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18 May 2005

Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff today addressed the media breakfast in Bloemfontein to brief the media about the launch of the Free State Growth and Development Strategy that will take place on Friday, 20 May 2005.

The briefing was attended by the representatives of the local and national media institutions, government, parastatals, organised business, organised labour and the Free State Youth Commission.
 
The premier informed the meeting that the strategy repositions the Free State government to reach the goals of the Vision 2014 to half unemployment and poverty. Due to the extensive research work and wide consultative that led to the formulation of the strategy, the premier sees the document as a living document that advances the vision of the Freedom Charter, whose 50th anniversary is celebrated this year.
 
Premier Marshoff said that the Free State Growth and Development Strategy (FSGDS) builds on the foundation laid by the Free State Development Plan, which was a three-year programme that lasted until end-March 2005. The FSGDS is therefore a roadmap and implementation plan to continue to improve the quality of life of the people of the province.

She provided some brief on key issues that will be contained in the strategy to address the socio-economic challenges, which the government and social partners identified with respect to:
 
1. Economic growth and job creation;
2. Delivery of Infrastructure;
3. Social security and development;
4. Justice and crime prevention;
5. Investment in Human Capital and
6. Good governance and administration.

She called on the private sector to reinforce this initiative and appealed to the media in particular so assist government to critically analyse and measure the impact of the document on the lives of our people – the benefits they receive from government programmes as well as the opportunities that are created in the process. According to Premier Marshoff, there are many positive developments that are not being marketed in the province. She further appealed to public servants as well to act faster in addressing the needs of our people.
 
The launch of the Free State Growth and Development Strategy will take place at the Oliewenhuis in Bloemfontein on Friday 20 May 2005 between 08:00 and 13:00. All media are invited.

For further information contact: Paul Mahlatsi
Cell: 082 8500 505

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Free State Provincial Government
18 May 2005