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Speech at the Rural Development Summit
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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
SPEECH BY PREMIER STOFILE
AT THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT,
UNIVERSITY OF TRANSKEI - UMTATA
 5 OCTOBER 2000



Distinguished representatives of our National Government,
 Members of provincial and local government,
 Leaders of organised Labour,
 Representatives of business,
 Leaders of our civil society,
 Invited guests,
Delegates.

Any development strategy must take into recognition the Provinces limitations and capabilities.It must forever strive for a good balance 
between social stability and development on the one hand and transformation to democracy and self-determination (as opposed to dependency 
on hand-outs) on the other hand.

Development must also be guided by an integrated and common approach by all three (3) spheres of Government.This will maximise use of 
limited resources and also add quality as well as quantity to outcomes.In our Province, historical imbalances between the Western and the 
Eastern parts must be taken into account.The Western region is better endowed (economic developmentally speaking).The gap can only be 
narrowed through the development of the productive forces.The Western region must be encouraged to accelerate its economic development.But 
policies must be developed to bolster the economy of the eastern part.Available natural resources must be utilised and non-available infra-
structure provided.

But above all, the irregular agricultural production must be attended to.The upgrading of the agricultural structure and system must be 
attended to so as to increase productivity.We must improve our capacity to feed ourselves and our neighbours.As productivity improves and 
the quality of the products becomes better, the income levels of the farmers and peasants will also improve.Cottage and village industries 
will develop.The lives of our people will improve.

This calls for : a common vision; priorities that all identify as such; the will and readiness by ALL sectors to make a positive 
contribution; and lastly  the requisite resources for making it happen.These are easy challenges for a people with a passion to work for 
the success of all.I believe that such people are not lacking in our Province.

The Rural Development Strategy Summit is indeed a milestone in qualitatively enhancing and practically realising the vision contained in 
the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) and a whole range of other 
related legislative initiatives at both national and provincial level.

Since the initiation of the process of formulating a Rural Development Strategy for the Eastern Cape in April this year, I have witnessed 
the maturation of a political will not only within and between Provincial government departments but between government, labour and other 
social partners committed to drive forward an integrated rural development strategy.

Such a strategy is not simply necessary for the realisation of economic growth, employment creation and social development in our Province 
alone, but an imperative that confronts our country as a whole

I move now to share a few of my perceptions of where we are at and where we need to move as a Province with respect to rural development.

To begin with, it is a well known fact that the Eastern Cape is a predominantly rural province characterised by extreme levels of poverty, 
landlessness, huge infrastructure backlogs, economic stagnation and unemployment.

However, while significant progress has been made and a number of lessons learnt, we have simply not addressed the above challenges with 
adequate scale and impact.

Having said so, I would like to stress that whilst it is possible under existing circumstances to craft attractive and compelling 
strategies, such strategies will remain worthless in the absence of an enhanced and resolute commitment to address challenges identified.

What is required is a holistic approach that cuts across class, race, and sectoral interests.

The above might sound idealistic but in the current context we have no choice but to seek a minimum working consensus on what our true 
rural development needs are.

In addition, what is required is a fundamental clarification of the roles and responsibilities of social partners, including, and this 
needs to be stressed, the rural poor in the process of rural development.

Without any intention of pre-empting the next speaker, I would like to encourage all present here to:

* Guards against collapsing into sterile theoretical and ideological debates without practically identifying and addressing concrete issues 
that confront us;
* Work towards greater cohesion and integration among various departments and agencies involved in rural development;
* Crystallise concrete resolutions for immediate implementation; and
* Build on our existing strengths rather than fixate on our weaknesses.

Having said so, I would like to say that our motto as the Provincial Government is "Development Through Unity". I believe that through this 
initiative our vision of rural development will be realised.

All of us should join hands to make a real difference to the millions of our people who have been trapped in poverty for more than three 
hundred years.

REV. M.A. STOFILE
 PREMIER : EASTERN CAPE

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