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Opening of the Umtata Regional  Public Works Sub office
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Road and Public Works

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

SPIN-OFFS FROM INTEGRATED APPROACH BY STAKEHOLDERS ON COMMUNITIES

A PAPER DELIVERED BY MEC P. MASUALLE

ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE UMTATA REGIONAL PUBLIC WORKS SUB-OFFICE

12 FEBRUARY 2000



The ANC governments commitment to accelerate change in South Africa has been re-iterated by our President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki in both his 25 
June 1999 and 4 February 2000s State of the Nation speeches. This is the same commitment that our Provincial Premier, Rev. M. A. Stofile 
stressed in his opening speech for the second session of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature on Thursday, 10 February 2000. This 
commitment is made and intended for the benefit of the previously disadvantaged communities. The communities that have been hit very badly 
by racial oppression, class oppression, social and human degradation, poverty and economic isolation from the mainstream activities as a 
result of the past cruel system of apartheid white minority rule.

Inherent in the Premiers speech was a commitment for the Provincial Government to root out all forms of corruption and mal-administration 
in its offensive against poverty and underdevelopment in the province. This offensive will only be effective if it is directed at the very 
poor and underdeveloped sections of our communities. The Transkei is on top of the priority list in such areas.

However, for government to achieve all this, a need exists for a long partnership between government and the people. It is only through 
such a partnership that the necessary social transformation can be realised.

Once such a partnership exists, it will thus be nurtured by the desired partnership among the various departments within government. Where 
a clinic is being built, a road should follow, while throughout the process community empowerment should be prioritised for a meaningful 
local economic development. The Batho Pele philosophy in service delivery also requires of communities to be responsible for their own 
services and take proper care of such. This is what an integrated approach to development should mean.

Such an integrated approach will however not be meaningful until there are both direct and indirect benefits for the surrounding 
communities.

Presently, through the Community Based Public Works Program, two major projects are on the pipeline which are:

* The construction of a linking road between Elliotdale and Bashe River Mouth, and
* The upgrading and re-gravelling of the road between Ntlaza and Hluleka Coastal Resort.
These projects are directly linked to the broader governmental Spatial Development Initiatives (SDI) program that is intended to link the 
coastal development to the hinterland development.

There are obviously some benefits for the surrounding communities which, inter alia, include:

* Improved access to previously densely populated areas that were isolated for years from the mainstream economy;
* The present hazardous state of the roads will be made safer to travel on while, on the other hand, access to the coastal resorts will be 
much more easier even during heavily rainy seasons;
* There will be improved tourism to a previously holiday resort and surrounding areas, e.g. Hluleka Nature Reserve, Presley Bay Holiday 
Resort, etc;
* The viability of various local industries such as the bus and taxi industry, timber production, fishing, community farming, etc will be 
improved;
* During the implementation of the projects, employment will be created while a boost in tourism might create sustainable employment for 
local residents;
* Accessibility to and of government services such as education, law enforcement, health care, welfare services, etc. will be enhanced; and
* To create a climate and opportunities for locals to start their own businesses.
For the next five years, the Department of Roads and Public Works in the Province has committed itself to working hand-in-glove with the 
District Councils in its implementation of its massive scale on rehabilitation and construction of provincial roads.



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