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Master of ceremonies, members of the Western Cape Provincial Cabinet and legislature, heads of provincial departments, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure for me to be present at this function today, not only because we can enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Cape winelands and breathe its unpolluted air, but also because it revolves around an activity that lies very close to my heart and that is the process of empowering and developing people.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is the mission and duty of each and every official employed by the various provincial departments in the Western Cape, to make a direct contribution to the promotion of a better life for all our inhabitants of our wonderful province and also indirectly to the South African community as a whole.

In order to be able to do this, it is of the utmost importance that staff members at all levels are empowered to perform to their maximum capacity. In other words, each official must be trained to perform their duties in an excellent manner and their personal growth and development must be encouraged and nurtured.

The bottom line ladies and gentlemen, is that we simply will not be able to render excellent services without excellent people. That is why the Cabinet of this Province places a high priority on the training and development of staff members at all levels in the provincial departments.

We will always prefer training to token appointments of people not capable of doing the job. It is our strive for excellence that has often led to fingers being pointed at this province at an apparent lack of affirmative action appointments at especially senior management level.

For the information of our critics let me point out that the Kromme Rhee Academy is more than playing its part in this regard. More than 80% of the officials who attend course and seminars at the academy are from previously disadvantaged groups. At the same time training is provided free of charge to course-goers by this province.

I have expressed my commitment to affirmative action and my disapproval of tokenism, but let me remind my critics, that as Premier of this province, I accept my responsibility towards all the people who live here. I am committed to the people and I will deliver to all of them. The Cape Administrative Academy is but one of our vehicles towards this end.

Dames en here, hierdie is 'n mooi en nastrewenswaardige ideaal, maar om dit in die praktyk te verwesenlik beteken dat die nodige geriewe, toerusting, fondse en menslike kapasiteit beskikbaar gestel moet word. Met ander woorde, daar moet in menslike hulpbron-ontwikkeling belê word.

Dit is 'n wet van die natuur dat jou oes in die eerste instansie deur wat jy saai, bepaal word. Hierdie beginsel is ook van toepassing op verskeie fasette van die lewe en ook op dié van die ontwikkeling van menslike potentiaal.

Daarom glo ons hier in die Wes-Kaap, dames en here, dat uitgawes in belang van die uitbreiding en opheffing van menslike kapasiteit, 'n belegging verteenwoordig wat tot sy uiterste benut moet word. Dit moet nooit 'n onkoste verteenwoordig wat tot die minimum beperk moet word nie.

Hierdie mooi gebouekompleks op hierdie historiese plaas waar ons vandag byeengekom het, gee praktiese gestalte aan die ontwikkelingsbeleid van die Wes-Kaap. Hier is dit nie slegs 'n geval van praat nie - hier gebeur dinge !

Sedert die Akademie se stigting twee jaar gelede het dit reeds sy eie identiteit en beeld gevestig. Bande is gesmee met private diensverskaffers, sentrale staatsdepartemente en verskeie provinsiale departemente buite die Wes-Kaap. Daar is selfs op internasionale vlak vennootskappe aangegaan. Dit alles het bygedra om 'n verskerpte fokus te plaas op die bemagtiging van amptenare in ons provinsie.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the new Chief Director, Dr Ivan Meyer, has given us a glimpse this morning of what the future holds and I found his presentation both exciting and gratifying.

It is good to know that his aspect of our activities is being planned and managed professionally according to international standards. We are also pleased and privileged to have the services of dynamic and enthusiastic members of the Council of the Academy, who are playing their part in promoting the Academy and the ideals that it is striving to achieve.

As Premier of this Province, I am proud to be associated with the Cape Administrative Academy and I wish to express my thanks and congratulations to all of the officials associated with the Academy, from the most junior to the most senior, for the sterling work that you are doing.

Well done, but remember that you have only just begun and the challenges of the future still lie before you. My best wishes and active support will accompany you on your journey.

I thank you

Issued by the Office of the Premier, Western Cape, 28 September 2001