Photo by: Reuters
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu has committed his office to economic growth, food security and job creation for the people of the province.
“This is no longer the time to theorize but to implement, to this end we have demonstrated our resolve and commitment to economic growth, food security and job creation by commissioning two Labs through an Operation Phakisa Approach, which will focus on Makhathini Flats and poverty eradication respectively.
“Both these labs will start their work during this very month of August 2014. They are tasked with coming out with a practical impact and outcomes based implementation plans, which will not only touch people’s lives but change them for the better,” Premier Mchunu said.
Operation Phakisa is aimed at fast-tracking the delivery of the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP), which is the country’s blueprint for eliminating poverty and reducing inequality.
Tabling his R697 159 million Budget Vote at the Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, Premier Mchunu said his office will drive the province, mobilize all provincial resources and gear the public service to delivering with speed on government priorities.
Whilst the national priorities are education, health, rural development, job creation, fighting crime and corruption, the provincial priorities include eradication of the scourge of HIV and Aids, eradication of slums and informal settlements, sustainable development and livelihoods for vulnerable groups and communities.
Through the provincial priorities, Premier Mchunu said they seek to ensure that communities in the province get empowered and capacitated to assume a more involved role in their own development and to be active participants in the opportunities that the democratic dispensation have to offer.
The Premier also committed to ensuring that civil servants, who are the coalface of service delivery, receive adequate training.
Through the Public Academy, he said, they would ensure that provincial departments comply with human resource and skills development legislation and prescripts, and one of the key priorities will be to train 7 000 public servants.
Provincial Growth and Development Plan
During this financial year, the KZN Government will focus on the implementation of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP), which is aligned to the National Growth and Development Plan.
Through the PGDP, the provincial government targets to create 2.1-million jobs by 2030.
The Premier explained that the implementation of the PGDP will involve the Planning Commission which is located in the Office of the Premier, working with the government departments including the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs on growing the KZN Economy and promoting the Maritime Sector and the development of the KZN Aerotropolis.
It will also involve working with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on the formalisation of rural settlements and community service centres.