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 MEDIA STATEMENT
 29 MARCH 2000

EC GOVERNMENT AND MICRO PROJECTS TRUST SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

The Government of the Eastern Cape and development partners of the Province have signed a memorandum of understanding committing themselves 
to cooperate in promoting basic infrastructural development of the Province.

Development partners were represented by Ms. Lineo Letoaba of Micro Projects Trust (MPT) while the Eastern Cape delegation was led by 
Premier Rev Makhenkesi Stofile and included MEC for Education Stone Sizani and MEC Enoch Godongwana of Finance and Economic Affairs. The 
department of labour which is expected to play a critical role in skills transfer to communities was represented by its Regional Director 
Mr. Lindile Nxawe.

In terms of the agreement the Department of Education will enter into partnerships with various development partners in the province to 
ensure a more effective and efficient utilisation of all the available resources both within and outside government. This will include a 
possible establishment of an agency to assist in the implementation and monitoring of the education infrastructural development. The move 
is the first step to bring to fruition the much talked about public-private partnership to ensure that every sector of the society puts its 
weight behind the development efforts of the country.

The agreement also includes the building of institutional and organisational capacity of target communities through participation and value 
addition through strategic partnerships. The initiative would also encompass cooperation in mobilising resources for meeting economic and 
social infrastructural needs of communities of the province.

Eastern Cape is one of the most needy provinces with regard to educational facilities. With huge backlogs of over 23 000 classrooms needed 
and 11 000 classrooms needing renovation, the responsibility of ensuring effective learning system remains the greatest challenge facing 
the provincial government to date. The backlogs dating back to the apartheid years were even compounded by the recent floods and tornados, 
which destroyed over 170 schools in the province.

Commenting after the signing ceremony Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile said the deal could not have come at a better time. He hailed 
the agreement as a milestone in the governments efforts of ensuring a nation at work for a better life.

Issued: Communications Division  Office of the Premier

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