Address by Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Thutsa Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme at Sekhing Village, greater Taung local municipality, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District

Programme Director;
Acting Premier of the North West Province, Nono Maloi;
Kgosi Ponatshego Mothibi and other Traditional Leaders;
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo;
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment;
All MECs present;
Mayors present;
Co-Chairperson of SANAC, Ms Steve Letsike;
Members of civil society;
Fellow South Africans;
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning! Dumelang!

Let me begin by recognising Kgosi Ponatshego Mothibi, to whom we paid a courtesy visit this morning. Our visit to Kgosi Mothibi is an indication of our appreciation of the importance of the Institution of Traditional Leadership, and the contribution of this institution to the betterment of the lives of our communities.

I am glad to be present here this morning as we confront the critical issue of service delivery in our communities. This issue is personally significant to me since it concerns human rights.

Additionally, I have been delegated by the President to assist in the roll-out of the District Development Model through effective coordination of the different spheres of government, which will improve the functioning of municipalities and address community concerns.

Indeed, we can’t talk about human rights without addressing the issue of basic service delivery. The Bill of Rights, contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution, guarantees all South Africans basic human rights and recognises basic services as a human right.

According to Section 7, Sub-section 1, it is unequivocally stated that "The Bill of Rights serves as a fundamental pillar of democracy within the context of South Africa."

The aforementioned statement serves to codify the fundamental entitlements of individuals and communities within our nation, while simultaneously validating the democratic principles of inherent worth, parity, and human dignity.

Section 10 focuses on human dignity. It specifically states that “everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected”. If this is the case, a Councillor, MEC or Minister who fails to provide services to the people neither respects nor protects the dignity of the people. As such, when that happens, the Constitution is contravened. And this should never be allowed.

In this regard, let me commend Premier Maape and Acting Premier Maloi  for their commitment that the Provincial Government should focus on Job Creation & Accelerated Service Delivery – the Thuntsa Lerole Intervention.

The Thuntsa Lerole Intervention is aligned with the DDM which is designed to address problems with service delivery by allowing all spheres of government, from local municipalities to national government, to work together in a more effective and coordinated way.

The DDM enables all spheres of government to better plan, budget and implement projects and programmes. Communities will undoubtedly benefit from more integrated service delivery as a result of this commitment and collaborations directed by the DDM.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me take you back a little bit, and shed light on the service delivery promises made by the African National Congress (ANC) led government since the year 1994 to the present day.

As a party that has been in power for almost three decades in South Africa, we have made commitments to improve the lives of the people of South Africa and deliver essential services such as housing, education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure are provided to all South Africans.
 
However, it is essential to assess whether these promises have been adequately fulfilled. Let us start by looking at housing. As the ANC government we promised to provide adequate housing to millions of households living in informal settlements across the country.

To achieve this, the ANC government has initiated programs such as the Breaking New Ground (BNG) housing policy. While progress has been made, with over 3 million housing opportunities delivered, a significant number of families still live in substandard conditions, awaiting their turn for decent housing. The backlog in housing delivery remains a challenging issue for the government.

Education has always been our top priority for the government. We pledged to improve the quality of education, and achieve universal access and equal opportunities for all.

Notably, government introduced policies such as no-fee schools, increased access to early childhood development programs, and the provision of school meals. Earlier this morning, we visited Rebone Sediba Intermediate School here in Sekhing, to hand over much-needed items as a contribution to the efforts of improving educational outcomes in our schools.

By embracing the increasing role of digital technology in education, we can provide students with interactive and engaging learning experiences. E-learning platforms and distance education programs can also be utilized to overcome geographical and social barriers, and reach those who are otherwise excluded from educational and skilling opportunities.

Healthcare has also been a critical focus for our government. The promise to provide accessible and quality healthcare to all South Africans led to the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

The aim was to ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances, would have access to quality healthcare services. 

However, the introduction of the NHI has been slow, and the healthcare system still grapples with issues such as overburdened public hospitals, a shortage of medical staff, and unequal access to quality care.
 
Moreover, improving infrastructure is a key element in accelerating service delivery. We are happy that today, we had the opportunity to open a world class facility at Ba-Ga Mothibi Community Health Centre. 

The Ba-Ga Mothibi Community Health Centre stands amongst the best in our country, and I would even dare to say, on the African continent.

I am honoured to be part of today’s important gathering in celebrating another milestone in the improvement of service delivery to our people through the official opening of this centre.

As the ANC-led government, we are guided by the principles of “Batho Pele”, putting people first, in our efforts of providing quality services to the citizens of our country.

The people of Ba-Ga Mothibi are truly experiencing the spirit of “Batho Pele” today. In accordance with the principles of “Batho Pele”, the notion of “Access” has been the guiding principle for the establishment of this new clinic in in this area.

This principle demands that all citizens should have equal access to the services of government to which they are legitimately entitled.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the opening of this clinic is a direct response to the call of the people for the construction of a health facility to improve their access to a health facility that will safeguard the well-being of the community.

It is our major priority to improve access and the quality of health care through the primary health care system. The Primary Health Care approach, which emphasises inter-sectoral collaboration, community participation and equity, has been adopted as the model for the delivery of health services to communities.

Now, we have to acknowledge that for the uninterrupted flow of products, services, and information among our communities, it is necessary to have functional road networks, efficient transportation systems, and reliable communication networks. By prioritising and investing in infrastructure development, we can ensure that services reach the most remote areas of our country in a timely and consistent way.
 
The ANC government is investing not millions or billions, but trillions in the revival and maintenance of our country’s critical infrastructure, as a means to boost economic development and the social mobility of our people. We must protect these investments and ensure that they continue no matter what obstacles are thrown our way.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is important to note that we have made significant strides in certain areas of service delivery. Access to clean drinking water, for instance, has improved for many communities, and social grants have provided a safety net for the most vulnerable citizens.

However, the overall delivery and implementation of these promises have sometimes fallen short of expectations, with lingering challenges that need urgent attention. Social grants and economic support to our most vulnerable people is a key pillar of our commitment to the people. 

As we have said before today, government would like to apologise for the recent technical glitch that led to grant beneficiaries not receiving their critical grant support on time.

Last, but certainly not least, public safety should be given utmost priority. Timely response to emergencies, effective disaster management, and robust law enforcement are all vital components of a safe and secure community. By adopting modern technologies and employing well-trained personnel, we can drastically improve response times and minimize the damage caused by emergencies.

It is important to recognize that accelerated service delivery is not just about efficiency and convenience; it is about creating a society where every individual has equal access to basic services, and an equal say in how their community is governed and serviced.

By empowering our communities with faster and more efficient services, we can bridge socioeconomic gaps, reduce inequalities, and ensure a better quality of life for all.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Achieving accelerated service delivery requires collective effort. Governments, private sector organizations, and civil society must work together to identify and address the key challenges in service delivery.
 
Collaboration, innovation, and investment in technology and infrastructure are essential to create a robust ecosystem that supports accelerated service delivery.

In conclusion, accelerated service delivery, like the Thuntsha Lerole Programme of this province, is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is a human right, as enshrined in our Constitution. It is the key to unlocking the full potential of our communities and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

In conclusion, accelerated service delivery is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is the key to unlocking the full potential of our communities and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

Let us all commit ourselves to this cause and work towards building a society where efficient and timely services are the norm. In the spirit of Thuntsha Lerole! In the spirit of Batho Pele!!!
 
Thank you.