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Eastern Cape Institutions take  initiative to prioritise Rural Development
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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MEDIA RELEASE
 FOR IMMEDIATE USE
 6 OCTOBER 2000

EASTERN CAPE INSTITUTIONS TAKE INITIATIVE TO PRIORITISE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

People of the Eastern Cape are set to unite their efforts of eradicating poverty and rural under-development.This emerged after two days of 
deliberations by the government and various stakeholders at a rural development summit held at the University of Transkei on 6 October 
2000.

The government, representatives of labour, business and other community structures have made a joint declaration committing themselves to 
cooperate in fast-tracking rural development in the province.The declaration was made when concluding a two-day rural development summit.

The summit noted the unacceptably high rural poverty levels, underdevelopment, sub-optimal economic growth, high unemployment rate and the 
need to quantitatively increase public and private investment to address these challenges.It also endorsed the view that unless the huge 
spatial development disparities between the western and the eastern regions of the province are bridged, no sustainable development can be 
achieved.

It highlighted the following programmes as central if the province had to successfully deal with huge development backlogs it faces:

* Accelerated delivery of infrastructure to confront the historical backlogs,
* Fast land reform with more efficient provision of resettlement support,
* To capacitate and strengthen all developmental functions of rural local government,
* To build a more efficient and effective network of technical and support institutions
* Encourage grassroots participation and ownership of development initiatives through development coalitions, institutions of participatory 
democracy, wards and villages as well as a vibrant cooperative movement.

When he addressed the summit, Eastern Cape Premier Rev. Makhenkesi Stofile said people should look towards building cohesion between 
government and other organization involved in rural development.He acknowledged that numerous attempts have been made over the years of 
democratic governance without registering the desired impact to rural communities.He said the government was wiser and intended to 
integrate and coordinate efforts across the spectrum to ensure development of economic and social development nodes.

The summit acknowledged also that even available resources in rural areas which include land and human resources were under utilized.Cases 
mentioned included the fact that most of over 600 farms at the disposal of the government lied fallow.

In his concluding remarks, MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Enoch Godongwana said rural development was one of the key priorities 
identified by government.

The summit was attended by the entire Executive Council of the Eastern Cape, a representative from the Office of the Deputy President, 
government departments, representatives of organized labour and business, development experts, academic institutions, other organizations 
of civil society.

The summit mandated the Provincial Government, with the view to accelerate the realization of the resolutions, to engage national 
government and private sector to create and improve fiscal, financial, legislative and institutional machinery for delivery.

Issued:Communications Division - Office of the Premier
 Inquiries:Manelisi Wolela 082 414 7768

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