km per hour. Besides the attempt to set a new land speed record, the project has already implemented programmes to encourage learners to pursue studies in Maths, Science and Technology.

The preparations for the Bloodhound Land Speed Record attempt is another initiative that will certainly strengthen the tourism sector in the province. The preparation for the track is underway and the project has managed to create about 300 job opportunities thus far. It is expected that the event will inject much needed economic activity into the area and also popularise the Kalahari as a holiday and tourism destination to a wider audience instead of just a niche clientele.

The job creation and SMME development initiatives of the Provincial Government are also pursued in the context of strengthening the tourism sector. In the month of September 2012, we hosted the annual Maloof International Skateboarding event in Kimberley. A total of 21 SMMEs benefited from the event with 14 rendering catering services and 7 selling products including, among others, arts and crafts. A number of temporary jobs were also created during the event. It is indeed a step in the right direction that the contractual agreement to stage the Maloof Money Cup has been extended until 2015. To this end, Kumba Iron Ore committed sponsorship of R10 million per annum for the 2012 and 2013 events respectively.

The Maloof Money Cup instilled great interest in our youth to take up the sport of skateboarding, thereby offering many of them a new recreational opportunity.

The extreme brand positioning was realised in terms of visitor spending, youth development and positioning the province as a world class extreme sport destination. To this end, special events have been carefully selected to enhance the provincial extreme brand in the form of the Maloof Money Cup, Kalahari Speed Week and Bloodhound Projects to mention but a few.

Mr Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen, we will invest a total of R2,2billion on road infrastructure development for the 2013/14 MTEF period. Our focus has shifted from roads construction to the maintenance of roads in order to preserve the assets that we already have. The upgrading projects include the Carnarvon-Vosburg, the Hotazel–Tsineng, the Hopetown–Douglas, the Hondeklip Bay–Garies Roads and the Hakskeenpan Project.

In addition, Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow citizens: the upgrading of the Belmont-Douglas Rail Branch line from a 22 km line to 40km line is on track for completion by the end of June 2013. This phase created 130 work opportunities for an estimated period of 11 months. The extent of this upgrade is in the region of R33million and will improve freight rail efficiencies. With its ability to carry full train loads, freight will now move from Douglas directly to its destination.

Friends and compatriots, this year also marks the centenary of the 1913 Land Act. This serves to remind the people of the Northern Cape about the Native Land Act which was passed by the colonialist Union Parliament as part of its efforts to formalise land dispossession of Africans. In his State of the Nation Address last month, President Jacob Zuma stated that exceptions to the cut-off date will be explored to accommodate claims by the descendants of the Khoi and San as well as heritage sites and historical landmarks. We welcome this pronouncement by the President.

It is at this juncture that we, as the Northern Cape Provincial Government, welcome the announcement by National Government on the new level of minimum wage for farm workers from 1 March 2013 to 28 February 2014 pegged at R105 per day for employees who work 9 (nine) hours a day or R11.66 per hour, R525 weekly or R2274.82 per month.

This new offer will surely go a long way in ensuring that we alleviate poverty in the farming community, maintaining labour peace, while simultaneously improving their socio-economic conditions.

Honourable Members, we are pleased with the progress made by Cape Malting House in building a malt producing plant in the Province on the banks of the Modder and Riet Rivers. This is a joint initiative between the Provincial Government, the Industrial Development Corporation and the Foundation for African Business and Consumer Services.

This will bring an investment of R650 million for the construction of the plant which will have a 100 000 ton production capacity per annum. Moreover, the malt plant will see an injection of R400 million per season for the growing of approximately 120 000 tons of barley that will be required for malt production.

It is also encouraging to note that the malt plant will generate additional opportunities for enterprise development (in commercial farming and construction) and employment creation in agriculture. At least 40 new commercial farming enterprises and a further 20 construction and logistics enterprises are expected to benefit. The plant will also create 240 additional farming jobs while protecting the jobs that already exist.

Friends and compatriots, as part of our drive to create jobs, the Community Works Programme (CWP) played a pivotal role in mobilising communities to provide regular and predictable work opportunities at the local level. The Northern Cape consists of eleven CWP sites which are present in 62 of the 194 wards in the Province. The total number of participants in the province stands at 4092, meaning that 4 092 work opportunities were created through the CWP in the 62 wards in the province.

Working with Communities, we registered major successes!

Honourable Speaker, for the coming financial year our target is to create 25 705 work opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The targets for the designated groups are 55% women, 40% youth and 2% people with disabilities.

The province has achieved 46 778 job opportunities after 3 years and 1 quarter which comprises 88% of a target of 53 170 job opportunities.

Ladies and Gentlemen, in our earnest endeavour to alleviate poverty, we launched the Anti-Poverty/Balelapa programme in the Province. This campaign entails the profiling of the most deprived households to identify their specific needs so that they are assisted to access government services and development opportunities. The per family household profiling laid the foundation for identifying service delivery needs across sector departments. With the intensification of the War on Poverty programme, we have been able to complete the profiling.

Of the 221 442 profiled households, a number of 97 093 were referred for services to different Government departments and Municipalities. The collective interventions range from access to services, income and property.

As far as skills development is concerned, the Kimberley International Diamond and Jewellery Academy (KIDJA) has trained 72 students in MQA accredited courses. These students graduated on 30 November 2012, and on 5 November 2012, twenty four disabled students started on a six month diamond cutting and polishing learnership. They are due to complete on 30 April 2013. KIDJA has managed to create eight jobs, six permanent and two temporary, and a further four jobs will be created directly in the forthcoming financial year. It is important to note that all the graduates have been successfully placed with some of them having started their own business.

It is equally important for us to ensure that our young people acquire the necessary skills and expertise to be productive citizens of our society. Skills are crucial to a person’s ability to develop fully as an individual, to live a satisfying and rewarding life and to participate fully in society.

Ensuring that all young people acquire these skills is one of the greatest
contributions that we can make to achieving social justice and equity in our province.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we will support job creation and sustainable livelihoods through accelerating the provision of basic services to communities. While we concede that there is a legitimate concern about the current pace of delivery in some municipalities, we need to renew our focus on the provision of water, sanitation, electricity and housing. In addition, more needs to be done in ensuring better planning, sophistication in municipal responses to urbanisation, spatial reform, and land use management in a way that will give better effect to our human settlements development plans.

Mr Speaker, we also committed ourselves to ensure that all our citizens feel safe and secure and walk the streets freely without any fear of being attacked or mugged. Crime in the province is characterised by extreme levels of violence, housebreaking, the indiscriminate use of the okapi knife, etc. We have launched and sustained the Anti-Knife Campaign supported by conflict resolution and life skills training programmes.

The crime prevention unit has enhanced and sustained existing crime prevention partnerships at station level e.g. Street Committees, Business Against Crime, etc. We have also developed and implemented a Provincial Crime Prevention Strategy targeting opportunities, main contributing factors and conditions in relation to provincial crime problems and hotspots.

The Provincial Government has also actively supported the development of the five (5) year integrated substance abuse prevention strategy and intensified the reclaiming and optimal utilization of Public Spaces/ facilities, coupled with the removal of environmental safety risks and opportunities for crime. This entailed the demolition of derelict buildings, de-bushing of dangerous fields, shortcuts and walk-throughs and increasing recreational facilities and opportunities for the youth.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we must win the battle against crime in whatever form it manifests itself. We highly appreciate the great efforts of the police in fighting crime and we call on all our people to work with the police to combat crime.

We have also recently witnessed the spate of brutal and horrific rape and violence against women and children. These inhumane and barbaric actions call for strict sentences that must act as a deterrent for perpetrators of violent crimes. We call on especially the men in our Province not to abuse women and the girl child. If the situation continues, I assure you that the repercussions will be severe.

Working with our communities, we will and must win the fight against women and child abuse!

We are committed to building a caring society that is based on values of a common patriotism. We will continue to strive to build a South Africa which truly belongs to all who live in it and create a conducive environment, free of crime and corruption, for all to enjoy the hard earned freedom and rights as enshrined in our constitution.

Ladies and Gentlemen, in our endeavour to economically empower the women of our Province, the Provincial Government re-launched the Mme Re Ka Thusa Trust in February this year.

The decision to re-launch the Development Trust was taken by Premier Hazel Jenkins after she uncovered gross irregularities and mismanagement of trust funds. Subsequent to that, she instituted an investigation which established that the Trust funds were indeed misappropriated.

The action we initiated is indicative of the zero tolerance the ANC-led government has adopted against the abuse of state resources.

We have since appointed a new Board of Trustees of highly capable and competent people to oversee the smooth and optimal functioning of the Trust and ensure that it adheres to strict governance principles by being accountable and transparent to the broader public.

Honourable Members, we have invested in health infrastructure and better services, creating centres of excellence in some of our health institutions and expanding the provision of ambulances. The Hospital Infrastructure Grant (HIG) is allocated for both the upgrading and maintenance of health facilities and for the construction of new hospitals in the province.

It therefore gives me great pleasure to highlight the following achievements:

• Completion of the Upington Hospital in the third quarter of this year;
• Design Stage of the Kuruman and Postmasburg Hospitals, Williston Community Health Centre and Kagung Clinic;
• Construction stage of the Deurham Clinic;
• Ga-Mopedi and Novalspond Clinics have reached practical completion;
• De Aar Hospital (TB and Main Hospital) is under construction; and
• The commencement of the construction of a new gateway clinic at Postmasburg Hospital.

In the Northern Cape, Ladies and Gentlemen, access to health services has increased with a total of over 3.3 million patients utilising the Primary Health Care facilities annually. Primary Health Care services are provided by 29 mobile services, 47 satellites clinics, 130 clinics and 33 Community Health Centres.

We have also committed ourselves to intensify the fight against HIV/AIDS and curb its spread. The Province has a total of 27,641 (4,423 children and 23,218 adults) patients on Antiretroviral Treatment (ART).

Progress towards improving TB prevention and Cure has resulted in a 71.7% treatment success rate as well as a 7% TB Defaulter rate. To further improve on these figures we will strengthen the implementation of the TB Diary to effectively record patient follow-up dates and boost training for health professionals on TB, Drug Resistant TB and Infection Control Guidelines.

Ladies and Gentlemen, together we are on course to win the war against dread diseases!

In an endeavour to accelerate the creation of a better life for all and access to quality health care, we have entered into partnerships for the procurement of the following vehicles: 10 Obstetric ambulances in John Taolo Gaetsewe in conjunction with the John Taolo Gaetsewe Development Trust. In addition, 60 Ambulances, 12 Planned Patient Transport Service vehicles and 5 emergency rescue vehicles sponsored by Kumba Iron Ore. These vehicles were officially handed over to the Department of Health in 2012. We extend our sincere gratitude to Kumba for their kind gesture.

Mr Speaker, we committed ourselves to build vibrant and cohesive human settlements with the required infrastructure that are close to areas of economic activities, including social amenities like early childhood development centres, health and educational facilities and sports and recreational facilities. The Integrated Housing and Human Settlements Grant will continue to create various job opportunities and transfer skills to municipalities and communities. Furthermore, we will continue to improve the living standards of the people of the Northern Cape, by focusing on accelerated upgrading of informal settlements, accelerated delivery of human settlement opportunities and infrastructure development programmes to provide access to basic services and the provision of subsidised houses.

The allocation for the Integrated Housing and Human Settlements Grant for the 2013/14 financial year is R366million and we plan to rectify 200 poorly built houses. We have also planned and surveyed 3910 sites, serviced 1719 sites and built 3506 structures. In the 2013/14 financial year, the Lerato Park project in Kimberley will start with the servicing of 630 sites of Phase 2 of the project while the Ouboks Project in Colesburg and the Pampierstad project will complete the last 500 and 422 houses respectively. 3000 title deeds will be issued to beneficiaries and eight municipalities will be assisted with the compilation of housing sector plans.

Furthermore, five municipalities under the National Upgrading Support Programme (NUSP) have also been targeted for technical assistance to plan and budget better for the eradication of informal settlements in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have developed a Provincial Clean Audit Strategy that will assist all departments and municipalities in our attempt to meet the objectives of the 2014 Clean Audit Campaign. This means we will continue to improve our financial management systems in line with the directives and advice of the Auditor-General.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our country’s primary health care system is underpinned by our earnest desire for a clean and healthy environment in which people are adequately housed, have access to clean drinking water, have proper sanitation systems and live in communities with proper waste management and without air pollution.

The following 13 municipalities have been identified for targeted support in terms of the Local Government Turn Around Strategy (LGTAS) as part of the 108 municipalities in the country: Mier, Magareng, Renosterberg, Siyathemba, Richtersveld, Khai Ma, Joe Morolong, Kamiesberg, Kgatelopele, Gamagara, Tsantsabane, !Kheis and Ga-Segonyana. 7 of these municipalities are part of the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA). Provincial and National Sector Departments have dedicated their resources to these municipalities.

Fellow citizens, together we will support our municipalities in their service delivery endeavours!

Friends and Compatriots, to promote environmental sustainability, we hosted the 9th Kimberley Biodiversity Research symposium. It is an initiative to bring local and national scientists together to share their research in the Northern Cape, with special reference to the Kimberley area. It also serves as a communication forum for scientists and managers to network, exchange information and build collaborative relationships.

The five provincial nature reserves with a total upgrade spend of R174million are due to be completed in the first half of this year and will greatly enhance the province’s conservation, environmental and tourism potential. Moreover the upgrades will provide accessible and affordable facilities to Northern Cape residents.

These projects have also provided economic opportunities for more than 50 SMMEs from within the affected communities, ranging from transport to the manufacture of brick-paving.

One of the projects, the revitalization of the Goegap Nature Reserve, was presented with the “Best Provincial Nature Reserve” award at the annual national KAMOSA Expanded Public Works Programme awards.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have identified the need for a green township rejuvenation programme and are partnering with Northern Cape Municipalities, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and private nurseries to create a green blanket across the province.

By the end of December last year, no less than 8372 trees had been planted in the province in terms of its “Talafatsa Buagisanyi - greening my neighbourhood” programme and 109 youths were employed using EPWP principles to nurture and care for the trees.

A further 120 people were engaged in cleaning and greening projects aimed at addressing poverty in areas such as Merriman, Phillipstown, Nababeep, Colville, De Aar and Galeshewe.

At the heart of all these projects is the need to give our present townships a green-facelift, especially considering the history of previously disadvantaged areas and to promote biodiversity initiatives. In so doing, we hope to bring back a measure of civic pride and community upliftment to our people.

Distinguished Guests, sport, arts and culture play an important role in promoting community development, fostering social cohesion, unearthing latent talent, promoting healthy lifestyles and sharpening the minds of children in schools.

Through our slogan “A child in Sport is a child out of Court”, we positively contributed to the government priority of Fighting Crime.

During the past year; we continued with our nation building initiatives by honouring heroes and heroines through commemorative lectures and –plaques and replacing all derogatory names of places.

In August last year, the Provincial Government, in collaboration with the National Department of Arts and Culture, successfully repatriated the remains of Klaas and Trooi Pienaar. The mortal remains of the Pienaars were illegally exhumed from their graves and taken to Austria for dubious scientific experiments. President Jacob Zuma delivered the keynote address at the auspicious and symbolic funeral service of our compatriots whose corpses were stolen from our Motherland.

Friends and Compatriots, together we will never allow the tentacles of colonialism to encroach upon our noble land!

We therefore can assert with dignity and pride that the Pienaars returned to South Africa, not as objects of foreign curiosity in the National History Museum in Vienna, but as human remains that were interred back into the earth of Kuruman.

Our heritage, our diverse culture and our collective future are key fundamentals around which nation building and social cohesion should be premised to deepen national pride, national identity and shared democratic values. In promoting social cohesion, we successfully hosted commemorative days aimed at celebrating the diverse cultures of the country.

The Mayibuye Centre is growing from strength to strength in providing much needed skills training and opportunities for excellence in Sport, Arts and Culture. The Centre managed to provide rehearsal and performance space to drama, dance, music and comedy groups during this past year. It has also expanded its activities to include Dance and Craft. Three hundred and ninety three (393) students were registered for activities in the past year.

Exhibitions on Chief Albert Luthuli were held throughout the province. The landscaping of the Upington 26 memorial site was done in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture. A Book entitled “Resistance in the Northern Cape in the 19th Century” was also published.

In our quest to create employment for young people, we will continue to encourage young people to complete matric, career guidance, learnerships, internships, skills development, job placements together with private sector through the SETA and FET Colleges Partnership approach and other services offered by each and every sector department.

Through our National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) Project of getting young people to work, we have recruited and trained 194 young people in the first semester of the current financial year and the remaining 122 was recruited in January 2013. Additional 50 will be recruited before the end of the current financial year.

Mr Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am certain that the overview of the State of the Northern Cape Province that I have outlined emphasises the crucial role played by the provincial government and its social partners in advancing the initiatives and priority programmes of Government in general.

Friends and Compatriots, I assure you that our programme is continuous and our vision remains the creation of a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa.

In complementing and supporting the work of government, I make an earnest appeal to all the citizens of our great province to join hands with us in combatting poverty, unemployment and inequality.

As a result of these imperatives, our programmes will be constant. Our work, for the period ahead at least, will not be finished and our picture, will perhaps, not be painted. As the great Italian artist Pablo Picasso once remarked “To finish a work? To finish a picture? What nonsense! To finish it means to be through with it, to kill it, to rid it of its soul, to give it its final blow, the coup de grace for the painter as well as for the picture.”

Our finishing touch on landscape Northern Cape will occur when there is equality, no poverty and decent employment for all.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Citizens of the Northern Cape, our work has not ended. Together we will forge ahead in bringing about peace, prosperity and the lifestyle we all desire.

I Thank You