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11 July 2008

Programme Director, Mr. Lindokuhle Hlatshwayo
Mayor of Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Councillor Sipho Nkosi
Councillors present
Officials from the Department of Finance
Representatives of the:
Department of Economic Development and Planning
Mpumalanga Youth Commission
Umsobomvu Youth Fund
South African Revenue Service (SARS)
National Empowerment Fund
ABSA
Ladies and Gentlemen

Allow me Programme Director, to start my speech by paying homage to the memory of the 62 people, who lost their lives as a result of the senseless and barbaric attacks on the so-called foreigners. I would also like to pay respect to the memory of the late former Intelligence Minister, comrade Joe Nhlanhla. May we all rise and observe a moment of silence.

As a result of these coward and inhumane attacks on our fellow African brothers and sisters, twenty (21) South Africans were also killed. More than one-thousand five-hundred (1500) people were displaced in our Province, as a result of the violence.

As I speak, the process of re-integrating the displaced people back into our society, is underway and I therefore plead with you to welcome them back with open arms – show them that we are all Africans, and subscribe to the notion that South Africa belongs to all who live in it. Let the spirit of ubuntu prevail in our hearts and show the rest of the world that we are one. Let us live to the commitment we made through our country's motto – "!Ke e: Xarra //Ke" – meaning, diverse people unite.

As a country we have pledged that:
* We will do everything necessary to ensure that as Africans, regardless of our geographic origins, we will once more live together as Africans, at peace with one another, refusing to impose on ourselves a new apartheid order,
* We will work expeditiously to achieve the reintegration of all the displaced Africans within the communities from which they were forced to flee because of murderous criminal activities,
* We will do everything necessary to assist the victims of this criminal onslaught, both the South Africans and our foreign guests, to resume their normal lives,
* We will act without any unnecessary delay to address all genuine concerns which may give birth to tensions between the native and immigrant Africans,
* We work to improve our social and national cohesion, we will also address the challenge to entrench the understanding that this includes full acceptance within all our communities of new residents from other countries, as well as the understanding,
* We will work to mobilise all our communities to isolate and defeat the evil elements in our midst who target vulnerable African migrants, subjecting them to violent attacks for criminal purposes and personal gain,
* We will ensure that all those responsible for the criminal activities during the dark days of May, targeted against African migrants, face the full might of the law, and
* We will take all necessary and possible measures to sustain respect for the law and our Constitutional order by all who live in our country, and the safety and security of all these, whether native-born or immigrant.

Programme Director, we are gathered here this morning – because we believe that an investment by way of information dissemination always pays the best interest. Our objective through these empowerment road-shows, is to fulfil our promise of providing a better life for all – a better life for our youth, women and people with disabilities. We believe that once these targeted groups are empowered with the necessary information required to bid for services, they would be able to participate in the mainstream economy of our Province and the country at large. This we do, believing that one day, millionaires would be created from amongst yourselves.

I therefore pose a challenge to the youth to stand up and do things for themselves, and not wait and complain that government is not doing enough. Vuk 'u Zenzele! Remember that our intervention is only aimed at teaching you how to do things, and not to do things for you.

Through these road-shows, we continue to pay homage to the courageous youth of 1976, for their contribution towards our political emancipation and freedom. As the caring ANC-led Government, we subscribe to the notion that total emancipation includes economic and financial emancipation, which will see our youth playing a critical role in growing the economy of the Province and South Africa at large.

This intervention will also contribute to fulfilling the objectives of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA), which places emphasis on being biased towards the youth, women and people with disabilities.

Through these road-shows, we are also trying to address dissatisfaction and complaints raised by communities, in most cases the unemployed youth, women and people with disabilities, during a number of outreach programmes by the Provincial Executive Council, on their inability to benefit from government procurement, in the provision of goods and services. At the same time, it is the same people who want to take government for a ride when they are awarded contracts.

They provide sub-standard and inferior quality of goods and services to government, and complain bitterly, when they are not considered the second time around. As government, we will not tolerate such unbecoming fraudulent actions, and promise to deal harshly with those who commit them. We commit to blacklist all those who defraud government in this way, and will leave no stone unturned, in ensuring that they are brought to book.

The Norms and Standards Unit in our department, will continue to monitor projects awarded to community members, and ensure that public funds are properly accounted for, that we get value for money, and that the contracted service providers deliver on the agreed specifications.

Turning now to saving – as the month of July is regarded as the National Saving Awareness Month, I take this opportunity to call upon every one of you, to start saving. Statistics show that the culture of saving in South Africa has fallen to an all-time low level. The latest figures released by the South African Reserve Bank indicates that the gross saving ratio continues to decline and now stands at one comma two percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This means that most of us rely too much on credit and do not bother much to save for the future. At the same time we are aware that there are a number of discouraging factors such as high banking charges, but believe that discipline is all it takes to start saving today. We continue to call on all financial institutions to partner with us, in our quest to re-inculcate the culture of saving – by making special considerations especially for the poor.

We commend them for coming up with the Mzansi Account – a saving vehicle designed for the poor, and the previously unbanked, but believe they can still do more.

The culture of saving begins with you. You can start small and eventually go big – by buying shares, properties, opening a savings account and even buying the RSA Government Retail Savings Bonds, just to mention but a few.

I commit to reward, financially, a youth who can start to save from today, and after at-least six months to a year, prove to me that he/she was disciplined and committed to saving. You can save through any interest–bearing method.

Let's hope that today's session, will one day produce serious entrepreneurs, or even millionaires in the province.

In concluding ladies and gentleman, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi and I quote:

"Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory."

Vuk u'Zenzele!

I wish you a very fruitful, informative and interactive session.

Ngiyathokoza!

Issued by: Department of Finance, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
11 July 2008