Hon Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, members of the NCOP, provincial leadership, I am humbled by the opportunity to stand here and represent the Eastern Cape in the debate on the NCOP Provincial Week report under the theme: "Working together to ensure faster improvement in the delivery of services and the living conditions of our people."
The NCOP delegation practically demonstrated the integrated approach that brought together members from the NCOP, members of the provincial legislatures, MPLs, mayors, members of the executive council, MECs, and councillors. I think the first objective of the team - that is, to strengthen relations between the spheres of government - was met.
Cacadu District is the largest in the province and the various municipal areas in the district are scattered. However, the budget does not speak to the size of the district and there is therefore a need to refresh the information that is currently used to allocate funds for the Cacadu District Municipality.
In regard to health issues, the following centres were visited: Settlers Hospital, Humansdorp Hospital, Andries Vosloo Hospital and Midland Hospital in Graaff-Reinet.
Obviously, these hospitals also experience the problem of water shortages, which is a critical dilemma in the area. However, it is pleasing to note that in spite of challenges, services are not compromised, especially primary health care services. There is a shortage of staff, especially nurses, and more so for specialised services like choice of termination of pregnancy. In the case of Settlers Hospital, for instance, there is no dental service.
As we all know, there is a high vacancy rate countrywide of professionals in the Health department - doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Following Provincial Week, and in line with the President's call for the filling of critical vacant posts, the Eastern Cape has embarked on a programme. Currently 260 nurses are ready to be deployed from the province's Lilitha Nursing College to all areas, especially the rural areas that have a need, including Cacadu.
With regard to human settlements, the Sunday's River Valley, Blue Crane Route and Ikwezi Local Municipalities were visited. In the Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality the building process was put on hold due to issues of financial mismanagement, capacity and a lack of proper procedures. Although an integrated approach is already in place, as the Treasury, the department of local government and the municipality are working together, the NCOP delegation proposed a much more co-ordinated approach.
The Blue Crane Route Local Municipality has been hardest hit by the water shortage in the district, with drought adding to the dilemma. The water infrastructure is old and impacts negatively on the water quality. Once more, an integrated approach, specifically an intervention by the Public Works programme, will assist the municipalities to deal with challenges related to job creation.
Ikwezi Local Municipality is internationally known for mohair production, but factors that include water shortage, poor quality of houses, etc, hinder the process. However, since the visit of the NCOP, the municipality has intervened on the issue of community lighting, and master lights have been erected.
On social development, the delegation visited the Port Alfred Diversion and Mentoring Programme, the Eagles Wings shelter in Jeffreys Bay and a developmental foster care centre in Port Alfred. Most of the centres, especially the one dealing with the youth on the wrong side of the law, do not enjoy the publicity that they deserve. Sometimes even the justice system is reluctant to release young offenders to the centre. More needs to be done to raise awareness of the programmes. The proposal that was put to the centres was that funds that had not been used in the previous financial year should be used to raise awareness of their programmes.
In conclusion, water is the most difficult and critical area for the entire district of Cacadu. The Cacadu District Municipality is not a water services authority. This is the only district in the Eastern Cape that is not a water services authority, in spite of a lack of capacity within local municipalities. The Eastern Cape supports the report. Thank you. [Applause.]