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Good morning, and first let me thank those of you in our nine provinces that have shown up for this urgent crisis Telebroadcast. A crisis that involves the whole community, and a crisis that you as leaders of your respective communities can help, control, contain, eradicate and help spread the responsible word about the " Millennium Bug".

It is a "Bug" - as Deputy President Mbeki has said, "does not discriminate".

It touches us all. Business people, families, children, yours and mine, our neighbours in business and pleasure. In all walks of life.

Having thanked those of you who have taken the precious time out, to be together today, to help lead our nation, our community, to combat this "Bug" I would like to add that I am horrified to learn that in some Provinces the attendance has been nothing short of shocking.

I am shocked to learn that many have not turned up. This can only be through total ignorance of the potential problem, or through a genuine lack of care and compassion for the communities represented.

We are servants of the public and we owe it to them to act as such.

Officers who hold high stations, who should have respect for, and honour their appointments.

This lack of turn-out shows very little respect for their positions and the expectations that they have of themselves.

We would all do well to remember the expression, "lead, follow or get out of the way." Today I am talking to those who have taken valuable time to join together - leaders - perhaps the others will follow, but quickly, or get out of the way. I ask you here today to help you get those laggards up to speed. Time is running out.

As you know the Y2K National Decision Support Centre has been entrusted by government in managing the Y2K problem. The Centre is government's mechanism to inform The South African public of the problem, to educate, monitor and help eradicate the problem and plan for contingencies.

We produce regular sector reports which monitor the state of readiness of:

* Parastatals
* Small & Medium enterprises in Business
* The Financial Sectors
* IT
* Industry
* And the Public Sector - to which the majority of you belong.

We are receiving little or no information from your sector. Previously we requested 150 local authorities to complete an audit questionnaire. The response was far from satisfactory. Hence today's Crisis Telebroadcast - to which we have endeavoured to invite all 843 local authorities.

The absence of reliable data, particularly in your sector, has hampered our efforts in the past to develop a realistic understanding of how ready the sector is, and what help you may need, and what contingency plans may need to be put into place.

The latest data, which is still not comprehensive because many refuse to co-operate, does not paint a pretty picture. For example, embedded systems, in the large metropolitan areas are still a big problem - as they are in the manufacturing sector.

In the medium size local authorities, 40% have no contingency plans. One hasn't even started planning at all. Like the large towns they also have a problem in delivering electricity.

Some cities have no Y2K budget, yet they say they've started their plans - a glaring contradiction.
Some have project plans but no time schedules - this is a "Millennium Bug" the timing can not be shifted! It is also clear that town clerks are not taking ownership of the Y2K programme - hence budget shortfalls - or no budget at all.

From the very manner questionnaires have been completed it is absolutely evident the level of understanding of the Y2k problem and management of the problem is extremely poor.

We have the names of the defaulters. Do we have to publish them, or can we please move ahead smoothly? Together, united, as responsible leaders.

Helping each other.

I urge you to fill in the questionnaire in your packs, with all speed and accuracy and utmost honesty.

I also asked you to lead your communities smoothly into the next Millennium.

To prepare them. To educate them about the Bug.

Local authorities are part of the vital supply chain. Not only do some of you supply sanitation, and water, but above all, probably the most essential source that helps drive all types of essential services, utilities, retailing, banking, manufacturing - by that I mean the very spark of most of our lives. Electricity. Examine the domino effect if we are unable to deliver electricity. All services will suffer - that is obvious. Pumps won't pump water, freezers will meltdown in your local supermarkets - food will rot, small grocery stores will suffer. Hospitals can suffer. Business will grind to a halt. Machines will stand idle in manufacturing plants.

Streets will be unlit.

We must all understand, therefore, about our interdependency. You are only prepared as your neighbour. By making sure you are Y2K compliant just is not enough. If any of the people you depend upon are not prepared then by simple association, you are unprepared. They will trip you up.

The domino effect could be life threatening - hence my earlier example about delivery of electricity. And hence, I hasten to add why Eskom, as a good corporate citizen, as a good neighbour has sponsored today's event.

I thank them. The nation thanks them for their concern.

Tsietse Maleho, acting CEO of the Centre will talk a little more about the information packs you have been given, and he importance of today's questionnaire.

I leave you with this thought.

Please continue to lead. You have lead by being with us all today. You have shown your obligation as a leader. You have lead by example. Lead those who are not with us today. Be a good neighbour. Lead by honest disclosure in the Y2K questionnaire, in your packs.

We can only help you, help the nation get the facts, if you give them to us.

So please, disclose, disclose, disclose. Join together and we'll contain the problem. Drift apart, as some have done, for far too long, and the Bug will get us all.

Thank You

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