capetownguy
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Because thats already being done by the rest of the forumers.
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Cape News
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Because thats already being done by the rest of the forumers.
wrathex
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Western Cape Weather Advisory
Very cold with snowfalls and gales
Advisory valid for Friday 29th May and Saturday 30th May 2009:
1. Very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected to set in over the high ground of the Western and Northern Cape Provinces on Friday, persisting through Saturday.
2. Snowfalls are expected on the western high ground on the Western and Northern Cape Provinces on Friday, spreading to the eastern high ground of the Western Cape on Saturday.
3. Gale force north-westerly to westerly winds are expected in places between Table Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Friday and Saturday.
National Forecast Centre, Pretoria
Posted on: 26 May 2009 11:53 by Mark Todd
Very cold with snowfalls and gales
Advisory valid for Friday 29th May and Saturday 30th May 2009:
1. Very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected to set in over the high ground of the Western and Northern Cape Provinces on Friday, persisting through Saturday.
2. Snowfalls are expected on the western high ground on the Western and Northern Cape Provinces on Friday, spreading to the eastern high ground of the Western Cape on Saturday.
3. Gale force north-westerly to westerly winds are expected in places between Table Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Friday and Saturday.
National Forecast Centre, Pretoria
Posted on: 26 May 2009 11:53 by Mark Todd
Sackboy
Executive Member
Which you complain about and ignore.
Albereth
Honorary Master
Um.. I don't think he is going to see this.
Well, maybe he will now because he hasn't ignored me. Yet
Albereth
Honorary Master
That sounds awesome. I may need to visit. I like a good storm.
capetownguy
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Winter in Cape Town! Who would have thought?
capetownguy
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Plato calls Cape Town budget vote
Cape Town mayor Dan Plato on Wednesday introduced a R6.2 billion "pro-poor" budget that seeks to improve basic services and stimulate growth through infrastructure spending on major projects.
The budget allocates R679 million for electricity infrastructure, R907 million for water and sanitation projects, R810 million for the Integrated Rapid Transit bus system and R985 million for the completion of Green Point Stadium.
It sets aside another R278 million for landfills and R115 million for the Fisantekraal wastewater treatment works, R107 million for optical fibre broadband infrastructure and R89 million for completing road works on Hospital Bend.
Plato said the budget tries to balance infrastructure spending aimed at attracting investment and creating jobs, with providing basic services to people in the Mother City and improving living conditions on the Cape Flats.
"Promoting investment is the key to job creation, which is the only real way for people to escape poverty.
"The budget we will table today seeks a careful balance between the need to attract and sustain investment in Cape Town, and the constitutional imperative to state support for basic rights and socio-economic rights."
The city has set aside R1.01 billion for free basic services, which Plato said would include an increase in allocations to poor households.
"We are also massively increasing our support to the poor, to support basic rights like the right to water, and socio-economic rights like housing," he said.
"In this way, we want to give our disadvantaged citizens basic support so that they are freed up from the day to day struggle of living in informal settlements without services.
"This is a pro-poor budget, or rather, pro-poverty alleviation. In a time of economic crisis, it offers more support to those in need than any previous budget passed in the history of this city."
A total of R10 million is to be allocated for rates rebates to pensioners and disabled people, with the income threshold lifted to R8000 per month.
"These are better rates rebates than have ever been offered under the ANC, and continue the first ever 100 percent rebates for our poorest residents, which we introduced three years ago," Plato said.
He said the city would make housing a priority and planned to create 36,280 "housing opportunities" in 15 areas.
This includes building 1200 houses in Khayelitsha's Site C, 2850 in Nonqubela, 1650 in Wallacedene, 540 in Eastridge in Mitchell's Plain, 1400 in The Hague in Delft and 21,350 in Happy Valley.
Plato said Cape Town has maintained an average rate collection of 94.7 percent, enabling it to "start the next financial year in a strong position". - Sapa
Quickwire
Published on the Web by IOL on 2009-05-27 13:25:15
© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.
Cape Town mayor Dan Plato on Wednesday introduced a R6.2 billion "pro-poor" budget that seeks to improve basic services and stimulate growth through infrastructure spending on major projects.
The budget allocates R679 million for electricity infrastructure, R907 million for water and sanitation projects, R810 million for the Integrated Rapid Transit bus system and R985 million for the completion of Green Point Stadium.
It sets aside another R278 million for landfills and R115 million for the Fisantekraal wastewater treatment works, R107 million for optical fibre broadband infrastructure and R89 million for completing road works on Hospital Bend.
Plato said the budget tries to balance infrastructure spending aimed at attracting investment and creating jobs, with providing basic services to people in the Mother City and improving living conditions on the Cape Flats.
"Promoting investment is the key to job creation, which is the only real way for people to escape poverty.
"The budget we will table today seeks a careful balance between the need to attract and sustain investment in Cape Town, and the constitutional imperative to state support for basic rights and socio-economic rights."
The city has set aside R1.01 billion for free basic services, which Plato said would include an increase in allocations to poor households.
"We are also massively increasing our support to the poor, to support basic rights like the right to water, and socio-economic rights like housing," he said.
"In this way, we want to give our disadvantaged citizens basic support so that they are freed up from the day to day struggle of living in informal settlements without services.
"This is a pro-poor budget, or rather, pro-poverty alleviation. In a time of economic crisis, it offers more support to those in need than any previous budget passed in the history of this city."
A total of R10 million is to be allocated for rates rebates to pensioners and disabled people, with the income threshold lifted to R8000 per month.
"These are better rates rebates than have ever been offered under the ANC, and continue the first ever 100 percent rebates for our poorest residents, which we introduced three years ago," Plato said.
He said the city would make housing a priority and planned to create 36,280 "housing opportunities" in 15 areas.
This includes building 1200 houses in Khayelitsha's Site C, 2850 in Nonqubela, 1650 in Wallacedene, 540 in Eastridge in Mitchell's Plain, 1400 in The Hague in Delft and 21,350 in Happy Valley.
Plato said Cape Town has maintained an average rate collection of 94.7 percent, enabling it to "start the next financial year in a strong position". - Sapa
Quickwire
Published on the Web by IOL on 2009-05-27 13:25:15
© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.
Balstrome
Banned
I know this is a Cape Town Fanboi's club here, but there are other towns/cities in SA. When do we get to see what they are doing? Or are they waiting for Zuma to have his speech and then they will see if they can fit their plans for their towns into the speech outline?
Come on people, show us what you are doing, we can wait till after the speech if need be.
Come on people, show us what you are doing, we can wait till after the speech if need be.
Hoof-Hearted
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capetownguy
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Plans
Khayelitsha urban upgrade programme launched
Click to view full image
A tract of land which has long been known as one of Cape Town’s worst crime spots – where few people dare to tread – has now been transformed into a community space for the residents of Khayelitsha.
Two new community buildings, a park and a sports complex were opened in Harare, Khayelitsha on Saturday 23 May 2009.
Premier of the Province of the Western Cape Helen Zille and other officials joined the crowds of up to 4,000 local residents at the opening celebrations.
The development is the first stage of the City of Cape Town’s Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) programme.
The R120 million five-year programme is funded by the City, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Co-operation and Development, and the German Development Bank (KfW).
The goals of the programme are to increase the safety of residents; strengthen measures to reduce crime and violence; upgrade low-income neighbourhoods; provide social and commercial services; strengthen community structures; introduce a model of sustainable community-based management of local service nodes and empower the beneficiary population.
It aims to create four “safe node areas” in Harare, Kuyasa, Site C/TR section and Site B in Khayelitsha. Each of these safe node areas will cater for about 50 000 people.
Within the programme there is a Social Development Fund which gives Khayelitsha residents the opportunity to apply for funds; supporting measures such as programmes to improve safety, care for victims and meet the needs of vulnerable and offender groups; and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of these components.
The VPUU programme will also create public facilities such as a library and youth centre, sports facilities, toilets and other infrastructure, spaces for informal traders and other retailers, and pedestrian walkways. It will also ensure safety by providing safe, well-lit walk-ways and street lighting.
The new facilities opened on Saturday are the Peace Park Community building; Ncomu Road Community building; Ncomu Road Urban Park and Kwamfundo School Sports Complex.
“It was a very well attended, there were at least 3 000 to 4 000 people there, mostly local residents,” said Alastair Graham, Manager: Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading.
“Oxes and sheep had been slaughtered the day before to cleanse the site, which was one of the worst crime hotspots in Khayelitsha. It has now been transformed into something that the community is now in control of.”
“This wonderful achievement is part of the VPUU programme – an initiative that helps the people of Khayelitsha to take control of their environment and to live free and dignified lives,” says Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
“This initiative proves that you the community have the power to take charge of your lives and to create a safer and better living environment for all the residents of South Africa’s third largest township.”
Isabel Huber, Senior Project Manager, KfW-Frankfurt (German Development Bank), said: “Compared to the many projects that I have observed elsewhere in Africa and the world, VPUU is an outstanding and unique example of successful collaboration between a local government and the residents of an area – such as Khayelitsha.”
The VPUU programme has also provided assistance to FIFA’s Football for Hope programme, which aims to address social challenges in disadvantaged areas. The programme has included the planned Football for Hope facility in its package of facilities, and has facilitated the rollout of the programme from its inception, said Graham.
Martin Pollack
Khayelitsha urban upgrade programme launched
Click to view full image
A tract of land which has long been known as one of Cape Town’s worst crime spots – where few people dare to tread – has now been transformed into a community space for the residents of Khayelitsha.
Two new community buildings, a park and a sports complex were opened in Harare, Khayelitsha on Saturday 23 May 2009.
Premier of the Province of the Western Cape Helen Zille and other officials joined the crowds of up to 4,000 local residents at the opening celebrations.
The development is the first stage of the City of Cape Town’s Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) programme.
The R120 million five-year programme is funded by the City, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Co-operation and Development, and the German Development Bank (KfW).
The goals of the programme are to increase the safety of residents; strengthen measures to reduce crime and violence; upgrade low-income neighbourhoods; provide social and commercial services; strengthen community structures; introduce a model of sustainable community-based management of local service nodes and empower the beneficiary population.
It aims to create four “safe node areas” in Harare, Kuyasa, Site C/TR section and Site B in Khayelitsha. Each of these safe node areas will cater for about 50 000 people.
Within the programme there is a Social Development Fund which gives Khayelitsha residents the opportunity to apply for funds; supporting measures such as programmes to improve safety, care for victims and meet the needs of vulnerable and offender groups; and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of these components.
The VPUU programme will also create public facilities such as a library and youth centre, sports facilities, toilets and other infrastructure, spaces for informal traders and other retailers, and pedestrian walkways. It will also ensure safety by providing safe, well-lit walk-ways and street lighting.
The new facilities opened on Saturday are the Peace Park Community building; Ncomu Road Community building; Ncomu Road Urban Park and Kwamfundo School Sports Complex.
“It was a very well attended, there were at least 3 000 to 4 000 people there, mostly local residents,” said Alastair Graham, Manager: Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading.
“Oxes and sheep had been slaughtered the day before to cleanse the site, which was one of the worst crime hotspots in Khayelitsha. It has now been transformed into something that the community is now in control of.”
“This wonderful achievement is part of the VPUU programme – an initiative that helps the people of Khayelitsha to take control of their environment and to live free and dignified lives,” says Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
“This initiative proves that you the community have the power to take charge of your lives and to create a safer and better living environment for all the residents of South Africa’s third largest township.”
Isabel Huber, Senior Project Manager, KfW-Frankfurt (German Development Bank), said: “Compared to the many projects that I have observed elsewhere in Africa and the world, VPUU is an outstanding and unique example of successful collaboration between a local government and the residents of an area – such as Khayelitsha.”
The VPUU programme has also provided assistance to FIFA’s Football for Hope programme, which aims to address social challenges in disadvantaged areas. The programme has included the planned Football for Hope facility in its package of facilities, and has facilitated the rollout of the programme from its inception, said Graham.
Martin Pollack
I really hope Zille and the DA can hold onto things in the Western Cape.
This is a sad state of affairs. This malema clown is now calling Zille a racist. Maybe he should look into this womans history. She fought for the end of apartheid, but then Julius was still running around in nappies back then!!!
I hope the DA can hold onto the western cape. Something tells me things are about to turn ugly and it can very easily be turned into an ungovernable province.
This is a sad state of affairs. This malema clown is now calling Zille a racist. Maybe he should look into this womans history. She fought for the end of apartheid, but then Julius was still running around in nappies back then!!!
I hope the DA can hold onto the western cape. Something tells me things are about to turn ugly and it can very easily be turned into an ungovernable province.
iol said:
DigitalSoldier
Honorary Master
@Molokai, I think the article you posted deserve its own thread.
Hopefully that way the ANC supporters won't ruin this thread as well, I have seen noticed that whenever the ANC receives bad press the ANC supporters on the forum are nowhere to be found.
Hopefully that way the ANC supporters won't ruin this thread as well, I have seen noticed that whenever the ANC receives bad press the ANC supporters on the forum are nowhere to be found.
DigitalSoldier
Honorary Master
Yea you probably rignt, it does not really belong under the topic "Cape News"
The post by the OP
By the way I did not mean to be offensive but the type of news usually results in mudslinging, name calling etc and imo deserve its own thread.
It is not really related to the good work being done in Cape Town or the Western Cape.
capetownguy
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Part 1
Plans of the new Provincial Government
Extract, State of the Province Address
May 2009
Speaker, I will now turn to a brief survey of some of the priorities in the various departments of this administration.
In relation to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, we will be aligning our budgets with those of local governments, especially the City of Cape Town. And I will be asking our Minister and his Head of Department to engage with their national counterparts on the formula under which we receive our equitable share of national revenue, in particular to test whether that formula is in fact being worked out on the basis of sound information. We need national spending to address the developmental patterns in this country optimally, in the interests of all provinces.
In Economic Development we will focus on assisting and facilitating enterprise in the region, and ensure, as far as possible, that government helps and does not hinder investment. We aim to improve the global competitiveness of the Western Cape region by identifying and tackling constraints to investment, marketing the destination, cutting red tape, encouraging a fair business environment, and promoting the participation of citizens in the economy, particularly small and emerging enterprises. We already know, from the research done for the Micro Economic Development Strategy, what some of the key strategic growth areas for the region are: services for the oil and gas industry, tourism, information communication technology (ICT), business process outsourcing (BPO), call centres, human resource development, and small business development. There are other exciting possibilities in newly emerging fields such as Agri-processing, a field in which the Western Cape could emerge as a leading international player. We will continue, in the years ahead, to nurture these sectors by encouraging industrial clusters and providing appropriate infrastructure where possible. Some of our short term initiatives to further assist investment will include introducing a quarterly Western Cape pulse-taking and forecasting bulletin for investors and a user-friendly citizens’ guide to economic opportunities in top industries in the region. We will also get to work on resolving the current complications around the new provincial Liquor Act, and then implement it.
In terms of entities under the Department’s watch, we will review the efficacy of WESGRO and CTRU. To support entrepreneurial and business skills development, we will launch a pilot project for subsidized one year internships for 250 participants. We will be carrying out a similar project for tourism, in the form of an induction programme for 1000 participants, which will result in a short-list of 100 candidates for a comprehensive tourism business training course. And, to further encourage tourism in the Southern regions of the province, we will find innovative ways to get the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe (the last scheduled steam-train in the world) back on track. We will do so by involving business in investment for the train and other tourism related attractions in the area.
In terms of education, our focus must be on equipping our citizens with the skills they need so that more and more can compete in the global knowledge economy. This starts with literacy and numeracy. Reading, writing and calculating are the gateway skills for all others. Although we fare better than other provinces we have a long way to go to be international competitive.
Our key priorities in the medium to long term will therefore be, to develop and implement turn-around strategies for the 74 dysfunctional schools in this Province; to ensure quality instruction in literacy and numeracy at primary schools; to expand early childhood development so that more learners enter school with adequate cognitive and motor skills; to increase the number of learners in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM); to emphasise vocational skills training in the curriculum; to improve school infrastructure and resources, and, to strengthen school discipline and safety.
We want to see the 5 ‘T’s implemented in all of our schools: Time on task, dedicated and well prepared Teachers, good Textbooks for each subject, Technology for curriculum delivery, and the regular Testing of learners. And we want to develop an ethos of respect, courtesy, integrity, pride and discipline in each classroom. These are essential to learning.
In the Department of Health, there will be a focus on rationalizing the use of available resources to achieve maximum efficiency and make more funds available for our core services. Our current health services are buckling under demand, not only from residents of this province, but also from surrounding regions where health services are failing. This is especially challenging for the Western Cape because patients from other provinces often come here for expensive specialised services not available elsewhere. The national division of revenue is disadvantaging the Western Cape – 26% of the formula for national revenue allocation to provinces is based on patient numbers, but in the Western Cape, in the area of specialized services, 2% of patients take up around 20% of the funds.
This is of particular concern given that we currently have an R800 million maintenance backlog and need R5.8 billion to meet the demand for new infrastructure. The Mitchells Plain Hospital is one of many projects that is desperately needed, but is currently without allocated funding.
We will therefore increase the total budget allocation for infrastructure, and embark on a review of property use by the department in order to maximize efficiency. We must release any latent capital tied up in under-utilized fixed assets that can fund infrastructure development. We will also seek out public-private partnerships and joint ventures that will help meet demand. In the short term, there are a number of projects that we can drive, including the procurement of new ambulances, new helicopters, and new beds for patients. The Department will implement the new Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) for health workers in this province, in line with the OSD models accepted, as soon as we get a firm guarantee by the National Departments of Health, Public Service and Administration and National Treasury that the province will be reimbursed. Minister Botha will provide details of these and further initiatives in the weeks ahead.
Turning to Social Development, we will ensure that this Department is promoting access to opportunity for citizens through socio-economic support services. We intend to review the constitutional mandates guiding this Department, and measure the extent to which they are being implemented. We will also assess whether the approximately 1800 Non-Profit Organisations we are funding are adding sufficient sustainable value, and ensure that there is a functional system to monitor their performance. We must find ways to introduce the principles of social entrepreneurship rather than fostering dependence. There are some exciting new partnership prospects in this regard.
In the shorter term, we will inject R18 million into the budget to improve conditions of service for social workers, whose scarce skills are especially important for Early Childhood Development, victims of crime and violence, and assisting school pupils with emotional and learning problems.
Plans of the new Provincial Government
Extract, State of the Province Address
May 2009
Speaker, I will now turn to a brief survey of some of the priorities in the various departments of this administration.
In relation to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, we will be aligning our budgets with those of local governments, especially the City of Cape Town. And I will be asking our Minister and his Head of Department to engage with their national counterparts on the formula under which we receive our equitable share of national revenue, in particular to test whether that formula is in fact being worked out on the basis of sound information. We need national spending to address the developmental patterns in this country optimally, in the interests of all provinces.
In Economic Development we will focus on assisting and facilitating enterprise in the region, and ensure, as far as possible, that government helps and does not hinder investment. We aim to improve the global competitiveness of the Western Cape region by identifying and tackling constraints to investment, marketing the destination, cutting red tape, encouraging a fair business environment, and promoting the participation of citizens in the economy, particularly small and emerging enterprises. We already know, from the research done for the Micro Economic Development Strategy, what some of the key strategic growth areas for the region are: services for the oil and gas industry, tourism, information communication technology (ICT), business process outsourcing (BPO), call centres, human resource development, and small business development. There are other exciting possibilities in newly emerging fields such as Agri-processing, a field in which the Western Cape could emerge as a leading international player. We will continue, in the years ahead, to nurture these sectors by encouraging industrial clusters and providing appropriate infrastructure where possible. Some of our short term initiatives to further assist investment will include introducing a quarterly Western Cape pulse-taking and forecasting bulletin for investors and a user-friendly citizens’ guide to economic opportunities in top industries in the region. We will also get to work on resolving the current complications around the new provincial Liquor Act, and then implement it.
In terms of entities under the Department’s watch, we will review the efficacy of WESGRO and CTRU. To support entrepreneurial and business skills development, we will launch a pilot project for subsidized one year internships for 250 participants. We will be carrying out a similar project for tourism, in the form of an induction programme for 1000 participants, which will result in a short-list of 100 candidates for a comprehensive tourism business training course. And, to further encourage tourism in the Southern regions of the province, we will find innovative ways to get the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe (the last scheduled steam-train in the world) back on track. We will do so by involving business in investment for the train and other tourism related attractions in the area.
In terms of education, our focus must be on equipping our citizens with the skills they need so that more and more can compete in the global knowledge economy. This starts with literacy and numeracy. Reading, writing and calculating are the gateway skills for all others. Although we fare better than other provinces we have a long way to go to be international competitive.
Our key priorities in the medium to long term will therefore be, to develop and implement turn-around strategies for the 74 dysfunctional schools in this Province; to ensure quality instruction in literacy and numeracy at primary schools; to expand early childhood development so that more learners enter school with adequate cognitive and motor skills; to increase the number of learners in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM); to emphasise vocational skills training in the curriculum; to improve school infrastructure and resources, and, to strengthen school discipline and safety.
We want to see the 5 ‘T’s implemented in all of our schools: Time on task, dedicated and well prepared Teachers, good Textbooks for each subject, Technology for curriculum delivery, and the regular Testing of learners. And we want to develop an ethos of respect, courtesy, integrity, pride and discipline in each classroom. These are essential to learning.
In the Department of Health, there will be a focus on rationalizing the use of available resources to achieve maximum efficiency and make more funds available for our core services. Our current health services are buckling under demand, not only from residents of this province, but also from surrounding regions where health services are failing. This is especially challenging for the Western Cape because patients from other provinces often come here for expensive specialised services not available elsewhere. The national division of revenue is disadvantaging the Western Cape – 26% of the formula for national revenue allocation to provinces is based on patient numbers, but in the Western Cape, in the area of specialized services, 2% of patients take up around 20% of the funds.
This is of particular concern given that we currently have an R800 million maintenance backlog and need R5.8 billion to meet the demand for new infrastructure. The Mitchells Plain Hospital is one of many projects that is desperately needed, but is currently without allocated funding.
We will therefore increase the total budget allocation for infrastructure, and embark on a review of property use by the department in order to maximize efficiency. We must release any latent capital tied up in under-utilized fixed assets that can fund infrastructure development. We will also seek out public-private partnerships and joint ventures that will help meet demand. In the short term, there are a number of projects that we can drive, including the procurement of new ambulances, new helicopters, and new beds for patients. The Department will implement the new Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) for health workers in this province, in line with the OSD models accepted, as soon as we get a firm guarantee by the National Departments of Health, Public Service and Administration and National Treasury that the province will be reimbursed. Minister Botha will provide details of these and further initiatives in the weeks ahead.
Turning to Social Development, we will ensure that this Department is promoting access to opportunity for citizens through socio-economic support services. We intend to review the constitutional mandates guiding this Department, and measure the extent to which they are being implemented. We will also assess whether the approximately 1800 Non-Profit Organisations we are funding are adding sufficient sustainable value, and ensure that there is a functional system to monitor their performance. We must find ways to introduce the principles of social entrepreneurship rather than fostering dependence. There are some exciting new partnership prospects in this regard.
In the shorter term, we will inject R18 million into the budget to improve conditions of service for social workers, whose scarce skills are especially important for Early Childhood Development, victims of crime and violence, and assisting school pupils with emotional and learning problems.
capetownguy
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Part 2
In terms of addressing Substance Abuse, which currently falls under this department, we must bring all Provincial management and monitoring structures into line with the National Drug Master Plan (2006-2011), so that they can align properly with other spheres of government. Substance abuse is our most serious social problem in the Western Cape. An adequate response involves co-ordination between many departments. We will set up these mechanisms in the Department of the Premier to ensure that all our strategies are aligned to deal with this scourge.
This week saw a flare-up of vigilantism in response to drug dealing, and we can expect more of this kind of thing if we do not act decisively in this matter. Let us not end up, as we so often have in the past, applying police resources to pursue frustrated community members while the real criminals continue to ply their trade. We must work effectively within the law against criminals who are adept at covering their tracks. This can take inordinate amounts of time, as we found in our on-going eviction of drug dealers from Council housing in the City. The newly established dog unit, working in co-operation with the SAPS, the metro police, and neighbourhood watches, should enable us to make greater progress.
Apprehending drug dealers is one of a number of high priorities for the Department of Community Safety. Substance abuse, murder and crime in general, are serious disincentives to capital and skills, and directly ruin the lives of a growing number of our citizens. In terms of the Constitution, the Provincial Government has an oversight function in relation to the South African Police Service, although it is the National Commissioner who hires, fires and deploys the provincial SAPS leadership.
We have the function of monitoring the performance of the police, setting priorities for the region, and appointing commissions of enquiry into problem areas in policing, such as endemic corruption. We will first assess the situation properly before making any announcements. As we enter the first year of office, our priorities will include conducting research for evidence based policing policy and strategy, and strengthening co-ordination between the Metro Police and SAPS, especially around support for neighbourhood watches and substance abuse enforcement.
We will start work on these priorities by piloting a region-by-region safety barometer for communities, and carry out a full evaluation of strategies currently being implemented, including the Gang Framework Strategy. Following the previous example of the Multi-Party Government of Cape Town, we are also going to implement a strong civilian oversight programme for the SAPS to improve accountability of the police in the Western Cape’s main centres.
The Department of Community Safety is also responsible for traffic enforcement, together with municipalities. We are going to tighten up co-ordination of road safety initiatives with local governments, by, among others, implementing an integrated winter traffic enforcement plan. And to build staff capacity in the traffic services, we will establish a consolidated traffic training operation in the province.
In terms of housing, the biggest barrier is a shortage of suitable land. We will embark on an urgent land audit. Minister Madikizela has already met with the City of Cape Town to begin the process of transferring land to the City for flood relief and to insist with roll-over in situ upgrading of flooded settlements. In this spirit, we have also started the process of giving the City of Cape Town housing accreditation, up to level 3, so that it can take charge of housing delivery in the metro region. At the same time, we are going to assemble an intergovernmental project approval task team to cut red tape, which is also a major source of delays in housing delivery.
To improve the sustainability of housing projects, and give communities more options for housing, we will increase funding for the People’s Housing Process. This allows beneficiaries on the housing waiting lists to add their own funds to subsidized housing projects, and so increase the quality of their houses.
And, in order to address the critical conditions in informal settlements, we will develop a Province-wide plan for in-situ upgrading. We cannot deal with the scale of our provincial backlog using only conventional methods.
A similar principle of working with local government, and, where possible, devolving functions, will inform the approach of the Department of Transport and Public Works. The Integrated Rapid Transport system in Cape Town will be one of the most important public investments for facilitating regional economic growth, improving access, reducing congestion and freeing high-rise developments from Transport Impact assessment restrictions. We will therefore stop the Province’s previous duplication of functions and unnecessary interference with the City of Cape Town, and instead focus on synergy between the two. We want a public transport system that is more regulated, formalized and co-ordinated. We will continue our negotiations with the taxi industry in good faith but we will not tolerate lawlessness.
Mr Speaker, agriculture is another critical area for economic growth and sustainable rural development. The Western Cape farming sector and its related industries has suffered over the past decade, but is recovering, especially in the area of wine farming and wine tourism. In this regard, Minister Van Rensburg and his Department has set out a number of priorities aimed at further strengthening agriculture and related rural industries. Beneficiation of food products for the modern consumer is a major new international growth area, and one the Western Cape is well positioned to compete in.
We therefore intend to encourage the development of scarce farming and farm engineering skills in our province’s next generation of learners. We will introduce incentives for school leavers to pursue studies and careers in agriculture and related industries, including bursaries, and support for post graduates.
We will actively support and encourage market access for emerging farmers, and play an advocacy role in terms of international trade issues. And we will improve rural infrastructure and services in order to facilitate farming logistics as far as possible.
The first task of the Department of Local Government, Planning and Development will be to build better intergovernmental relations with municipalities. The Department’s mandate is to support local governments, not unnecessarily interfere in their functions.
In relation to planning, we will be reviewing outdated legislation, especially the Land Use Planning Ordinance (LUPO), in order to streamline planning processes in the various municipalities. LUPO predates the Constitution, and duplicates a range of municipal planning processes at Provincial level, with no apparent benefit. The red tape this creates holds up investment, and is contrary to our objective of creating jobs and building the economy. At the same time, of course, we also need to plan for sustainable human and rural settlements. We must get the balance right between the natural environment and the needs of economic growth. An important intervention, in the medium to long term, will be to find ways to allow cities like Cape Town and George to expand vertically, instead of extending urban sprawl. In the short term, Minister Bredell will be setting up a development and facilitation unit to assist municipalities with planning applications, and to look at unfunded mandates that negatively impact on municipal finances.
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport has set out several key priorities to ensure that our amenities are functioning optimally, and serving the public properly. This includes a review of Museum legislation, the extension of rural library services (wheelie wagons), and the improvement of library IT systems, especially increased internet access to facilitate IT skills among young people.
Minister Jenner will also work to encourage the development of sports clubs and school leagues, which will offer our youth the opportunity to get involved in constructive after-school activities. Part of this side of the Department’s work will be to implement a 2010 Social Legacy programme to ensure that the benefits of hosting this event will be spread across as many communities as possible.
In terms of addressing Substance Abuse, which currently falls under this department, we must bring all Provincial management and monitoring structures into line with the National Drug Master Plan (2006-2011), so that they can align properly with other spheres of government. Substance abuse is our most serious social problem in the Western Cape. An adequate response involves co-ordination between many departments. We will set up these mechanisms in the Department of the Premier to ensure that all our strategies are aligned to deal with this scourge.
This week saw a flare-up of vigilantism in response to drug dealing, and we can expect more of this kind of thing if we do not act decisively in this matter. Let us not end up, as we so often have in the past, applying police resources to pursue frustrated community members while the real criminals continue to ply their trade. We must work effectively within the law against criminals who are adept at covering their tracks. This can take inordinate amounts of time, as we found in our on-going eviction of drug dealers from Council housing in the City. The newly established dog unit, working in co-operation with the SAPS, the metro police, and neighbourhood watches, should enable us to make greater progress.
Apprehending drug dealers is one of a number of high priorities for the Department of Community Safety. Substance abuse, murder and crime in general, are serious disincentives to capital and skills, and directly ruin the lives of a growing number of our citizens. In terms of the Constitution, the Provincial Government has an oversight function in relation to the South African Police Service, although it is the National Commissioner who hires, fires and deploys the provincial SAPS leadership.
We have the function of monitoring the performance of the police, setting priorities for the region, and appointing commissions of enquiry into problem areas in policing, such as endemic corruption. We will first assess the situation properly before making any announcements. As we enter the first year of office, our priorities will include conducting research for evidence based policing policy and strategy, and strengthening co-ordination between the Metro Police and SAPS, especially around support for neighbourhood watches and substance abuse enforcement.
We will start work on these priorities by piloting a region-by-region safety barometer for communities, and carry out a full evaluation of strategies currently being implemented, including the Gang Framework Strategy. Following the previous example of the Multi-Party Government of Cape Town, we are also going to implement a strong civilian oversight programme for the SAPS to improve accountability of the police in the Western Cape’s main centres.
The Department of Community Safety is also responsible for traffic enforcement, together with municipalities. We are going to tighten up co-ordination of road safety initiatives with local governments, by, among others, implementing an integrated winter traffic enforcement plan. And to build staff capacity in the traffic services, we will establish a consolidated traffic training operation in the province.
In terms of housing, the biggest barrier is a shortage of suitable land. We will embark on an urgent land audit. Minister Madikizela has already met with the City of Cape Town to begin the process of transferring land to the City for flood relief and to insist with roll-over in situ upgrading of flooded settlements. In this spirit, we have also started the process of giving the City of Cape Town housing accreditation, up to level 3, so that it can take charge of housing delivery in the metro region. At the same time, we are going to assemble an intergovernmental project approval task team to cut red tape, which is also a major source of delays in housing delivery.
To improve the sustainability of housing projects, and give communities more options for housing, we will increase funding for the People’s Housing Process. This allows beneficiaries on the housing waiting lists to add their own funds to subsidized housing projects, and so increase the quality of their houses.
And, in order to address the critical conditions in informal settlements, we will develop a Province-wide plan for in-situ upgrading. We cannot deal with the scale of our provincial backlog using only conventional methods.
A similar principle of working with local government, and, where possible, devolving functions, will inform the approach of the Department of Transport and Public Works. The Integrated Rapid Transport system in Cape Town will be one of the most important public investments for facilitating regional economic growth, improving access, reducing congestion and freeing high-rise developments from Transport Impact assessment restrictions. We will therefore stop the Province’s previous duplication of functions and unnecessary interference with the City of Cape Town, and instead focus on synergy between the two. We want a public transport system that is more regulated, formalized and co-ordinated. We will continue our negotiations with the taxi industry in good faith but we will not tolerate lawlessness.
Mr Speaker, agriculture is another critical area for economic growth and sustainable rural development. The Western Cape farming sector and its related industries has suffered over the past decade, but is recovering, especially in the area of wine farming and wine tourism. In this regard, Minister Van Rensburg and his Department has set out a number of priorities aimed at further strengthening agriculture and related rural industries. Beneficiation of food products for the modern consumer is a major new international growth area, and one the Western Cape is well positioned to compete in.
We therefore intend to encourage the development of scarce farming and farm engineering skills in our province’s next generation of learners. We will introduce incentives for school leavers to pursue studies and careers in agriculture and related industries, including bursaries, and support for post graduates.
We will actively support and encourage market access for emerging farmers, and play an advocacy role in terms of international trade issues. And we will improve rural infrastructure and services in order to facilitate farming logistics as far as possible.
The first task of the Department of Local Government, Planning and Development will be to build better intergovernmental relations with municipalities. The Department’s mandate is to support local governments, not unnecessarily interfere in their functions.
In relation to planning, we will be reviewing outdated legislation, especially the Land Use Planning Ordinance (LUPO), in order to streamline planning processes in the various municipalities. LUPO predates the Constitution, and duplicates a range of municipal planning processes at Provincial level, with no apparent benefit. The red tape this creates holds up investment, and is contrary to our objective of creating jobs and building the economy. At the same time, of course, we also need to plan for sustainable human and rural settlements. We must get the balance right between the natural environment and the needs of economic growth. An important intervention, in the medium to long term, will be to find ways to allow cities like Cape Town and George to expand vertically, instead of extending urban sprawl. In the short term, Minister Bredell will be setting up a development and facilitation unit to assist municipalities with planning applications, and to look at unfunded mandates that negatively impact on municipal finances.
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport has set out several key priorities to ensure that our amenities are functioning optimally, and serving the public properly. This includes a review of Museum legislation, the extension of rural library services (wheelie wagons), and the improvement of library IT systems, especially increased internet access to facilitate IT skills among young people.
Minister Jenner will also work to encourage the development of sports clubs and school leagues, which will offer our youth the opportunity to get involved in constructive after-school activities. Part of this side of the Department’s work will be to implement a 2010 Social Legacy programme to ensure that the benefits of hosting this event will be spread across as many communities as possible.
capetownguy
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Its now our responsibility to make sure that they are held accountable for all these promises and plans.
R13...
Honorary Master
I am not an ANC supporter but I have noticed too that when DA apologists are found out they also slither away unnoticed. So the ANC supporters are like the DA ones in that way.
Very true.. if they pull it off successfully Western cape might not be the only DA run province. That being said, corruption usually comes with an increase in size and this is something they need to be prepared for in the coming years as it will happen.. its just a question of how its dealt with and how quickly its nipped.