The Northern Cape Provincial Government this week held its close-off cabinet Lekgotla for this term of Government. The Lekgotla is a periodic planning session of Government attended by the Premier and all MEC’s, their Heads of Department (HODs), District Mayors, and Regional Heads of National Departments. The main focus of this gathering was to assess progress that was made in translating the ruling party’s priorities into the Government’s programme of Action.

The aim of this meeting was thus to present close-off reports on work done during this term of administration in preparation for a handover report that will guide the next term of Government.

In her remarks the Premier, Ms Sylvia Lucas complimented the Departments for their contribution in implementing the National Development Plan. “The reports are comprehensive and our handover is very healthy.” She further stated that, “Only political heads go but the administration remains the same so the transition from one term of Government to the next should be as smooth as possible.”

The meeting was appraised with a reporting tool that will synergise reporting across the Provincial administration as well as the Local Government sphere in next Medium Term Strategic Framework (Budget cycle). The work of Policy and Planning Units in the respective Departments will be made easier especially as it relates to progress made on Government mandate. The solid foundation laid by the current administration sets the path for the establishment of a Provincial Planning Commission to be established with the support of National Government.

The report of the Social Protection, Community Development and Crime Prevention Cluster made it clear that the Northern Cape Provincial Government’s approach to the War on Poverty supports the developmental agenda and the sets the Province well on the path of moving away from a welfare state approach. This is supported by the fact that great strides have been made in poverty alleviation initiatives as led by the Departments of Social Development, Education, Health and Sport, Arts and Culture. The main priority of this cluster is focused around the Provincial War on Poverty as well as the Social Sector Expanded Public Works Programme as strategic government priorities.

What stood out in the education sector is the fact that in accordance with the prescripts of the National no-fee school policy; the number of learners that benefit from this policy has now increased by 29,6% which is a total of 41 463 learners at 33 schools. The School Nutrition Programme has also increased resulting in 13 553 now receiving a meal at school. Early Childhood Development sites have more than doubled and access to Grade R has been expanded with over 45%. Worth a mention is the fact that 13 new schools and 85 additional classrooms have been built since 2009. There has been an increase in the number of Grade 12 learners in 2013 who sat for the exams who achieved a bachelor degree pass and obtained distinctions and passed Mathematics and Science. Further development and education of these and future learners will be complimented by the establishment of the Sol Plaatje University.

Health care services have been drastically re-engineered in the term of Government through piloting programmes such as the National Health Insurance Programme in the Pixley ka Seme District since April 2012. Primary health care, oral health and school health services have been extended to 291 schools and nearby communities. The life expectancy for males increased from 49.9% and 54.9% for females in 2009 to 57.9% for males and 60.1% for females in 2011. Maternal and child deaths significantly decreased. HIV prevalence, infection and mother to child transmission show a downward and stabilising trend. The Department of health is also showing great improvement in the employment of health care and medical professionals with an increase of 24% meaning from 3 343 in 2009 to 4 159 in 2014. The SA/ Cuba scholarship has produced 18 qualified medical doctors that are working in Government hospitals with a further 6 that are expected to graduate in July this year. Currently 110 students are studying in Cuba. The Department of Health has managed to address infrastructure backlogs with the establishment of 16 new clinics and 2 still under construction, completion of the Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington with 3 still under construction and the upgrading and the current renovation of 19 clinics and 3 hospitals.

The Provincial picture as far as crime is concerned has improved due to intensified partnerships and communication on fighting crime. The launch of the Provincial Crime Prevention Strategy will further strengthen the integrated approach to crimes such as rape, substance abuse and contact crimes. The Ke Moja anti substance abuse programme has been rolled out to 132 high schools in the Province. Introduction of legislation to regulate liquor sales and licensing are significant efforts in fighting substance abuse as a contributor to crime.

The enhancement of food production and rural development has been given a boost through significant investment and extensive interventions in rural areas through programmes such as the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme, Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, Ilima-Letsema projects and MAFISA loans. A total of 94 claims have been settled and 620 793 hectares of land has been restored to 35 764 beneficiaries. In addition 105 719 hectares of land have been redistributed to 6 319 beneficiaries in terms of the Land Reform Programme.

The pace of housing delivery picked up with a total of 17 676 houses being delivered and 7 555 sites being serviced since 2009. To this end remarkable work has been done with the commencement of Priority Housing Projects in Lerato Park, Ouboks, Pampierstad and Galowe. Access to water increased from 92% to 97% according to census 2011.

The 2010 legacy programme has seen the delivery of 6 artificial football turfs and upgrading of sporting facilities such as the AR Abass stadium. Good progress is being made through sport such as the Kimberley Diamond Cup and other extreme sport and tourism initiatives.

The Province celebrates the completion of the Balelepa Household Profiling because this sets the foundation for identifying service delivery needs across sector departments per family.  During this term the child grant has been extended to children up to the age of 18. Social Sector EPWP is a critical weapon in the fight against poverty and unemployment and it has delivered almost 25 000 jobs over the 5 year period.

The Province places youth Unemployment high on its agenda and will with the assistance of the SETAs work towards skilling the youth so as to prepare them for the job market.2. The Northern Cape will be involved in 6 Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIPs) out of the 18 identified by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Committee. A Special Economic Zone focusing on Solar Energy has been approved for the Upington and surrounding areas, including the establishment of the Solar Corridor which includes parts of the Pixley Ka Seme District.

Through Tourism, 4917 employment opportunities have been created by way of supporting 44 events, 16 infrastructure development projects and 3 tourist routes.

In terms of mineral beneficiation, we have developed and adopted a Diamond Strategy in 2008, and KIDJA is a direct out-flow of that strategy, a project that has created 152 jobs and has trained 194 students in Diamond cutting and polishing.

The department of roads as key player in creating and conducing road infrastructure for further economic activity, has invested a total of R 2, 8 Billion in infrastructure development from 2009/10 - 2013/14 financial years.

We have successfully launched the Inter Provincial Air Service. This Provincial Airline is providing a much- needed service which makes service delivery much easier and enables us to reach more people faster.

With the inauguration of this term of Government the focus was centered on by the needs of the people of the Northern Cape. Central to this was to ensure that we establish a responsive, accountable, effective and efficient Local Government and progressive Public Service System that places at its core the needs of the people. In outlining the achievements of this term of office, the Provincial Government acknowledges that a great deal still needs to be done to ensure that all our people receive the quality service they need and these will be addressed. A solid foundation has been laid by this administration and it will continue with the new administration,

The Extended Executive Council Lekgotla welcomed the appointment of Ms Gladys Botha as the Head of Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs and Mr. Rodney Pieterse as the Municipal Manager of Pixley ka Seme District Municipality.

The Executive Council will be celebrated Human Rights Day in all five Districts in the Province under the theme, ““Celebrating 20 Years of changing lives through human rights!”. The Premier, Ms Sylvia Lucas addressed the community of Augrabies.



Released by the Office of the Premier

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