Daily News
*SA is hard at work* /Establishment of the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission/ *President Jacob Zuma, Daily News, Durban, 1 November 2011*Over the past few months I have visited several communities, monitoring the performance of the government, as we seek to give real meaning to the phrase "Building a better life for all".
I receive many progress reports from government departments. However, nothing beats obtaining feedback directly from the communities we serve.
The visits normally end with a meeting with the local community. Water, electricity, clinics, housing and roads are common requests, as well as the call for jobs.
For many people, a better life means a decent job or any job that can put food on the table. Given the scourges of unemployment, inequality and poverty, we declared 2011 a year of job creation through meaningful economic transformation and inclusive growth, through both the ANC's January 8 anniversary statement and the State of the Nation Address in February.
We met labour and business in March, and are planning a follow-up meeting before the end of the year. The meeting has become more urgent given the gloomy economic situation globally, and the fact that we are losing jobs, especially in the manufacturing, mining and agriculture sectors.
The jobs we are creating are still way below the 2008 levels. We need to do more together to make our economy more resilient and to minimise the job losses.
Our *New Growth Path* framework responds to this challenge.Other than jobs, a better life for most people means living in a decent settlement that has proper roads, electricity, water, properly equipped schools, clinics, and recreational facilities.
Improved delivery of such services dominates our discussions when we meet, either as the cabinet or as the President's Co-ordinating Council, which brings together national, provincial and local government representatives. That is what we are striving for as the government.
At our July cabinet lekgotla, we decided to mainstream infrastructure development, so that we move faster in developing those power stations, railway lines, road upgrades, bridges, dams, refurbished airports and other critical developments.
The government is investing more than R800 billion in infrastructure over the next few years. Estimates suggest that infrastructure development can sustain between 50 000 and 100 000 jobs in construction through 2015, and can contribute to much-needed economic growth and development.
To manage this priority, we have established a high-level *Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission*, chaired by the president, assisted by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
I have appointed the following colleagues to the management committee of the commission:
* Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti as
chairman.
* Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.
* Public Works Minister Thembelani Nxesi.
* Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel.
* Planning Minister Trevor Manuel.
* Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard
Baloyi.
* Transport Minister S'bu Ndebele.
* Energy Minister Dipuo Peters.
* Premier Zweli Mkhize of KwaZulu-Natal.
* Premier Thandi Modise of North West.
* Chairman of the SA Local Government Association Thabo Manyoni.
The secretariat is headed by Patel and his team comprises the following:
* Deputy Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.
* Deputy Minister of Transport Jeremy Cronin.
* Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Lechesa
Tsenoli.
* Deputy Minister of Energy Barbara Thompson.
* Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe.
To alleviate poverty, we have short-term projects such as the Expanded
Public Works Programme and environmental employment schemes such as
Working for Water and Working for Land. The government provides social
grants to more than 15 million South Africans, mostly children.
We also have new programmes such as the National Rural Youth Service Corps, which has created close to 8 000 job opportunities and training for the youth.
An innovative Skills Accord was also signed recently by business, the government and labour. It commits business and the government to enrolling at least 30 000 young artisan trainees over the next 12 months in training programmes.
Business agreed to make at least 17 000 internship places available for young people who need work experience as part of obtaining their formal qualifications. The government has also set a target of three percent for the employment of interns.
Organised labour agreed not to regard the trainees as part of collective bargaining arrangements.
In addition, substantial work has been done to forge a common approach on the green economy with business, organised labour and community organisations.
A formal announcement will hopefully be made prior to the UN climate change conference in Durban.
We also welcome the Basic Education Accord that commits business, organised labour and community organisations to supporting dysfunctional schools.
A lot of work is being done to make South Africa succeed. Working together, we will truly build a better life for all.
*From: http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/opinion/sa-is-hard-at-work-1.1169353* ** * * -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
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