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15 December 2004

Programme Director
The Mayor, His Worship Councillor
Honourable MEC
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Senior government officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

The purpose of this event this afternoon is to honour the contract we entered into with the people of this province and the country as a whole, that we will provide shelter for the homeless and that we will improve the lives of our people.

As government we want to say, we have heard your voices and we are here to honour the mandate you gave to us when you cast your vote during the April general elections.

We are here to fulfil the promise we made to you.

I am pleased and honoured to be among all of you here and be part of change.

As the Northern Cape government we are encouraged by the progress we have made so far in delivering houses to our people. This therefore means that we have to maintain this image, as it is a symbol of our commitment to ensure that our people are receiving the services we promised them.

Government has also increased the subsidy amount for the housing programme to keep pace with inflation and maintain the quality and size of houses.

Many of our new home owners also benefited from the Human Settlement Redevelopment programme. This programme is aimed at correcting imbalances and dysfunctionalities in existing settlements that cannot be funded through the housing subsidy scheme.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are encouraged by the announcement made by our National Minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu, who introduced the Informal Settlement Upgrading programme and the Spatial Restructuring and Integration programme.

Through this programme we will be able to ensure that we are not only providing acceptable houses but also developing our informal settlements by eradicating shacks. Indeed true development will not be visible if our people continue to live in shacks which are attached to low cost houses.

The main objective of the programme is to facilitate the upgrading of informal settlements through a phased development approach that will deliver security of tenure, municipal services, social and economic amenities in phases.

This project will ensure the upgrading of pilot projects in all provinces. This initiative will be a community focused development approach.

This programme is expected to reach as many households as possible. When we try to establish how we are performing, we find that we are beset by other socio-economic problems. Our people should be encouraged to refrain from illegal practices by defrauding the housing scheme as this only delay the provision of houses to other deserving applicants.

It is shocking that our own people are misusing the housing delivery programme by owning two houses, or by converting one house into a tuck-shop or a tavern, and the other into a residential home.

The improper sale of shacks or renting out of shacks to other desperate homeless people should be condemned.

Our objective is to create a healthy environment for our people so as to ensure the health and well-being of present and future generations.

Our biggest challenge is to continue to build sustainable job opportunities and eradicate poverty into the lower levels of the economy.

In conclusion,

Let me also use this opportunity to wish you a ‘crime free festive season’, and further appeal to you to refrain from consuming excessive alcohol and in some instances unhealthy concoctions.

Let us revive our health home brewed beer and refrain from using additives which have detrimental effects on our health.

The festive season is a time of love and sharing, let us spread good will and refrain from stabbings and domestic violence.

We cannot and will not afford to continue making headlines for the wrong reasons. We need to be a nation that is driven by the spirit of Letsema and Vuk’uzenzele, working together for a common good and taking initiatives to improve our lives.

In discharging our responsibilities we should be driven by the understanding that service to the public is of extreme importance.

I am confident that there are many people in Warrenton and in our province as whole, who not only want to see our beautiful province achieve a better life for all, but who are also prepared to do whatever is necessary to help the build our country.

I have no doubt that we will redouble our efforts to work together for the common goal, that of creating jobs and eradicating poverty.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

I thank you all

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
15 December 2004