31 July 2014
ANC PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE STATEMENT
The PEC of the ANC in KZN held its monthly meeting on Sunday and Monday to assess the state of the organisation and more importantly to monitor the performance of its overall governance and municipalities.
The meeting was characterised by frank and in-depth debates and discussions, which highlighted the important achievements we have registered, and also what we still have to do in the continuing struggle to realise the socio-economic objectives of our National Democratic Revolution. Poverty reduction and its eventual eradication remains our single most important goal.
The PEC raised very serious concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Gaza, and made an emphatic call on Israel to immediately stop the bombardment of Gaza and the use of collective punishment on Palestinians.
The ANC reiterates its position that the only long lasting solution to the situation in the Middle East is the attainment of a two state solution between Israel and Palestine in which the two states exist side by side independently and peacefully. The PEC also commended President Jacob Zuma for sending special envoys to Israel and Palestine with the intention to persuade both parties to end the crisis.
ON THE ISSUE OF TOLLS
The PEC welcomed the news that there will be no new tollgates or e-Tolls in KwaZulu-Natal as our province already has too many tolls. The Provincial Working Committee of the ANC last week held a meeting with the Minister of Transport, Cde Dipou Peters, and the SANRAL management with the aim of getting clarity on media reports that KwaZulu-Natal would soon get more tolls and e-Tolls.
During that meeting, the ANC was assured by both the SANRAL management and the Minister that there were no new planed toll roads or e-Tolls for KwaZulu-Natal. The ANC requested the meeting because it sympathises with the concerns raised by the people of this province who consistently complain that they cannot afford to have more tolls, as they are already overtaxed on the roads.
This strategic intervention demonstrated again that the ANC is indeed a people's movement and the leader of our society. The ANC is not, and has never been a movement that was formed more than 100 years ago, merely to represent the interest of its members and its leaders. We are dedicated to the well being of, and a better life for, all South Africans.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has on several occasions raised concerns about the possibility of having additional tolls because that will see our people paying even more for using the roads. We re-iterate our position that our province already has too many tolls and adding more will add unacceptable further financial burden on our motorists.
ON SERVICE DELIVERY
The PEC was pleased that service delivery in all parts of KwaZulu-Natal is being fast-tracked by the ANC-led provincial departments and municipalities to ensure that we indeed move our province forward as outlined in our Manifesto.
The newly formed service delivery monitoring and evaluation task team will continue to keep an eye on the provision of government services in the province, and report to the PEC to ensure the problems that cause delays in service delivery are expeditiously addressed.
Our monitoring and evaluation team is comprised of the ANC provincial secretary, Cde. Sihle Zikalala, Cde. Mxolisi Kaunda, Cde Nontembeko Boyce and Cde Nonzwakazi Swaartboi-Ntombela. The ANC recommits itself to using the victory it received during the recent elections to continue delivering water, electricity, roads, clinics, good schools and all amenities that enable our people to live in decent human settlements, both in urban and rural areas.
The PEC was emphatic that in the process of delivering services to the people, its deployees should continue to be closer to the people they serve, and they should always deliver services with humility and great respect. In this regard, the abuse of blue light convoys on our roads by some ANC deployees in government and municipalities was strongly criticised as it indicates an arrogance that is not becoming of ANC deployees who must in all situations live out their servant hood in humility to our people.
The abuse of blue lights will now be closely monitored to ensure that it does not happen. The ANC is a people's movement and it dare not to do things that detach itself from the people. Our Movement serves as the true hope of the masses of our people and is the repository of the confidence they have about a better future.
The PEC called on government and municipalities to make certain that the events organised to launch programmes and public participation programmes are done in a cost effective manner to avoid wasteful expenditure. The ANC believes that the public participation programmes such as Izimbizos are important because they ensure community participation. However, it is of the view that these programmes can be done in less costly way.
We want to state categorically clear that we as the ANC are extremely happy with the performance of our province when it comes to service delivery. We commend the progress that has been scored in the financial management of several municipalities as contained in the Auditor General's Report on Local Government Audit Outcomes released yesterday. The Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu yesterday cited major positive trends by KwaZulu-Natal municipalities.
We congratulate KwaZulu-Natal's seven municipalities and four municipal entities for having received clean audits. Uthungulu District, Msinga, Ntambanana, Okhahlamba, Ubuhlebezwe, uMhlathuze, uMzimkhulu municipalities received clean audits. The following municipal entities also received clean audits. Durban Marine Theme Park (Pty) Ltd, Safe City Pietermaritzburg, uThungulu House Development Trust and uThungulu Financing Partnership
Although this is major improvement, we want to urge our provincial government and all municipalities to ensure they strive for clean audits so that the abuse of tax payer's hard earned cash can be stopped.
Statement issued by Sihle Zikalala, ANC KZN Provincial Secretary, July 31 2014
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