12 October 2010
The Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) is a strategic intervention tool of government to ensure the implementation of sustainable service delivery.
The historical significance of the community of Riemvasmaak is therefore of no coincidence that it became one of the pilots of this approach of providing services. In accordance with the sentiments of Premier Hazel Jenkins, the CRDP is about investing in the future.
As during their return to their land almost sixteen years back, this community was in a very jovial mood, whilst awaiting the arrival of the various dignitaries and the programme to officially start.
Young people and children entertained the people who have gathered to experience the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the people of Riemvasmaak. Community members further empowered themselves through accessing the information that was available through the exhibitions of the different Departments.
The Comprehensive Rural Development Programme is further about encouraging all sectors involved in the sustainability of communities to work together so that more is achieved. The unification of the different spheres of government during the launch and implementation of the CRDP emphasised the significance of the importance of why working together is critical.
The purpose of the CRDP outlines a phased approach towards the service delivery intervention that government in particular are involved in. The initiation of this process emerged with the relocation of the community of Riemvasmaak to their land of birth. The phased approach further takes into consideration the different generations involved within the community and therefore the importance of ensuring that the investment should take into consideration the future of the community. The approach of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme is further to ensure that human dignity and pride is restored.
In introducing the Premier, MEC Block made the following quote: “When a man is hungry, he asks where is my food? When a woman is hungry, she asks has the children eaten.”
Premier Jenkins made a call to all and various institutions to start investing in the community of Riemvasmaak and particularly the CRDP. She emphasised the need for the community to play a central role in the development process, because they form a key component of the message of government regarding working together to do more. Premier Jenkins pledged the commitment of the Northern Cape Provincial Government towards the development of the Riemvasmaak community.