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Mr Speaker
Honourable Members of the Executive Council

The mandate of this government still remains that of accelerating service delivery as well as to continue with the programme of creating a better life for its entire people.

It is within this framework that we table the Budget of Vote 1, which reaffirms our unwavering commitment to create a better life for all. The main thrust is to

* Create a people's partnership towards economic development and expanded job opportunities
* Push back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment
* Afford development and growth opportunities to the historically disadvantaged communities.

This office is the centre of all government policies. It is therefore charged with the responsibility of consolidating and creating an environment for all departments to achieve our stated strategic goals.

Mr Speaker

Over the past year, we have managed, as the apex of the Northern Cape Government, to engaged in a range of activities as a collective in our relentless effort to make a qualitative difference in the lives of people especially as regards the positions of women, children, the disabled, the aged, the poor and ordinary people.

We have also responded to the developmental needs of women and youth as targeted sectors of society and the most marginalised.

As an office we have embarked upon human resource development programmes and have developed systems for information and technology development so as to have in place an effective public service.

In terms of the Information, Communication and Technology strategy (ICT) we have awarded a portion of the ICT tender to a private service provider. This service will enable our office to plot government delivery geographically as well as at street level.

In this regard, we hope to further promote the optimal utilisation of Information, Communication and Technology services through the rollout of the whole ICT strategy.

We have successfully concluded the first phase of training our mid to junior level managers. We will continue to rollout this programme to officials in the lower ranks of our structure. The programme has been made possible through generous funding from the European Union.

As per directive received from the Minister of Public Service and Administration, all Senior Management Services (SMS) posts within the Northern Cape Provincial Administration were evaluated. In an effort to ensure correct remuneration for work of equal value, individual job evaluation investigations were also performed in the Office of the Premier and line departments.

This office, as part of its leadership role, has also undertaken various initiatives such as the promotion of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the African Renaissance initiative.

We have as the overall policy office facilitated the educational visitation of two of our northern neighbours to our province. These missions specifically were interested in how our system of local and provincial governance operates.

Other programmes steered and implemented by this office include the Africa Day celebrations. This latter day of observance seeks to instil a spirit of African patriotism among all the people of the continent.

Our vision

Primarily our mandate and our vision had always been about radically transforming South Africa into a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous country. This indeed is really a vision that all of us share in the Northern Cape. The work that we have been doing thus far is to ensure that we live up to this particular mandate.

A number of critical indicators broadly reflect the progress that we have made in restoring the dignity of the majority of our people, such as through the provision of clean water, electricity connections, higher and expanded social grants, poverty reduction, the expansion of health services, the construction of houses, clinics, schools and infrastructure development.

It must be stated that my office has attempted to create an environment within which the above basic services could be provided. Examples of these are the developments emerging from, among others, the Memorandum of Understanding between this government and the Development Bank of Southern Africa and their role in the elimination of the bucket system and related projects in the Kgalagadi Rural Development Node.

The Department of Safety and Liaison already benefits from a hefty investment by the public works department in infrastructure development. These include the construction of police stations, satellite stations and mobile police stations in especially disadvantaged areas of the Northern Cape. It is also involved in campaigns to combat social evils such as women, child and substance abuse.

We have succeeded to enhance the culture of education and learning in all our schools. The education department continues to play a leading role through its programme of education reform and transformation. It will also expand the school feeding scheme this year as well as maintain its excellent record of achieving the highest and best results in the country.

We have ensured that social grants for families living below the breadline have increased

The Department of Health is expanding its services throughout the province by constructing well-equipped public hospitals and clinics. We have also succeeded with primary health care in the rural areas.

Built houses and expansion of electricity

Mr. Speaker

We are developing a very highly professional service which will go a long way in creating efficient and effective governance which we are trying to achieve.

The Premier's Excellence Service awards scheme was launched in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Standard Bank to promote a customer-friendly service. These awards seek to uphold the vision of a public service that is renowned for its excellence, innovation, equity and integrity as well as one that delivers on the priorities of the democratically elected government of South Africa

In pursuit of that vision we have committed ourselves to place people first (Batho Pele) by embracing the core values that should underpin our work as public servants namely: humility, honesty, good governance and a great sense of love for the people we serve. As the office of the Premier have played a critical role

Hon. Speaker,

As we sought to improve our work and structures over the past few years, we have succeeded in putting in place effective systems and procedures by re-arranging the Cabinet for better coordination with the social and economic clusters. This was aimed at fostering effective governance and enhancing service delivery.

The "Cabinet Meets the People" programme has over its long lifespan brought together government and people in order for them to interact with one another on matters of common interest and or concern. This programme is a living expression of direct government and public accountability to the people.

The programme as a whole presents a splendid opportunity for the government to listen and to learn from the people on the best ways of speeding up service delivery and of ways to overcome problems in the implementation of service delivery. It also enables us to redress government-spending patterns and integrate service programmes in all spheres of government and across party-political interests.

This programme will be intensified in the coming year with the Executive Council visiting all districts in the Northern Cape. I would once more encourage all MPLs, senior and regional civil servants to attend these sessions as our means to claim collective responsibility and listen to our people as well as to give meaning to the notion of participatory democracy.

Ladies and Gentlemen

The directive of the Human Rights Commission that we should take every action to ensure that no citizen's rights are violated has been applied to the letter.

In this regard the co-operation of various regulatory and non-governmental structures with our office serves as an example of public participation and accountability to ensure that all people of our province enjoy their rightful place irrespective race, creed of belief.

We are pleased to report that we were able to establish an office on the "Rights of the Child" The launch of the Office of the Rights of the Child coincides with the international observance of children's' rights in the month of June. This office will have as its sole mandate to champion the rights and interests of all our children in the province.

This office is strategically located under the policy and planning programme in the Office of the Premier. The decision to embark upon the establishment of an office which will champion the rights of children was taken because some children in our province still live in poverty and under squalid conditions.

Their parents are, for one reason or another, unable to provide adequately for their basic human needs such as food, shelter, warmth, clothing, etc. We see some of these children beg on the streets while yet others search for food in refuse bins.

The government of the Northern Cape is committed towards developing the talents of our children to their fullest potential. We want to empower them to protect themselves from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. We want to help them to meet their own basic human needs and to assist them to develop themselves into the future leaders of this province!

We are proud to say that as a province we have a credible history of ceaselessly attempting to protect our children from the ravages of apartheid; including starvation, malnutrition, poor education, imprisonment, etc. I will remain indebted to all those voluntary agencies that in collaboration with government have attempted to reduce the burden of child abuse and street children. It is a living example of how we together can do better.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Nothing pleases us more than to see our youth fully participate in the new South Africa that we are building. We believe such pursuits are for their own economic advancement and development. We must empower our young people to make a meaningful contribution in the development of our country.

As part of that commitment, we will unveil a number of programmes that are aimed at meaningfully engaging the youth. For instance one youth project per region will be launched during the course of the year.

These projects will address the need for youth economic empowerment but also address the issue of skills development, job creation and entrepreneurship. These young people will own their own small businesses that are part of government's programme of SMME development.

The Youth Commission is taking the mandate that it was given by the youth of the province further by launching the Northern Cape Youth Development Agency (NCYDA). This is a non-governmental organisation which has as its core business the upliftment of the skills levels of the youth in the province.

Similarly, the Office on the Status of Women, in collaboration with several provincial stakeholders, has successfully embarked on the "16 Days of Activism against Violence and Abuse of Women and Children" campaign. This office is committed towards the empowerment and development of women throughout the province.

Our leadership and management, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Affairs and Tourism, will stage in all major centres seminars for women in business after arranging a provincial summit. Our policy resolution to engage women on a 60-40 basis in all government-initiated projects must be realised through this type of engagement.

The support and leadership of our business chambers such as Nafcoc, NOCCI, and the BMF must form an integral part of this process. The leadership of the GFPs is critical from within the public service and amongst our communities and business sectors.

As a government, we continue to play a leading role in eradicating all forms of discrimination, especially discrimination against women, children and people with disabilities.

We have managed to put into place mechanisms for the empowerment and upliftment of persons with disabilities and are currently implementing pieces of legislation in their interest in our bid to transform our society for the better.

The Office on the Status of People with Disabilities has launched a nappy-manufacturing project in Hanover. It will give employment to 25 people with disabilities and owned by them. An Eco-circle project has been established in Calvinia to create possible employment opportunities for 42 people with disabilities. We have through this office employed more persons with disabilities in positions of government.

We will strive to improve yet more on the present dispensation.

On 2 June two regional offices will be opened in Colesburg and another in the Siyanda region respectively.

Honourable Speaker,

We are pleased to announce that the Moral Regeneration Movement was launched in the province in Kathu on Freedom Day this year. This movement seeks to work towards restoring the moral fibre of our nation. Our collective efforts must therefore ensure that we build a caring, peaceful, compassionate and just society.

We are convinced of the ideal that we will make real progress with the question of moral regeneration of our society if we restore the values of respect, honesty, responsibility, integrity, care and support within our families. It is our earnest and sincere hope that the moral regeneration movement will go a long way towards preventing the moral decay of our society.

In this regard I want to emphasise that our churches, schools and institutions of civil society have fought side by side with the liberation movements to contribute towards our new democracy. Our partnership is therefore vital for a morally safe society

Honourable Speaker and Members,

The challenge that continues to confront us in this new century is the scourge of HIV/AIDS. This disease represents by far the greatest challenge to all of us individually and collectively. HIV/AIDS remains the single most menacing threat to the enormous gains and achievements we have made since the dawn of our new democracy.

It is in the light of that scenario that we say all departments must continue to prioritise HIV/AIDS and also that they must continue to work in partnership with all the key role-players in an effort to curb the rapid spread of this deadly disease.

We must keep up our support for those among us who live with HIV/AIDS and seek to raise yet more awareness of HIV/AIDS. We must also mobilise community involvement in the fight against it. We must redouble our efforts to eliminate the stigma associated with people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS if we want to effectively address the epidemic.

Honourable Speaker,

The total budget appropriated for the 2003/ 04 financial year for the Office of the Premier amounts to R68, 167 million. This amount represents an increase of 13 % when compared to the previous year's allocation. Close to 5% of the current increase is by way of funds earmarked for specific purposes.

The appropriated funds have been allocated as follows: Programme One, which is made up of the following units, Cabinet, Management Services and Legal Services: R37, 394 million.

Programme Two, which consists of the Premier's Ministry, Policy and Planning, the Office on the Rights of the Child, the Office on Persons with Disabilities, the Office on the Status of Women, the Intergovernmental Relations unit, the Youth Commission and the One Stop Shop Service Centre: all of them combined received a total allocation of R30, 773 million.

Our ratio of personnel to non-personnel budget items is 47% and 53% respectively. This is a marked improvement in the situation that reigned years before

During the opening of the state of the province address at the beginning of this year, I indicated that we are confident that this government is using all its resources to change the quality of life of our people. We will continue to develop and strengthen our strategic partnership for the benefit of our people. We will also pay urgent attention to building our economy and reduce poverty.

We will continue to search for crosscutting partnerships with private sector players in our bid to help stimulate the economy to provide more jobs and growth prospects. We have also in conjunction with our national government counterparts launched several growth stimulation initiatives, including the hosting of an economic expo as well as seminars that included especially players from the minerals enrichment industry.

I also call on the private sector and non-governmental organisations to pledge their full support towards job creation initiatives and poverty alleviation programmes to turn the tide against poverty. We must all put our shoulders to the wheel to fight against poverty. Now that we will launch the institute of higher learning on 23 June, the need is more urgent to private/public sectors to pool resources to capacitate our people.

Ons is oortuig dat ons op die regte pad is. Niks kan ons keer nie, enige struikelblok sal uit die weg geruim word om 'n beter lewe vir al ons mense te skep.

Government has embarked upon a major identification document (ID) drive to help as many of our citizens to gain access to government social and other services.

We call on you to identify areas where such assistance is required and participate voluntarily with my office and the Department of Home Affairs.

We thank the members of the legislature for the dedicated way in which you have scrutinised the budgets, programmes and outcomes.

In conclusion,

We pledge to be of service to our people at all times to improve their quality of life for the better.

I thank you

Issued by Northern Cape Provincial Government

29 May 2003