South African Government (Pretoria)
Jacob Zuma
3 June 2009
(Page 4 of 4)
Honourable Speaker and Chairperson,
South Africa, being a dry country requires urgent action to mitigate adverse environmental changes and to ensure the provision of water to citizens. Amongst various programmes, we will implement the Water for Growth and Development strategy, which will strengthen water management.
We will continue to improve our energy efficiency and reliance on renewable energy.
Honourable Members,
A developmental state requires the improvement of public services and strengthening of democratic institutions. We have established two Ministries in the Presidency to strengthen both strategic planning as well as performance monitoring and evaluation.
To ensure delivery on our commitments, we will hold Cabinet Ministers accountable through performance instruments, using established targets and output measures, starting in July. We will also involve State-Owned Enterprises and Development Finance Institutions in the government planning processes and improve the monitoring and evaluation of their performance.
Honourable Members, fellow South Africans,
To ensure that all three spheres - local, provincial and national - improve service delivery, we will speed up the establishment of a single Public Service. This administration will insist on putting people first in service delivery. We will ensure courteous and efficient service from front-counter staff in the provision of services in all government departments. In this era of renewal, we will move towards a more interactive government.
To lead by example, work has begun on the establishment of a public liaison capacity in the Presidency. In addition to receiving letters and emails from the public, we will also establish a hotline for easier access. Staff will handle each public inquiry as if it was the only one, following it through all the channels until it receives the attention it deserves.
Honourable Speaker and Chairperson,
The National Youth Development Agency, formed through the merger of Umsobomvu Youth Fund and the National Youth Commission will be launched on June 16 in Ekurhuleni. The institutions are being merged to enhance service and development opportunities provided to the youth. The Agency will link up unemployed young graduates with economic opportunities; strengthen efforts to expand the National Youth Service Programme and support young entrepreneurs.
Speaker and Chairperson, Distinguished Guests,
Next month our beloved Madiba will turn 91. People all over the world still continue to clamour for his presence and for him to address their crises. His values and his example of dedication to the service of humanity is a shining example in today's troubled world.
An international campaign has been initiated by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and related organisations, called Mandela Day, which sums up what Tata stands for. Mandela Day will be celebrated on the 18th of July each year. It will give people in South Africa and all over the world the opportunity to do something good to help others. Madiba was politically active for 67 years, and on Mandela Day people all over the world, in the workplace, at home and in schools, will be called upon to spend at least 67 minutes of their time doing something useful within their communities, especially among the less fortunate.
Let us wholeheartedly support Mandela Day and encourage the world to join us in this wonderful campaign.
Honourable Speaker and Chairperson Fellow South Africans,
We have presented to the nation our programme for the next five years. Attached to each commitment we make is a detailed project plan, with targets and critical milestones.
This information will in due course be made public. Indeed as citizens we should at the same time ask ourselves what is it that we can do on our own to help promote this national programme. To be a citizen is not only about rights, it is also about responsibility, to make a contribution to make ours a better country.
We also expect to work well with Opposition parties in Parliament, in the spirit of putting the country first. In addition, Madiba taught us well that this country belongs to all, black and white. Working for reconciliation and unity will remain important as we move forward.
Since the implementation of our programme will take place in the face of the economic downturn, we will have to act prudently - no wastage, no rollovers of funds - every cent must be spent wisely and fruitfully. We must cut our cloth according to our size.
Fellow South Africans, working together we can do more to realise our common vision of a better and more prosperous nation! This is the partnership we are calling for.
I thank you!
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WE will not discredit or discourage the hope that President Zuma has. However, President Zuma needs to know that it is not a good for him to make promises that he cannot keep. I said the word PROMISE. Attempting to create half a million jobs is one thing, but to say you promise is another. If he does not create half a million jobs, then he has showed his citizens that he is a lier. Because he said he Promised.
I do hope that Mr President will fulfil his promises of saying that half million jobs wll be created for South African over the next few six months to come.The motive behind of this is that since he has been in the politics with the leaders over the past years may be he discovered that gap even though he didnt had power by then, so now is the chance for him to prove to the nation.From MR Pain @ UZ
If Zuma and Mbeki had spent all those billions on local arms procurement and not overseas, he might have created that number of jobs. It was just self enrichment that made them virtually close down our local arms industry which South Africa will rue for the next generation.
Angaas, under President Mbeki South African economy prospered and jobs were created. There was more credibility of South Africa international, under Mbeki. Under Apartheid a few prospered, at the expense of the majority. Your comments just remind us just how bitter white minorities have become and largely cynical.
Nancy Dubosse's article about Zuma is typical of articles coming out of the so called institute of democracy for Africa in Cape Town. The students and articles they produce tends to have a neo-colonial bias about all things Africa. A lots of preaching about what is wrong with Africa as oppossed to what is going on now.
Zuma lost the Cape, which is very white/colored and tends to disagree with the black majority. Rather than call Zuma wishingful thinking, why not hold him accountable for his words. Africans need to be sceptical about articles from this neo-colonial institution. Cape Town is so different from the rest of Africa, one wonders what right Captonians have of lecturing Africa!
A lot of white/Black conflicts in Capetowm. And probably vey snobbish and out of date anglo's who are a major problem in Southern Africa. The articles from this institute bother me and they are a red flag of neo-colonial and aparthied mentality!!!!
I see this as a challenge to every South African to ensure that this happens. As for me, I can't sit outside and watch if the president achieves this. It is also my duty within my small business to ensure that I contribute towards this 500,000. It's a challenge I am already embracing. If we fail, then at least I would know that I contributed to whatever number would be achieved. Let's stop being cynical and start building this country - we are all responsible - not just the government.
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