Two senior leaders, deployed by the African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal, attended activities that should be used as a foundation to sustain a new trajectory of socio-economic development.

These separate activities anchored the programme of action on the rebuilding of the economy following the outbreak of COVID-19.

The MEC for Finance, who is also the Leader of Government Business, Nomusa Dube-Ncube addressed stakeholders in the public and private sector on the 6th April. The Public Sector Procurement Forum was organized jointly by Proudly South Africa and Provincial Treasury.

She reiterated the commitment of the government, led by Premier Sihle Zikalala, to use procurement spend as a vehicle to transform the provincial economy in view of the fact that the pandemic has destroyed the economy resulting in a worse economic downturn.

In particular, she affirmed the determination of Provincial Treasury, as a custodian of procurement and supply management system, to ensure that all government departments and public entities, procure products and services from emerging entrepreneurs. These include SMMEs and Co-operatives across the province.

According to her, the marginalized members of society, must benefit from R133 billion provincial budget allocated to all government departments and entities.

Building on the State of the Province Address, she is of the view that accelerating access to economic opportunities is the only solution to addressing chronic poverty. She has described poverty as the most serious threat to our democracy and an impediment towards building a prosperous future of our province and the country.

By and large, all government service delivery programmes and interventions in the building of our economy is premised on the underlying desire to fight, eradicate poverty and build a better future.

Critically, “ensuring unity and building a better future, should be a collective effort,” according to Premier and Provincial ANC Chair Sihle Zikalala.

Speaking to national editors last night 8th April, Zikalala singled out the media as an important cog in the wheel of democracy.

He reasoned that members of the fourth estate are a bridge linking government to the people of this province - the Republic of South Africa and the globe.

In addition, he articulated plans for the rollout of government’s Economic Reconstruction and Transformation Plan.

He called on the media to continue with their constructive criticism. He encouraged journalists to analyse and report on the work of government without fear or favour.  He challenged them to hold government accountable in relation to the implementation of this economic recovery plan.

Zikalala’s message, that a divided leadership will never achieve prosperity, was well recieved. Undoubtedly, this message remains a take-away for  key stakeholders and members of the public who attended this open session.

It is true that a united leadership is critical in eradicating unemployment created by poverty. A divided leadership is recipe for stagnation.

In addition, poverty is a major contributor to deaths due to preventable diseases. It creates a vicious cycle of hunger across different generations. It also contributes to social instability such as crime, moral decay and compounds the impact of under-development.

It is therefore commendable that the two leaders reaffirmed government’s focus on the elimination of all the root causes of poverty.

Importantly, it is important to note that they have invited  each and every citizen to join KZN government on a journey to create a prosperous South Africa with an equal society.

They say a journey of thousands miles begins with one step. 

Lets Go 

Issued by Ndabezinhle Sibiya. Sibiya is a Spokesperson of the KZN Department of Finance. He writes in his personal capacity