Friday, 10 February 2012 www.thenewage.co.za Brought to you by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS President Jacob Zuma 2011: A year of action Ricky Naidoo tion of the National Development 30 000 artisan s created further Most of these focus on procure- initiating patients on antiretrovi- u pgrading p rogramme has exce- term on the AU p eace and s ecu- Plan by the National Planning impetus for job creation. ment-related irregularities, as it ral treatment increased from 495 eded its target by providing ser- rity c ouncil. South Africa also IN HIS S tate of the N ation speech Commission in the Presidency. In the area of c ooperative is a major priority for the govern- to 2 948. A landmark achievement vices to 52 383 sites against a assumed the chair of the South- last year, President Jacob Zuma Job creation, one of the g ov- g overnance, cooperation with ment to deal with corruption in for government is the 50% reduc- target of 27 054 sites. ern African Development Com- declared: “Our goal is clear. We ernment’s key priorities, remains provincial administrations imp- procurement and to ensure better tion in mother-child transmission The Housing Development munity o rgan on p olitics, d efence want to have a country where mil- pivotal . In this regard, large-scale roved considerably because of value for money. A c ommission f]?@MY\kn\\e)''/Xe[)'('% Agency is now fully opera- and s ecurity and the Presidential lions more South Africans have projects such as electricity plants, regular meetings of the President, of i nquiry into the a rms d eal was In the area of rural development tional. To date, the agency has Infrastructure Championship Ini- decent employment opportunities, rail and road upgrades, and water p remiers and local government also established to probe allega- and land reform, one of the biggest acquired 309 land properties. tiative . South Africa also played a which has a modern infrastruc- management projects were intro- representatives in the President’s tions of corruption. success stories is the piloting of Provincial departments have pivotal role in the birth of South ture and a vibrant economy, and duced to create and sustain up to Coordinating Council . In its quest to deliver quality small rural towns’ revitalisation. acquired an additional 4 944.5ha Sudan. Peacekeeping operations where the quality of life is high.” 100 000 jobs in the construction @ek_\Ô^_kX^X`ejkZi`d\Xe[ health care, government has made Two p ilot p rojects are underway of land in support of government’s involving a total of 2 304 South I\Õ\Zk`e^ fe k_`j [\ZcXiX$ industry until 2015. Zfiilgk`fe# føZ`Xc jkXk`jk`Zj progress in various areas. It has at the Prince Albert Hamlet and initiatives to provide sustainable African National Defence Force tion, how did the g overnment Other key job creation projects reveal that violent crimes are on j`e^c\[flkk_\Ô^_kX^X`ejk?@M in Dysselsdorp. A National Rural human settlements. members were undertaken in the really perform on the delivery included the establishment of a the decline. Last year , a 5.75% and Aids. In 2009, ground break- Youth Service Corp in Dyssels- @ek_\Ô\c[f]`ek\ieXk`feXci\cX$ Democratic Republic of Congo, of its promises? To ensure that R9b n jobs fund to encourage new reduction was achieved for seri- `e^d\Xjli\jkfÔ^_k?@MXe[ dorp was launched involving 7 956 tions, the objective of a better life Sudan and the Central African these promises were delivered, initiatives both inside and outside ous crimes and a 9.65% drop was Aids, relating to testing, treat- young people from rural commu- for the people of South Africa, the Republic. the Department of Performance of government, the establishment recorded for contact crimes. ment and support, were imple- nities. The g overnment’s school continent of Africa and the world The achievements of the Monitoring and Evaluation was of more than 300 cooperatives The g overnment has further mented . Last year, the national nutrition scheme now reaches at large, formed the cornerstone g overnment were substantial. created in the Presidency. Minis- under the c omprehensive r ural demonstrated that it is serious ?@MZflej\cc`e^Xe[k\jk`e^ZXd$ 8.6 million pupils. of government policy. The govern- Although there are still chal- ter Collins Chabane was tasked d evelopment p rogramme and XYflkk_\Ô^_kX^X`ejkZfiilg$ paign was launched. More than Social grants remain the cor- ment hosted a successful COP17/ lenges, performance of the g ov- with the responsibility of ensuring 521 831 job opportunities created tion and ensuring clean govern- 13 million people were tested for e\ijkfe\f]k_\Ô^_kX^X`ejkgfm$ CMP7 U N Climate Change Con- ernment in the past year provides that progress was made . through the expanded public ance. To date, 22 proclamations ?@MXe[dfi\k_Xe/d`cc`fen\i\ \ikpXù\Zk`e^Z_`c[i\eXe[fc[\i ference in Durban. renewed hope to the nation that A further boost to the g overn- nfibjgif^iXdd\%K_\ÔeXc`jX$ have been issued by the President screened for TB. From January persons. These now reach more The African Agenda also the quest for a better life for all is ment’s drive to accelerate delivery tion of the Skills Accord between authorising the Special Investigat- 2010 to September 2011, the than 15 million individuals. remains a key policy focus, with indeed becoming a reality. fe`kjgifd`j\jnXjk_\ÔeXc`jX$ government and business to train ing Unit to conduct investigations. number of public health facilities The i nformal s ettlements South Africa serving a two-year [email protected] Working together we can do more! PAGE 2 Friday, 10 February 2012 STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS President Jacob Zuma JOB CREATION Job creation still a high priority President Zuma has once again under lined the importance of getting more people working Tlalane Tshetlo quickfacts FOR the second year running, job creation remains a priority GOVERNMENT job creation for the government and the pri- initiatives include: vate sector. » a R9 bn Jobs Fund to Last year in his State of the encourage new initiatives N ation address , President Jacob both inside and outside of Zuma again mentioned the need the government for more jobs for South Africans. » establishing more than President Zuma said he was 300 cooperatives under the Comprehensive Rural Devel- concerned that unemployment opment Programme and poverty persisted despite » 521 831 work opportuni- the economic growth of the past ties were created by the 10 years. To resolve th is concern , end of October through he declared 2011 a year of job crea- the Expanded Public Works tion through meaningful economic Programme transformation and inclusive » job opportunities for more than 80 000 people growth. under the Community Work “We have introduced the New Programme Growth Path that will guide our » 15 132 jobs created under work in achieving these goals, the LandCare, Forestry working within the premise that Operations, Micro-Agricul- the creation of decent work is at tural Financial Institutions of South Africa, Working for the centre of our economic poli- Fisheries and Comprehen- cies,” President Zuma said in his sive Agricultural Support state of the nation speech last programmes year. » a further 83 791 job oppor- Research had indicated that tunities created in all nine jobs needed to be created in provinces across infrastructure development, X^i`Zlckli\#d`e`e^Xe[Y\e\Ô$ programme. ciation , manufacturing, the green In addition, 521 831 jobs were economy, and tourism. created by the end of October “We cannot create these jobs last year through the expanded alone. We have to work with busi- public works programme. Fur- ness, labour and community con- thermore, 80 000 people were stituencies,” President Zuma said. employed under the c ommunity “Experience shows we succeed w ork programme. when we work together .” Between April and September Some of the initiatives the gov- last year, another 83 791 jobs were ernment put in place last year created across the nine provinces include the R9b n Jobs Fund, in 63 municipalities. which is aimed at encouraging Compared with the prior year , new initiatives both inside and employment increased 2.6%, add- outside of the government, and ing 342 000 jobs , according to the the establishment of more than Labour Force Survey for July to 300 cooperatives under the c om- September 2011. prehensive r ural d evelopment [email protected] FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE: Construction workers in Ivory Park. Picture: HERBERT MATIMBA Infrastructure Development Cluster » Cooperative Governance and » Public Works Traditional Affairs Infrastructure projects » The Presidency: National » Deputy Chair: » Economic Development Planning Commission Mr Malusi Knowledge Energy Nkanyezi Gigaba » Transport creating employment Minister of Public Enterprises » Finance » Water and Environmental Michael Appel Increased wages was another » Chair: Participating Departments » Human Settlements Affairs issue Makgola touched on as Mr Joel Sibusiso Ndebele THE g overnment, through the he believes that a decent day’s Minister of Transport » Communications » Public Enterprises prioritisation of infrastructural work should be rewarded with development, is one of the big- a decent day’s pay. gest employers in the country. One of the construction work- Working on repairing road ers on Makgola’s team, Edward infrastructure in Tembisa, Luthuli, said: “I am so happy to Bester Makgola of Hezeki Con- have a job as I can support my State’s infrastructure builds prosperity tractors said the government family and stay out of trouble, was putting food on his table but I know many people who Michael Appel Tshwane and Rosebank came on and a roof over his head.