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The Presidential Imbizo, like government's broader Imbizo initiative, provides a platform for face-to-face interaction and engagement between the President and Gauteng residents. The Imbizo gives communities an opportunity to raise their concerns and suggestions directly with the President and, in the President's presence, with the Premier, MECs, mayors and others. In this way, ordinary people are able to hold the three spheres of government accountable and influence governance and service delivery.

The Imbizo is about unmediated communication between government and the people and gives the President and others direct access to what people say and feel about government and service delivery.

Three Presidential Imbizos have been held so far, in Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and the Free State. These have reflected the unique character of these provinces and have met with an overwhelming response from local residents.

The Presidential Imbizo in Gauteng attempts to capture some of the character of the province and government's programmes to build a better life for all.

Gauteng is the country's economic heartland, with impressive levels of investment and economic growth. However, like other parts of the country, it continues to bear the mark of apartheid deprivation and inequality.

The provincial government is addressing poverty, job creation and social needs through a multi-pronged strategy involving:

* Interventions to invest in strategic infrastructure to boost sustainable economic growth and job creation
* Sustainable development, short-term poverty alleviation and the improved delivery of social services
* Measures to entrench good governance and make government work better.

The provincial government's rallying slogan is "Together, creating jobs, fighting poverty" and important inroads have been made in addressing social backlogs and delivering quality services in housing, education, health and social services.

The projects and areas identified for the Presidential Imbizo give an insight into some of the gains made so far as well as work in progress in addressing the significant challenges that remain.

Gauteng Online

Launched in June 2001, Gauteng Online aims to ensure that every public school learner has access to the internet and email by the year 2006 and marks the era of e-learning in public schools. The provincial government allocated R500 million to the project over a three-year period. The pilot phase, which was completed this year, was initially intended to cover 25 schools but was extended to 35 schools. One of these schools is Echibini Junior Secondary School in Soshanguve.

The project is a partnership between the private sector and government. Its fruition will also act as a catalyst for the development of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, high value-added manufacturing and the economy in general. This is in line with the Gauteng's "Smart Province" economic growth strategy as well as the country and Nepad objectives to bridge the digital divide.

Gauteng Online complements the province's broader Maths, Science and Technology strategy, which aim to fast-track this area of learning, particularly in disadvantaged areas and among girl learners. These are just some of the initiatives, which are building a quality public education system in Gauteng, which has seen a 22% improvement in matric pass rates from 1997 to 2001.

Echibini Junior Secondary School was built in 1994 and was officially opened in 1995. Currently, the school has 17 classrooms, 1038 learners and 28 educators.

The school has an ICT laboratory with 25 computers provided by Unisys, part of the industrial consortium, which signed an agreement with the Gauteng Education Department for the Gauteng Online pilot phase. Five educators at the school have been trained in computer literacy. All learners receive computer lessons for an hour a week and use computers for learning in mathematics, English and science.

As envisaged by the Gauteng Online project, the school is also keen to give members of the community access to the centre over weekends, for computer lessons and to stimulate development through access to information and services.

Zivuseni

The Zivuseni project was launched in April 2002 as a public works initiative to create short-term jobs to alleviate poverty. Unemployed people are employed to maintain public facilities such as schools, clinics and community centres. In the process, they acquire both income and skills that they can use to access other income-generating opportunities.

At Echibini School, Zivuseni workers have been involved in the paving, ceiling repairs, painting of gutters and the repairing of window pains.

Gauteng Automotive cluster

The Gauteng Automotive Cluster in Rosslyn and Watloo in Tshwane bring together auto and component manufacturers and suppliers in the same location. Together they are responsible for 40% of the country's production and include BMW, Ford, Nissan and Fiat. The auto cluster brings together government and the private sector to boost investment, production and the efficiency of the sector. A key aspect is human resource development, including both courses at local technikons and plant-based learnerships.

The initiative includes an Automotive Supplier Park in Rosslyn that is to become the centre of logistics, supply and services to the fast-developing automotive industry across South Africa.

Construction has started on the Supplier Park, which will group different technologies, suppliers, and providers that will provide services and products for customers in the automotive industry. It will bring together local and international automotive expertise under one roof, develop supplier management, small, medium and micro enterprises, skills and technology transfer through links with leading South African and international automotive groups. It will offer logistical, security, quality and cost saving benefits for the automotive industry. In addition to the benefits of economies of scale, the clustering of suppliers will drastically reduce the distance between manufacturers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

The Park will concentrate component manufacturers and suppliers in location adjacent to assembly plants and save costs and exploit the latest advances in logistics and processes in the automotive manufacturing chain.

Another key aspect of Gauteng's auto hub is the Automotive Industrial Development Centre (AIDC).

In 2001 Blue IQ launched the AIDC in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Other Project partners include the Department of Trade and Industry, National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers and the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Its purpose is to establish world-class facilities for automotive design and testing, automotive research and development and human resource development.

AIDC is also involved in a number of development programmes; these include government programmes, socio-economic programmes, small medium enterprise/ black economic empowerment business areas and pre-competitiveness activities.

The services of Japanese experts in the automotive field have been enlisted in an attempt to improve the competitiveness of the local programmes. The experts work within the framework of AIDC's hands-on shop floor training programme "Tirisano", a Tswana word meaning working together. This involves working with operators on the shop floor, focusing on the importation and transference of skills, leaving behind a sustainable continuous improvement programme and personnel to implement it.

The AIDC also work with institutions of higher learning in Tshwane to design appropriate courses in the field of automotive manufacturing. In 2001 3 075 students enrolled for these courses.

The AIDC has recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the French university, Institut Superior Des Materiux Du Mans (ISMANS), a world-renowned centre of automotive studies. The agreement will greatly assist the South African automotive industry by combining the two parties knowledge, expertise and resources.

The project has strategically partnered with leading German and South African automotive groups, and has appointed an advisory board combining industry, labour and government.

The AIDC has also established a relationship with the Fraunhofer Society in Germany for the purpose of facilitating the transfer of valuable skills to Gauteng and the country as a whole. A programme of staff and student exchanges has already been put in place.

Greenfields

Greenfields hit the news headlines in 1998 with the eruption of conflict in the area resulting in 20 people being killed and houses damaged. Stability has since been restored in the area and a process is underway to renovate damaged houses. While progress has been made in setting up a local clinic, community hall, sports field and municipal pay point, more facilities are needed.

Social grant registration

Government has emphasized the extension of social grants as an important mechanism in alleviating poverty. These include old age, child support, disability and foster care grants.

While the numbers of people who benefit from grants in Gauteng has increased to close to half a million, there are still people who qualify to receive the grants but have not yet accessed them. This is for a variety of reasons, including a lack of awareness, lack of identity documents or registration of birth. During October, social development month, government and civil society bodies have launched a campaign to promote the rights of children, and specifically to ensure that all those who qualify, register for social grants.

This will be an important feature of the Presidential Imbizo, including a door-to-door volunteer campaign to mobilise residents of Greenfields who qualify to apply for the grants.

Walter Sisulu child and youth care centre

The Walter Sisulu child and youth care centre provides an environment conducive to the care, protection and safe keeping of children and juveniles. This in turn promotes the healthy development of the children and facilitates their reintegration into the community.

The Centre aims to establish job creation opportunities through job creation and social upliftment projects. The centre accommodates 120 children who range from 0 to 18 years of age.

Projects and programmes include:

* Secure care: This provides a therapeutic environment, short-term care and protection of people between the ages of 14 to 18 years, who are in conflict with the law and the community.

* Life skills development programme: A multi-disciplinary team which deals with relationships, problem solving, conflict management and resolutions, goal setting and decision-making, values and norms, sexuality and HIV/Aids awareness, child abuse awareness and crime prevention conducts this programme.

1. Education: A special curriculum is offered which has been adjusted to the needs of the students. Courses offered include computer training, carpentry, home economics and needlework.

2. Services to children and families: A multi-disciplinary team does weekly panel discussions and creates individual treatment plans for each child. Parents and significant others are also involved in this process. Family reunification and alternative care are also facilitated.

* Youth empowerment programmes: The Mpumelelo Youth Organisation was established in 1998. Poverty alleviation projects for the youth include garment making, curtain making, flower arranging and business skills training.

* Poverty alleviation projects: Baking for cash generates income for women who assist in preparing light meals for staff and who also provide catering services for special functions. Other poverty alleviation projects include Unisex hairdresser, gardening, brick making and welding.

* Programmes in places of safety: This includes initiatives aimed at life skills, community outreach, developmental programmes and therapeutic interventions and aftercare services.

* Community outreach and empowerment: The development committee ensures community involvement and participation for Diepkloof, Orlando East and Noordgesig.

The Centre has urged greater community involvement as host families, volunteers, foster and adoptive parents and through financial donations.

Levai Mbatha clinic, Evaton

The Levai Mbatha Community Health Centre in Evaton started to operate officially in April 2000 and held an official opening ceremony on 26 March 2001.

The clinic is named after the late Mr Levai Mbatha, a local resident who was active in the country's liberation struggle.

The clinic provides comprehensive primary health care services, including a youth programme, which was introduced on last year. It is open Mondays to Fridays from 7h00 to 19h00 and on Saturdays and public holidays from 7h00 to 16h00. The maternity unit is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, while the programme which forms part of the National Adolescent Friendly Clinic Initiative is open on weekday afternoons.

The clinic is one of the sites in Gauteng, which provide services to reduce the transmission of HIV from mother to child. By the end of June 2002, Gauteng had extended this programme to 90% of hospitals and 70% of community health centres in the province. Voluntary counselling and testing for HIV/Aids is also provided.

Other services provided include:

* Information and education on contraceptive methods
* Pregnancy tests
* Pre and post counselling for termination of pregnancy and referral for it to the first level of care
* Mother and child care services
* Ante-natal and post-natal care
* Sexually transmitted infections and syndromic management
* Mental health services
* Direct observations therapy system (DOTS) for TB clients
* Oral health services (Dental)
* Adolescent health services

The following are also provided to the public:

* Rehabilitation services and occupational therapy
* Social welfare services
* School health services
* Emergency and laboratory services
* Counselling and health promotion
* Tele-communication and education and workshopping programmes
* Non-governmental services
* Community health committee services
* Integrated management of childhood illnesses
* Cervical screening and breast examination
* Occupational health and safety for personnel
* Medico-legal services
* Reproductive health including pap smears
* Security services
* Admissions
* Pharmacy

Orange Farm title deeds

Orange Farm is an informal settlement that sprung up in the late 1980s following proclamations by the apartheid government that thousands of homeless people from Mshenguville be moved from Soweto.

In 1989, 4300 erven at Orange Farm and Evaton North were provided. In 1991/92 the Less Formal Townships Act, 1991 was promulgated. The objective was to provide interim measures for dealing with the acute needs of urbanisation until a more comprehensive strategy could be developed. Settlement could take place as soon as the land had been surveyed and erf beacons had been placed. Since that time:

* In 1993/94, 11000 informal structures with an average occupancy of 7 per site and 3500 formal houses with occupancy of approximately 5 per site were erected.
* The transfer process started in Soweto in 1995, followed by Orange Farm in 1997, with the first claim being received in February 1998.
* To date 32 241 applications for title deeds have been received from Orange Farm residents.
* More than 29 000 claims have been processed. Of the 8000 that lodged claims, the Registrar of Deeds has processed 3000. The remaining 5000 were to be finalised by the Deeds Office in October 2002.
* It is anticipated that the remaining batch will be registered in 2003.

Bekkersdal

According to local government figures, the population of Westonaria is over 150 000, with a relatively high proportion of migrant workers. Mining is the main activity, with three mines, Harmony, Placada and Kloof mine in the area. However mining and agriculture in the region has declined since 1980.

Unemployment in the area is high and the regional economy has been unable to absorb newly trained job seekers. This is compounded by the fact that people recruited by the mines choose to settle in Bekkersdal even after being retrenched. One community leader refers to the area as the "dumping ground of the mining houses". Another community leader said Bekkersdal is " Mozambique Extension 2" due to the number of migrants from that country.

Bekkersdal comprises a formal residential and seven informal settlements and seven hostels. The informal settlements are Tambo Village, Mandela View, Winnie Section, Spooktown, X-Section, Silvercity and Ghana.

A study has confirmed that informal settlements in the area are located in a dolomitic area, which is not suitable for development. There has been talk around the possible relocation of residents in these settlements. However there seems to be resistance to the impending move and instead these settlements are growing at an alarming rate. In addition, the growth of informal settlements and mushrooming of backyard shacks has placed infrastructure backlogs under even more pressure.

The Gauteng Department of Housing developed Simunye as an area for bondable houses and consists of 1400 residential stands and 220 houses have been completed. The Gauteng department invested R26, 9 million in the form of approved subsidies.

A low cost housing project was started in Simunye Ext 1 in December 2000 and consists of 933 houses. The project will be completed in March 2003. Funding for the project came from the Gauteng Department of Housing with a total investment of R19 million.

In November 2001, a low cost housing project was developed in Simunye Ext 2 and consists of 1 783 stands and 1 547 houses were completed at a total cost of R40, 1 million. It is estimated that the project will be completed by 2003.

Some 8 000 people from disadvantaged communities are on the official housing waiting list. Development in Zuurbekom, Syferfontein and Venterspost is being explored for future residential development.

There is a secondary school and a plan to build a primary school in the area. At TM Lehlake secondary school, twelve mobile classrooms were erected in September 2002 at the existing building to relieve overcrowding. The contractor cancelled the construction of a permanent structure due to the poor quality and non-performance. The contractor has threatened to take the department to court. The school will include twenty classrooms, four toilets blocks, six specialised classrooms and an administration block.

Studies commissioned by the mining industry have confirmed that HIV/AIDS is rampant in Westonaria /Bekkersdal. All local clinics provide basic AIDS care, such as syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections. Home Based Care (HBC) services for terminally ill patients were expanded from one (Kamohelong) to three projects. Two of these are located in Bekkersdal (Bekkerdal West and East clinic) and one in the Zuurbekom area. The Bekkerdal East and West clinics provide services from Monday to Friday, with Bekkerdal West also providing services on Saturday mornings.

The Spooktown, Holomisa, Mandela and Skuurlik informal settlements are serviced by the Bekkersdal West clinic, and Speruperu and the hostel are serviced by the Bekkersdal East clinic. There is no hospital in Bekkersdal and residents are serviced by Leratong Hospital.

Issued by Office of the Premier, Gauteng

17 October 2002