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EC contingency plan for Y2K related problems
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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 MEDIA STATEMENT
 ALL MEDIA
 23 December 1999

EC CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR Y2K RELATED PROBLEMS ARE READY

EC Director General Dr Mvuyo Tom has reassured all people and visitors of the Province of the Eastern Cape that the government is Y2K 
compliant and ready with contingency plans for any related problems. Dr Tom says people should remain calm and continue with their normal 
festivities as things are under control.

The reassurance follows a meeting of all stakeholders and participants in the Provincial Disaster Management Committee set up to ensure 
that the anticipated technological glitches at the turn of the millennium do not fail the people of the Province. The committee includes 
all provincial departments, South African Police Services, South African National Defence Force and technology and emergency gurus of 
various departments and parastatals.

The meeting held in Bisho yesterday was chaired by Dr Tom and also attended by MEC’s for Local Government and Housing Mr. Gugile Nkwinti 
and Dr Bevan Goqwana of Health, head of the National Disaster Management Committee Mr Louis Buys and Heads of provincial departments.

Dr Tom said the operation centre established in the Department of Local Government and Housing was up and running with tests being 
conducted to ensure that the network built to link up with the national centre as well as regional, district up to local centres was 
working. He said computers, telephones, faxes and two-way radio linkages were in place to ensure fast and accurate information sharing with 
all areas of the province. The linkages currently being finalised are the first comprehensive networks ever installed in the province for 
disaster management.

The DG said: "we are not expecting a doom’s day but just preparing to deal with any eventuality in case it is real doom’s day at the turn 
of the millennium."

He said central to the success of any operation during the critical period of 31 December 1999 to 5 January 2000, is the ability of the 
government to receive accurate information fast in order to address any problem related to the Y2K phenomenon and adversely affecting 
essential services such as water and electricity supply, health services, telecommunications, transport and general emergency services.

The Premier Rev Makhenkesi Stofile, MEC’s for Local Government and Housing Mr Gugile Nkwinti, Health Dr Bevan Goqwana, Public Works Mr. 
Pumulo Masualle and Provincial Safety Liaison and Transport Mr. Dennis Neer will be on stand-by for the critical period. Dr Tom also 
reiterated a call to all public servants responsible for rendering essential services and work related to the Y2K issue to be on call 24 
hours a day for the critical period. These include all people constituting part of the disaster management network from the local 
governments (TLC’s and TRC’s) to regional offices, District Councils, Provincial Department and national departments operating in the 
Province.

He said all communities of the Province will constantly be informed of any development through media especially radio stations throughout 
the critical period. An arrangement is being finalised with various radio stations to have regular updates.

Issued: Communications Division – Office of the Premier

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