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Madam Chair
Honourable Members

While it is the delivery of services to our people that has turned the tide in our country, let us discuss what it is that the national Department of Public Works contributes -in particular in ensuring that South Africa has a built environment sufficient to the needs of the State.

Capital Works

Ten years ago the Fixed Asset Portfolio of the State was regarded as nothing but bricks and mortar to house the machinery of the state in its heinous activities against human rights. Today our government has added a human face to this function.

Our capital works portfolio has inherent socio-economic opportunities, which include:

i) The provision of conducive physical space out of which other government departments can work as they record improved public service delivery milestones
ii) The promotion of Black Economic Empowerment, particularly in the property and construction industries, which are the direct and main beneficiaries of Public Works capital works investment.
iii) The stimulation of the construction and building industries as catalysts of the reconstruction and development programmes including infrastructure development, job creation and human resource development as enshrined in the President's vision of the Expanded Public Works Programme.

For the second consecutive year, the national Department of Public Works has succeeded in spending almost 100% of its Capital Works budget of R1 631 billion (We spent R1.623 billion) as well as all R557 million of its maintenance budget.

In 2003/2004, the national Department of Public Works, providing and managing accommodation for the State, will operate a capital works budget totalling R1, 9 billion. This includes the entire building programme that the Department manages.

Per province, this capital works budget will expend in:
* Gauteng - R690 million.
* Western Cape - R368 million
* KwaZulu-Natal - R217 million
* Eastern Cape - R212 million
* Free State - R143million
* North West - R127 million
* Mpumalanga - R58 million
* Northern Cape - R57 million
* Limpopo - R36 million.

Total: R1.9 billion

Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal accommodate our prestige clients namely:

* Presidency
* Ministerial complexes
* Parliament
* Union buildings.

With an allocation of R900 million in 2003/2004, the Department of Correctional Services is the largest investor with the Department of Public Works for the improvement of its physical accommodation.

Others are Justice (R229 million), SAPS (R208 million) and Arts and Culture (R145 million), among the top four.

In line with government's strategy to prioritise security and crime prevention, projects for the Department of Correctional Services, South African Police Services and Justice assume a special importance.

Executing the commissions on behalf of our client departments, we highlight some projects:

Department of Correctional Services Projects

A major step in the development of prisons in South Africa today is the New Generations Prison initiative. Together with DCS my department is involved in the design of a prototype prison, which would result in the converging of all prison demands in a functional, efficient facility to produce cost effective operation and maintenance without neglecting the legal and social objectives necessary in a correctional facility. Innovative developments include reduced numbers of inmates in a unit that is individually managed and controlled as opposed to the traditional system. This facilitates and enhances the rehabilitation of offenders. The procurement of these facilities will be in support of Black Economic Empowerment, as projects will be packaged into smaller contracts. The prototype is planned to be rolled out throughout South Africa, with 4 initial projects planned to go out to tender this financial year in Kimberley (Northern Cape), Klerksdorp (North West), Nigel and Leeuwkop (both in Gauteng).

As a strategy to reverse the maintenance backlog on our fixed properties, we started the Repair and Maintenance Programme (RAMP) about three years ago. Correctional Services was among our initial clients on RAMP. Today all prisons in South Africa are under varying stages of RAMP and the programme represents a major component of capital works. Prisons at Kirkwood, Port Elizabeth, Mdantsane, Middelburg and Middledrift are some of the facilities where RAMP is being implemented as part of the R83 million DCS capital works budget implemented by the Department of Public Works in the Eastern Cape.

In Mpumalanga, major RAMP projects are currently in progress at Barberton, Witbank and Bethal as part of the R47 million Correctional Services investment.

In KwaZulu- Natal, besides RAMP projects, my Department has finalised and handed over the R58 million Housing Project at the Empangeni Prison where 84 single quarters and 178 houses were constructed for the Correctional Services personnel. Major renovations and upgradings are continuing at the Durban-Westville Prison as part of our R141 million capital works budget in KwaZulu-Natal.

South African Police Services Projects

After lengthy deliberations, the South African Police Services are the latest entrants to join RAMP.

In the Free State, R30 million worth of capital projects are being executed. These include the construction of proposed police stations at Thabong, Namahadi and Batho near Bloemfontein.

Almost every province has acquired a Community Safety Centre as part of government's integrated approach to fighting crime and creating a safe and secure environment. Most of these safety centres were built and handed over to SAPS as the lead department. These include:

* Thembalethu near George, (Western Cape)
* Khutsong (Gauteng)
* Leboeng (Mpumalanga)
* Tsidilamolomo (North West)

The construction of the R28 million Galeshewe Community Safety Centre near Kimberley is progressing very well and we expect the centre to be operational in early 2004.

Centane Community Safety Centre in the Eastern Cape is also finished and is awaiting official opening.

The Western Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal have similar centres. A Community Safety Centre near Welkom in the Free State is under planning.

Namahadi (R27 m) and Batho (R12, 4 m) Police Stations in the Free State as well as Tsolo (R10, 5 m) in the Eastern Cape are already under construction.

Justice Projects

Several major justice projects were completed in the past financial year, notably the Khayelitsha and Kuilsrivier / Bluedowns Magistrates' Offices near Cape Town. Those under construction include Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape; Pretoria North, Randburg, and Tembisa in Gauteng, to name a few.

Major upgradings are underway at the Pietermaritzburg Old Magistrate's Court (R6, 8 million) and Pietermaritzburg Colonial Building (R14, 4 million) in KwaZulu-Natal).

Department of Defence Projects

My department has focused special attention to address the dolomite problems in Defence occupied areas in Thaba Tswane with special reference to the Waterkloof Air Force Base. This project has currently been rolled out to cover the rest of the affected area. The emphasis is on activating an early warning system, monitoring and remedial actions. Furthermore a new communication tower is being constructed at Waterkloof Air Force Base. A major repair programme is underway at the Dry dock in Simons Town where the new Navy Headquarters, currently in the design phase will also be situated.

Additional accommodation and renovation work are underway at the Hoedspruit and Louis Trichardt Airforce Bases respectively in the province of Limpopo.

Department of Arts and Culture

For Arts and Culture we were commissioned to expend R54, 8 million on museums and other projects in 2002-2003.

Department of Environmental Affairs Tourism

A new facility for weather observation and scientific research on Marion Island to the value of R117 million over three years is being planned to replace the existing deteriorated infrastructure.

The RAMP initiative has also been applied to upgrade fishing harbours in order to provide vital support to the fishing industry in the Western Cape. Currently 15 contractors have been appointed at 8 harbours. This is for a contract value of R85 million, opening up 900 job opportunities. On schedule for the end of 2004 we are looking at 27 contracts at all 12 fishing harbours with a contract value of R161, 5 million and 1 700 job opportunities.

EPWP

Following the announcement by the President in February of an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) the Department is taking concrete steps to ensure that the concept of an expanded public works programme is fully understood and supported within and outside government. Though co-ordinated by the Department of Public Works, this is a national effort which will mean the participation of government, business, Unions and civil society in general.

Part of our challenge is to ensure that the objectives of the EPWP are properly understood. These objectives are:

* Job creation
* Poverty alleviation
* Investment in social and economic infrastructure
* Human resource development through the training of participants.

The key focus areas where Public Works is in a position to optimise contributions are:

* Labour based methods: Optimal use of labour while ensuring cost-effectiveness and safeguarding quality, primarily within the construction industry.
* Emerging contractor support programme: SMME development and support, to have resources circulate within communities and create capacity for maintenance.
* Procurement policy: Ensure policy responsiveness, uniformity and adjustment throughout all spheres of government
* Monitoring and evaluation: Ensure mechanisms to track developments, focus on objectives and targets.

Community Based Public Works Programme

Since 1999 until the end of 2002-2003 we achieved a total of 2 517 rural infrastructure projects with 106 000 job opportunities created. A total of 39 125 jobs were taken up by women, 47 323 by the youth and 2 249 by people with disabilities. More than 3 273 sustainable jobs were created.

The Community Production Centres and the 37 operational MPCCs have made a big difference to the lives of our people, they are really turning the tide.

CPC's

The Lambasi CPC is producing an average of 2 500 tons maize per year in an area of +-500 hectares. Mealies: Sales on an average of 1 - 300 tons realised R2, 6 million. Chickens: The 80 000 sold in the past financial year have realised R1, 3 million.

At Ncora they are selling cabbage from 10 hectares for over a month with sales up to R40 000 paid for. The seedlings for cabbages were produced by a nursery run by locals.

A group of women has been established that, with technical support from the Agricultural Research Council, is experimenting in the production of herbs.

At the Highlands CPC, of the 640 hectares fenced. 100 of have been put under maize.

Partnerships with the Department of Agriculture Mass Food Production will consolidate and extend the benefits to about 400 households. With 10 hectares under cabbage about R20 000 has been raised on one hectare.

The Keiskammahoek CPC entered into a community private partnership between smallholding farmers and Clover. Irrigation infrastructure is currently under repair. A refurbished dairy is being used for the milking of 51 cows.

At Elandskraal CPC in Limpopo the community is benefiting from the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure while approximately 290 small farmers are engaged in reaping the winter wheat crop for subsistence consumption and local markets.

The Upper Arabie CPC in Limpopo covers approximately 540 hectares is supported by around 400 small scale farmers. The community will benefit from the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure.

The Cairn Lemon CPC in Mpumalanga has a management partnership arrangement with a commercial farmer. The community is benefiting from the rehabilitation of bulk water supply, the development of a lemon orchard, and the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure.

This CPC has a secured market with Coca-Cola, which is their primary market.

In KwaZulu-Natal the NDAYA CPC measures approximately 18 hectares, and is managed by a group of 18 local women and 5 men.

The community is benefiting from the development and fencing of arable land and the provision of infrastructure, i.e. a pack house, storage facilities, toilets, a crèche, and a road.

The CPC produces a variety of crops,. i.e. potatoes, green peppers, cabbages, butternut, etc

The produce is sold to local hawkers, and the town market.

Profits are shared between members, and dividends are based on the members' contribution to the crop production.

The CPC has a nursery that provides the seedlings for cropping.

At the Makhathini Flats CPC (KZN) Public Works has completed the infrastructure provision. The Provincial Department of Agriculture is busy with production and development.

The Schmidsdrift CPC in Northern Cape serves 770 households who farm in goats and sheep.

The provision of fencing and the rehabilitation of the water supply, will enable them to graduate from subsistence to a commercial level of farming.

Honourable Members, I would like to invite the provinces to identify and suggest such tracts of land that could be suitable to community production centres. Many people stand to benefit and we can together fight the battle of poverty, in particular through food production. The partnership we have with the Department of Agriculture is sure to pay dividends.

In an effort to keep the projects sustainable, in 2002-2003, an allocation of R6.5 million aimed at revitalising projects was given to municipalities. Mostly youth was targeted to work on these. Positive results were obtained and the lessons learnt will avoid the creation of future to white elephants.

Construction Industry

Public Works will be initiating a process of transformation via a framework this year in partnership with other infrastructure departments and the private sector - this will culminate in a transformation charter.

To promote the construction industry as an asset of the country and to attract young students into the industry, the DPW will be driving the campaign to establish a construction industry development week.

Another initiative will be the incubator programme - the objective of this programme is to provide sustainable work opportunity, training and access to finance, to black construction enterprises of significant size, to develop them to the status of established construction enterprises.

Projects of a size between a minimum of R2 million to a threshold of R25 million, will be identified exclusively for these enterprises, over a period of time.

2003/04 BUDGET

For the financial year 2003/04, Public Works is presenting a budget of R4.47 billion (R4 466 700). The provision for land and accommodation accounts for 86% and the National Public Works Programme for 7% of this budget, thus leaving 7% of our total budget for administration and other auxiliary and associated services.

During the current fiscal year, the department will also facilitate the planned gradual devolution of budgetary allocations to client departments starting with the devolution of Rates and Taxes in respect of provincial properties to the provinces in the next financial year. This will be followed by other operational budgets in subsequent years.

In line with this arrangement, an amount of R576 million for rates and taxes applicable to provincial governments, shall be devolved to them for the purposes of payment and administration with effect from the next financial year.

The amounts to be devolved, categorised per province are:

* Eastern Cape: R 35 million
* Free State: R 72 million
* Gauteng: R180 million
* KwaZulu-Natal: R 97 million
* Limpopo: R 6 million
* Mpumalanga: R 15 million
* North West: R 73 million
* Northern Cape: R 13 million
* Western Cape: R 85 million

Total: R576 million

The capacitation of the provinces on the new administration responsibilities will be carried out in the course of this year.

CONCLUSION

Once again, I wish to thank all the Members and in particular the MECs for their continued dedication, the way in which they interact with us and I assure you that your efforts and input enrich our planning and implementation.

Issued by Ministry of Public Works

5 June 2003