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Premier Stofile expresses concerns on Shawvury Community Development Projects
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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MEDIA RELEASE
 FOR IMMEDIATE USE
 18 MAY 2001

PREMIER STOFILE EXPRESSES CONCERNS ON SHAWBURY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile has expressed his concerns about the management of Shawbury community development projects while 
being impressed with the progress made in other projects aimed at improving rural peoples lives.

Premier Stofile made the comments while touring development initiatives in the once reputable village of Shwabury in Qumbu as part of the 
governments week-long outreach programme. The Premier spent the whole day inspecting poultry, piggery, bakery, sewing projects as well as 
meeting health service providers, stakeholders and members of the public in Shawbury.

The poultry, piggery, bakery and sewing projects were described as struggling as they lacked strategies for sustainable production and 
marketing. Challenges observed by the Premier included the failure of the project managers to stagger the production of chickens and pigs 
so that each production and sales could generate revenue for subsequent lots in a well managed cycle of production. He also noted the 
purchase of inappropriate bakery equipment which remained unutilised due to lack of electricity as well as the absence of a clear 
management system for the projects.

While the other projects were struggling to get above water, a brick-making project was registering phenomenal successes even against the 
odds of stolen brick-making machines. He commended the owners of the project who had built a reliable market and generated considerable 
money to be able to purchase new machines to replace those stolen in November 2000.

Premier Stofile said a well capacitated project manager was needed for the Shawbury Development Programme to ensure that the projects do 
not collapse.He said project implementers also required training to ensure quality and competitive production that would survive market 
challenges and go beyond local markets. He cited the production of school uniforms for the local schools that the whole community would be 
proud of so that instead of being markets for external productions, they could settle for their own quality products. Many development 
initiatives fail to survive for their lack of markets and marketing skills. The Premier heard that the Independent Development Trust serves 
as the programmes implementing agents with funding sourced from the Norwagian and the provincial government. A representative of the IDT 
said steps were being taken to develop a constitution for the development forum and improve its financial management capacity.

The Premier also visited a newly build clinic and praised its health workers for running the institution efficiently. Concerns raised by 
the nurses and members of the public included the refusal of Metro Ambulance Services to reach-out to collect patients in rural areas, 
provision of clean water, change of energy supply from the solar system to electricity, difficulties with accessing the services of 
district surgeons resulting in, for example, delayed post mortem reports, and assistance for volunteer health workers (Nomakhaya) 
vegetable production projects. Other community members expressed great concern about the invisible movement to renovate the once highly 
reputable Shawbury college, which was left un attended for many years and dilapidated.

Responding to these concerns the Premier promised to investigate delays in the renovation of the old college as money was made available by 
the government. Regarding the district surgeons he said there were temporal arrangements made for rendering their services while the 
government was developing an alternative service provision to eliminate the fraud-prone district surgeon system. He also said a plan was 
also being finalised to address the drug and medicine distribution to especially all primary health care service centres such as clinics in 
rural areas.

Community members also took the opportunity to praise the government for the interventions made in assisting with the infra-structural 
development such as the rebuilding of the access road and a notorious bridge that swept away many people during the flood periods. The 
outreach programme was also hailed by local communities as ground breaking in terms of the new governments style of governance.

Issued: Communications Division - Office of the Premier
 Inquiries: Manelisi Wolela - 040-6392070/082 414 7768
E-mail Address: manelisi@otpmleg1.ecape.gov.za

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