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Programme Director

Members of the Executive Council
Speaker and Members of the Provincial Legislature
Chairperson of the Women’s League
Members of the Alliance partners
Fellow mourners
Ladies and Gentlemen 

“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s”. This is the reassurance given to us by our Heavenly Father in the book of Romans chapter 14, verse 8.

Last week Friday morning the people of the Northern Cape Province were greeted with the sad news of the passing of one of our most trusted and beloved daughters in the Province. As we gather here today, we still lack the words to adequately describe the great sense of loss that we feel as a Province and the greater South Africa.

We are comforted by the fact that our former MEC for Education, Comrade Grizelda Cjiekella-Lecholo, lived a life that was mainly dedicated to the wellbeing of others. As an outstanding leader, from a very young age; Comrade Zelda made a remarkable contribution to the development and transformation of the society she represented. She has left an indelible imprint in the struggle for the liberation of our people. She has built a great reputation as a politician and a woman of principle.

Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the Northern Cape Provincial Government, I want to give thanks for the exemplary and inspiring life of the person that we knew in life as Grizelda Cjiekella-Lecholo. As a member of this Provincial Government she was held in high esteem and one could always feel her presence because she was so confident and had an infectious laugh that could brighten up the dullest day.

I know that there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that she was an outstanding community leader with a bubbly personality who has made a huge contribution to this Province. We often refer to the Northern Cape Province as a Province of extremes. Today I want to pay tribute to our departed colleague, friend, sister, confidant and an ambassador in the fight for women’s rights and the rights of the vulnerable; by saying that she was by all definitions of the word an extreme human being. Comrade Zelda was a woman of extreme courage, extreme determination, she possessed extreme leadership qualities and because of her extreme sacrifice she has helped us to create that better life we aspire for all our people. 

Although we are saying goodbye, you will remain forever in our hearts and on our minds. We thank you for the light that you were in our lives. We are also grateful to our Heavenly Father that he allowed you to share your life with this beautiful Province. 

Your work is done, your hands are at rest, and we will continue to honour you by building on the foundation that you have laid. The morning of Friday, 28 August 2015 will forever be remembered as a day that the Northern Cape Provincial Government and its entire people were shocked into silence. We are sad but we have not lost hope. Today I want to rewrite the words of Romans chapter 14, verse 8 by stating that; “For when MEC Grizelda Cjiekella-Lecholo lived, she lived to the Lord, and when she died, she died to the Lord. So then, whether she lived or whether she died, she was the Lord’s”. 

 Let us take solace in the fact that you lived a life that was not for yourself but for the well-being of others. May the family find comfort in the fact that their daughter, sister, wife and mother dedicated her entire life to improve the lives of her fellow human beings and her efforts, although we can never repay her, have not gone unnoticed. 

We will continue to honour her. Rest in eternal peace our dear sister and friend.

I thank you

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The Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosi PS Barek
Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Legislature
Honourable Members of the Executive Council
Esteemed Members of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders
Distinguished Guests,

Let me start off by extending my appreciation to the House for inviting me to this august occasion, marking the 3rd Session of the Second House of the Northern Cape Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.

As you are aware, the House of Traditional Leaders is an important organ of the state established by the Traditional Leadership and Governance  Framework Act 41 0f 2003, primarily charged with the responsibility of advising government on matters of culture and tradition.

The fact that a major part of our province is largely rural; it implies that a significant number of our people are under your jurisdiction as traditional leaders. This speaks to the huge task you have on your shoulders as traditional leaders in the Northern Cape. The role you have to play in shaping our democracy and building an egalitarian society is therefore insurmountable.

As President Zuma stated on the occasion of the sitting of the National House of Traditional Leaders this year, you should help us answer the following questions going forward:

• How do we as a country, ensure that the institution of traditional leadership and communities occupy strategic positions within our democratic system, at national, provincial and local level? 
• How do we ensure the involvement of the institution in government programmes and allow it to contribute towards job creation and the improvement of the quality of life of the majority of our people? 
• How do we ensure that our democratic system operates efficiently and recognises the existence of the traditional system of governance? 
• How do we build a symbiotic relationship between the two systems of governance? 
• How do traditional institutions give expression to the democratic ethos and practice of our country and the development of our children and youth as leaders of tomorrow?

The President went further to state that, “The answers to these critical questions will define the relevance of the institution of traditional leadership and communities in the current social, political and economic environment”.

Chairperson,

Over the past twenty one years of freedom in our country, successive administrations were hard at work in an effort to build working relations with the Institution of Traditional Leadership. Together we have recorded milestone achievements in respect of legislation and systems we have put in place.

The existence of this very House at all three spheres of government, the promulgation of Traditional Leadership Governance and Framework Act, the appointment of support staff in Traditional Authority offices and the envisaged Traditional Council are in themselves evidence of the success of our partnership.

Nevertheless Chairperson of the Houses, we have come to the opening of this august House, conscious of the many challenges that still require our collective attention and action.

The establishment of traditional councils as directed by the Act is obviously long overdue. The resolution of all outstanding matters related to the tools of trade for traditional leaders, the construction of decent offices, let alone outstanding leadership disputes and claims cannot be overemphasized.

In is in this context that the House is called upon to help government to move with the necessary speed towards the finalization of these matters.

Chairperson,

A chilly winter season is literally upon us, a season that in the context of our tradition in the province is known also as the Initiation Season. Hundreds of parents will again surrender their children to your care as traditional leaders so that you can help initiate them into manhood.

This is not just an annual ritual; it is a cornerstone of our tradition and cultural practices.

Over the years, we have, as Government tried our best to offer support to you as traditional leaders to ensure the dignity of the traditional initiation practice. We have done this because of mushrooming opportunistic elements who have sought to abuse this sacred practice of our people for commercial ends.

Because of this narrow and at times even criminal pursuit for profit, we have in the past lost lives unnecessarily. This is obviously not good for the image of this important practice. There is absolutely no reason, whatsoever, for any person to run an illegal initiation school. Those who are hell-bent on doing things the wrong way are unfortunately doing so at the peril of our culture.

We should obviously not allow them to continue with their self- serving and criminal acts. We should stand up for our culture which is our heritage. No one should be allowed to spoil this noble cultural practice of our people.

I must however, commend the able leadership you have demonstrated over the years. Despite diversity in customs and practices, you have done very well minimizing and avoiding deaths at our initiation schools. We will be happy to record no such deaths, because one life lost is one too many.

And for this to happen, you must accept the challenge to ensure that all initiation schools in your jurisdictions are properly approved and run in accordance with the mutually agreed guidelines and the law. If we do not do this, we will be auctioning our culture to the altar of Western practices.

Having said this, our request is thus that you spearhead the process of drafting the Provincial Initiation Bill to address and regulate initiation schools in the Province.

Chairperson,

Beyond the preservation and advancement of their culture and traditions, our people put their trust in you for the economic development of their communities. Those communities that are still without drinking water, electricity, proper roads and decent sanitation look up to you to work together with local authorities to ensure that these services are provided.

The communities that still yearn for infrastructure development necessary to unlock economic opportunities rely on you to work with local government to ensure that such developments takes place.

The truth is that with infrastructure investments such as the development of townships in rural areas, shopping malls, filling stations, road constructions and many such activities, our people are able to find jobs and other economic opportunities for their livelihoods.

It is in this context that you should be seen working for development and not to be mistaken to be working against development of your communities. At the same time, you are not expected to merely be on the sideline of development in your communities, you must lead and direct such a development.

As I said earlier on, the democratic government has put in place sufficient legislative framework to ensure better working relation between municipalities and traditional councils on matters related to rural development. Let us explore these mechanisms for the benefit of our people.

Chairperson,

We are committed to restoring the dignity of the institution of traditional leadership, because this is the most authentic leadership of our people. It is in this context that that national government has begun assisting traditional institutions with the necessary tools of trade that will enable them to provide services to the communities.

In our Province, through the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, we have acquired vehicles and accompanying petrol cards for our Traditional Leaders to assist them in serving our communities optimally.

You would also be happy to note that the National Traditional Affairs Bill is being processed to address the thorny issue of disparities in the treatment of traditional leaders. The President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, this year in his state of the Nation Address also made a commitment to sign the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership and Governance Bill before the end of this year.

In conclusion Chairperson,

I have no doubt that as the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders you will always raise with us as government those issues that affect not only yourselves but your communities. I am confident that you will henceforth elevate your voices in various Municipal Councils you sit in for the benefit of the constituencies you represent.

I must also emphasize that this government will always depend on your support, as traditional leaders, in carrying out its mandate and obligations, especially in the rural communities where the majority of our people come from.

We have come this far working together, and united in action, we must do more to accelerate the delivery of services to our people.

Let us learn from the words of Pixley ka Isaka Seme. In his article entitled the Native Union in which he motivated for the establishment of the now African National Congress, in October 1911, Pixley ka Isaka Seme stated the following; “Co-operation is the key and the watchword which opens the door, the everlasting door which leads into progress and all national success. The greatest success shall come when man shall have learned to cooperate, not only with his own kith and kin but with all peoples and with all life”.

We look forward to working with you this year in advancing the provincial priorities to improve the lives of our people.

Together we move can move the Northern Cape Province forward.

I thank you.

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Programme Director
Honourable Minister of Mineral Resources, Adv. Ramatlhodi
Honourable Members of the Executive Council
Honourable Mayors and Councillors
Mine Management
Leaders of our Social Partners, Business; Labour and
Government officials
Ladies and Gentlemen
Members of the media

It is particular pleasing and heart-warming to have the Honourable Minister of Mineral Resources in our midst again. Particularly more so after he made true to his commitment during the Imbizo programme earlier this year that he will return for a mining conference. This has always been the culture in the ruling African National Conference to honour our commitments and make good on the promises made to our people. 

 It is a great pleasure for me to be part of this important engagement that seeks to address challenges faced by our small scale miners. As Government we have the responsibility of addressing poverty and inequality. You might ask how this fits in with mining but in a Province such as the Northern Cape, mining and mineral wealth has the potential to lift people out of poverty and create that better life that we all aspire to.

The Northern Cape Province has a unique socio-economic profile underpinned by its massive landmass with a very low population density. This is combined with a brilliant resource profile and an adequately developed infrastructure that is able to service the socio-economic priorities of the Province.

Mining in the Northern Cape has a history of prime boom and extraction of resources with no local value add and departing while leaving local communities worse off than before. The Province, as stated, has an enormous resource profile and added to that is the supply of goods and services to these sectors. What needs to be considered is the related potential of adding value to the primary resources produced in the Province and by that I mean beneficiation.

The rich mineral profile of the Province ranges from diamonds, iron ore and manganese to granite and rare earths. It has been mentioned in many economic strategic documents and commentary that the nature of not only the Northern Cape economy is characterized with and abundance of economic activity in the primary sector where we have little activity in the tertiary sector. 

This does not mean that there are not enormous possibilities for trade and investment potential. Possibilities range from exporting iron and manganese to polishing diamonds, manufacturing jewellery from tiger’s eye, constructing an iron ore smelter and investing in the Kathu Industrial supplier park to manufacturing and assembling goods required by the mining sector.

This is only but a sneak preview of the Province’s dependency on the Primary sectors such as Mining and Agriculture to assist in creating jobs, alleviating poverty and rooting out inequality. Important therefore is growing this economy and also making it possible for trade to become a possibility because trade is a key indicator of a country’s competitiveness and development in the globalised economy.

We therefore make a call to investors to maximise job opportunities for local people and strengthen linkages with local markets and supply chains. Crucial is the promotion of transparency and respect for human rights and dignity. 

As Government it is our responsibility to ensure that we challenge how the resources are managed and we need to be assured that the benefits from extracting, benefit society and that they will be utilised for the long-term development of the Province. As stakeholders that are gathered here today we need to ensure that mining delivers tangible benefits for local communities, making sure that the most vulnerable in society are protected. And central to this is great consideration and appreciation for the natural environment that mining depends upon. 

Working together with all the sectors of our society, we need to radically change our economy. The radical approach we are adopting moving forward, requires the mobilisation of all sectors of society to accelerate economic growth, create jobs and reduce inequality.

I want to emphasise that transformation of the economy generally and the mining industry specifically should not be misconstrued as an event, but a journey and that transformation remains at the centre of development of this Province and South Africa as a whole. Minister, I am sure that during your engagements with our people you would’ve found them to be warm and willing to grab any and every opportunity to make reality of that vision of a better life for all.

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Programme Director
Honourable Mayor and Councilors
CEO of Mintek, Mr. A, Mngomezulu
Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the Northern Cape Provincial Government to congratulate you on the launch of the Upington Semi-precious Gemstones Training & Beneficiation Project, which is a partnership between Government and the private sector. This is an exciting launch indeed for the Northern Cape Province and for Upington in particular.

Mining in the Northern Cape has a history of prime boom and extraction of resources with no local value add and departing while leaving local communities worse off than before. For this reason then, projects such as these that serve to improve the lives of citizens through skills development, job creation and local economic development, are welcomed and encouraged.

It has been mentioned in many economic strategic documents and commentary that the nature of the South African economy is characterized with and abundance of economic activity in the primary sector where we mainly find natural resources, which include mining and agriculture. The picture however changes somewhat when we move to the secondary sector, where manufacturing takes place, and we see minimal performance, and then when we move to the tertiary sector, where we find retail, that’s where we realize another spike in economic activity.  This in essence implies that, though we have an abundance of natural resources, most of their processing or value addition is not happening within our shores.  The spike then in our tertiary sector where consumer action prevails, implies that we end up purchasing products from some of our own processed and value added natural resources making their way back to us from outside the country.
 
Due to the fact that products are being imported it would mean that we are purchasing products that were processed from our natural resources at an exorbitant price. These are mainly the reasons why we experience a large scale performance within the tertiary sector, and very little performance within the secondary sector.

Programme Director, according to the Beneficiation Strategy for the Mineral Industry of South Africa, our country has over the years, steadily improved its ratio of beneficiation to primary products exported since the 1970s. Of concern is the fact that these ratios are still well below the potential suggested by the quality and quantity of its mineral resource endowment. 
Given this scenario, the Government’s industrialization policy calls for a paradigm shift in mineral development and more so in the manufacturing sector.  In order to give effect then to this decision, various initiatives have been undertaken by Government to act as a catalyst and steadily work towards the realization of the intended paradigm shift.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, some of these initiatives include the establishment of agencies such as MINTEK which is an institution entrusted with the mandate; to amongst others, provide strategic, technical guidance and assistance with development of incubators for manufacturing.  Such manufacturing will also be making use of some of our own natural resources.  As it is, the Northern Cape has an abundance of semi-precious or ornamental stones.  We also have an abundance of a peculiar stone called the Tiger’s Eye which prevails around the Prieska, Niekerkshoop and Griekwastad belt.  The establishment of such incubator initiatives is very crucial for the Northern Cape.

Programme Director; in our Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS), Manufacturing and Mineral Beneficiation have been identified as very key catalytic sectors that will assist in the realization of our targets for provincial economic growth and creation of employment.  Our Economic Cluster, which is led by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDaT), has over the years worked closely with MINTEK on various initiatives.  We thus find it very encouraging that a similar initiative to this has been established at Prieska, and the Department is also assisting the beneficiaries with entrepreneurial coaching and mentoring and also assistance with access to markets.
 
To this end, the beneficiaries of this project were assisted to exhibit their products at the BRICS EXPO that was held in Kimberley during October last year.  What I find even more pleasing is that most of the beneficiaries at these incubation centres are youth.  Allow me thus to express our appreciation to the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) for their involvement in these initiatives.  We are aware that we do still experiences challenges with youth unemployment and this has a direct impact on some of the social ills that we are experiencing. We therefore applaud these initiatives because they are positive contributors to youth development.

An observation however that we have made through our interaction with SMMEs and Co-operatives in the Arts and Crafts manufacturing industry, is that sometimes our business entities do not derive lucrative revenue or sales from their products.  The observation is that, either the quality of their products is of a low standard when compared to their competitors, or either people do not have disposable income to purchase ornamental products.
 
What is interesting though, especially in the jewellery industry, is that businesses are still thriving.  This therefore implies that there is a thriving market for jewellery. Adequate research should be undertaken, supplemented by good quality training to ensure that products of our beneficiaries can carve themselves a niche in the market.  Beneficiaries should also be awarded more exposures at exhibition pavilions so as to empower them with research on the competition out there, which will prompt them to “up their game” and compete at the same level

In conclusion, as the Northern Cape Provincial Government, we support this initiative and we also request that other organizations, departments, businesses, also work together with MINTEK to ensure that initiatives of this nature become a huge success. Be assured of our best wishes as you mark this important milestone aimed at serving the best interests of the citizens of this beautiful, vast and mineral-rich Province.

I thank you.