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27 October 2004

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker;
Members of the Provincial Legislature;
Members of the Executive Council;
Mayors and Councillors;
Heads of Departments and other Senior Officials;
Leaders of industry and business;
The leadership of societal, non-governmental and community-based organisations and institutions gathered;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen;

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the Northern Cape Provincial Government Growth and Development Summit.

It is our view that the two days of this summit will be used to deliberate and discuss and will, indeed yield great outcomes for the province and its people.

Such a gathering is critical in elaborating and fashioning a ‘common development vision’ for the province.

That ‘common development vision’ must entail basic points of agreement and convergence between and among the key stakeholders and role-players in the Province.

In elaborating this ‘common development vision’, the following can be articulated as the key characteristics:

* Long-range planning;
* Clear sets of measurable targets;
* Mutually agreed goals of growth and development;
* Commitment to realise the goals for the attainment of a non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous country and province.

These are the challenges of the next decade of our freedom and the Northern Cape Province stands at the threshold.

The synthesis report on implementation of government programmes published as ‘Towards a Ten Year Review’ booklet by The Presidency makes some very interesting observations, which I think should also be taken into account at this summit.

It asserts: “South Africa is at the confluence of major possibilities arising out of progress that has been made in the First Decade of Freedom.”

It continues to argue that, “There are weaknesses in those areas that are least dependent on direct government action ... Yet if all indicators were to continue along the same trajectory, especially in respect of the dynamic of economic inclusion and exclusion, we could soon reach a point where the negatives start to overwhelm the positives ... This could precipitate a vicious cycle of decline in all spheres.”

This ladies and gentlemen is the frank assessment of what has been achieved and indeed a bold admission of weaknesses, coupled with what could be the scenario if we don’t jointly seek to tackle those negatives that pose the greatest challenge to our country and democracy.

Indeed, if decisive action is taken on a number of focused areas, the confluence of possibilities is such that the country would enter a road of faster economic growth and job creation, faster and more efficient provision of quality services, increased social cohesion and reduction of the paradigm of exclusion prevalent among sections of our society.

Therefore, the decisions we will arrive at during the course of the summit must for all intent and purposes bear the abovementioned analysis and seek to steer this ‘Northern Cape Ship’ towards a high growth path for the creation of job opportunities and poverty reduction as its key focus.

As the Northern Cape Provincial Government we are assuming greater commitment to seek to steer this ‘ship’; and this summit is part of the sustained processes to rally greater number of social partners and others behind the ‘common development vision’.

This summit will receive various reports and research outcomes, pointing out the various areas of strength and/or weaknesses in the context of the Northern Cape Province. These papers and many other observations must locate the role of all role-payers in order to ensure that we able to move forward and visualise the future Northern Cape, which many will follow!

Allow me to also reflect on what we perceive to be the key challenge as it relates to Government.

How do we ensure the realisation of the ‘common vision’ in practice; given the different challenges of spheres of government – local, district, province and national, in key and critical areas of social delivery?

The role of the Integrated Development Plan (IDPs) and the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy aligned to the National Spatial Development Perspective are indeed a matter critical importance.

This summit must explore these areas and pronounce a way-forward in order to optimise the synergies.

The nature of provincial comparative advantages have not been optimally tapped and remain as a challenge to realise the potential of regional growth points utilising the various skills and capacities that have characterised the partnerships built over the past years.

Indeed, there have been many positive partnerships that have resulted in construction of roads and other infrastructure that support both the business-interests and the social quality of contribution that Government sought.

It is also our concerted view that the capacity of the state at the various levels in the Northern Cape must be critically assessed and the intervention strategy improved to move more quickly where there is evidence of poor performance.

There is indeed a need for a paradigm shift to ensure that we translate the majority of the good work that has been achieved during the past ten years, into a higher trajectory of growth and development in the second decade of freedom.

This paradigm should shift from the ‘negativity’ that has characterised the transition over the past few years to one that is optimistic about a high social economic status for the Northern Cape.

It must also seek to inspire and build on the tenants of our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

It must find space for all our people in the various areas of social, business and private lives.

It must manifest as the fundamental basis of our common existence and dialectical relationship with each.

Indeed we should seek new ways to ensure that ordinary people participate and utilise their freedoms.

At the risk of stating the obvious, the Northern Cape Province is a huge pool of latent potential waiting to be tapped.

The deposits of minerals, marine resources, rugged natural beauty, and the vast agricultural land that characterise the Northern Cape are waiting to be tapped.

The great sense of optimism that is prevalent throughout the Northern Cape oozes confidence.

If we are to make continued progress towards the fundamental objective of our country– a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society – and then we need a major intervention to reinforce the consolidation of democracy with measures aimed at integrating all of society into a growing economy from which we can all benefit.

This requires:

* A framework defining a shared destiny as a basis for social partnership
* A better performing state
* Addressing the consequences of social transition
* Improving our socio-economic and political environment; and
* Work towards implementation of policy positions.

Our mission of economic development must advance opportunities for higher quality employment and prosperity for all the citizens of the Northern Cape Province!

And our objective is a diversified economy – because a diversified economy is less vulnerable to fluctuations in key industries!

Economic development of the Northern Cape Province must work to expand the business base by recruiting quality companies to the Northern Cape from South Africa and abroad!

Finally this economic development must build a province-wide infrastructure that supports a broad spectrum of opportunity for all citizens while advancing the standard of living and maintaining a high quality of life!

We wish you all the best in the course of your deliberations!

Thank you.

Enquiries: Zodwa Thebeyapelo
Cell: 0832558849

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
27 October 2004