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This is to inform the public that I have handed a letter of resignation as the Premier of Limpopo provincial government and as a member of the provincial legislature to the Speaker. This is in line with the decision of the African National Congress (ANC) to recall me as the Premier of Limpopo province. As a loyal and disciplined member of the African National Congress for more than 30 years I have since complied with the decision.

This redeployment is consistent with the culture and tradition of the African National Congress to deploy and redeploy based on the assessment of the task at hand. Therefore, it is the African National Congress that deploys and redeploys.

I would like to thank the African National Congress and the people of Limpopo for having given me the opportunity to lead the provincial government since 2009. Traditional leadership, members of the academia, non-governmental organisations, trade unions, business community, youth organisations, religious communities, colleagues in both the provincial and national government have provided me with valuable support that enabled me to execute my role to the best of my ability as the Premier. For this I thank you all.

My special message of appreciation is directed to the provincial Legislature, including the African National Congress Caucus for the support they have given me during my tenure as the Premier of the province.    

Together with the entire government leadership collective and building on the work of my post-Apartheid provincial government predecessors, I did my best since 2009 to improve and change the living conditions of our people in line with the ANC policies.

Since 2009 to the end of March 2013, we have succeeded in building more than 63 123 houses for our people. This means the African National Congress has managed to put shelter to over 252 292 people in the past four and half years. We have provided 1.2 million households with water and electricity at RDP level.

The ANC led government has successfully built more than 54 state-of-the-art schools in the province since 2009 and 82 schools giving many of our learners the opportunity to be taught in proper school buildings suitable for learning and teaching.

Since 2009 we have improved Matric results from 48.9% to 57.9% in 2010, 63.9% in 2011 and 66.9% in 2012. I am confidence that the class of 2013 will build on the past successes and raise the bar.

In accordance with our pledge to increase the number of health care facilities that provide comprehensive HIV and AIDS treatment and support in our province, we have increased from 80 facilities in 2009 to 487 presently and it is only the African National Congress led administration that can ensure that additional facilities are made available.

More than 457 facilities are offering the antenatal care as part of preventing the mother to child transmission. The fact that many people are testing to determine their status is an affirmative development that must be encouraged.

In the past years we have continued with the programme of improving the living conditions of our people through roads infrastructure development. We have constructed bridges for communities that were using segwaigwai since the beginning of time. We have built more than 15 bridges in the past four years and further constructed 323 kilometres tarred roads linking communities with their active economic zones. This road infrastructure development does not include those developments that are done by our municipalities.

All these achievements have been obtained because of the commitment and dedication of public servants who always go an extra distance in performing their respective duties. I have no choice, but to declare my debt of gratitude to this league of public servants. To all Members of the Executive Council, the Director-General, Heads of Departments, CEOs and Boards of Parastatals and all public servants thank you very much.   

Notwithstanding the few mentioned achievements, I am fully aware that a lot still needs to be done. Of course many of our people are still without electricity, water, jobs and other economic assets to commence their own businesses, access post matric education, and build houses of their choice, but there is hope.

Furthermore, I have no doubt that the African National Congress led government will continue with the colossal task of liberating our people from the traps of poverty, underdevelopment and all socio economic challenges.

Our municipalities are now on the correct path of actualising their respective mandates. We have ensured that municipalities employ right people with experience to occupy technical and senior positions. I am more than convinced that all African National Congress led municipalities in the province have the necessary machinery not to fail in their individual and collective responsibilities.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity and thank Executive Mayors, Mayors, Councillors and all municipal workers for their undivided support in the course of implementing our shared obligations.             

Contrary to the wrong perception, as the Premier and the entire provincial government, we have acted against all forms of corruption within our jurisdiction; and referred matters beyond our jurisdiction to relevant authorities. As the Premier, I have also insistent that if there is any form of corruption, people should report that to relevant authorities for investigation and prosecution. At no stage have we attempted to derail or delay any process of investigation or disciplining any irregular conduct. 

As law-abiding citizens we have always refused to perpetuate the culture of finding people guilty in the court of public opinion. We have also refused to violate the principles of separation of powers in the State. We have always been clear that roles of various branches of the State must be respected and afforded space to execute their constitutional responsibilities without any interference or pressure.

In the fight against corruption, we have never tried to deter any State institution from executing its task.

Under all material conditions we have never sought to channel or redirect State resources to pursue any agenda except the noble course of realising the pledges made to our people. Therefore, I also leave the Office of The Premier with my conscience clean that I have never done anything unlawful and un-ANC.
  
We must always be courageous in confronting the challenges of our today in order to dictate terms for our tomorrow. At no point must we surrender or vanish because it is difficult. We descend from warriors and brave leaders who fought tirelessly against colonialism and its manifestations.

Therefore, we have no reason to despair for the African National Congress is still at the helm. It is the African National Congress that liberated our people from the brutal apartheid regime and it is the African National Congress that will deliver our people to the promised prosperous land where there is no discrimination based on race or sex.

The African National Congress represents the past, the present and the future. It is only the African National Congress led government that possesses the capacity and expertise to create a conducive environment where people live to realise their dreams.

As a disciplined member of the African National Congress I will forever be guided by the movement.

Working together as a people we will achieve more.

Thank you and goodbye!