Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers
Chairperson of the NCOP, Hon. Thandi Modise
Speaker of the Free State Legislature, Hon. Mamiki Qabathe
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the NCOP
Members of the Free State Legislature
The Leadership of SALGA
Executive Mayor of Mangaung, Cllr. Olly Mlalmeli
Mayors, Speakers, Chief Whips
Director General, HODs, Municipal Managers and all our officials present here
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Programme Director, as we celebrate 20 years of our Constitution, 20 years of the NCOP, 23 years of our democracy, and 100 years since the birth of our icon President Oliver Reginald Tambo, we note a steady progress in how our oversight measures have assisted us to continue to deliver quality services to our people.
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa established the three arms of the state; namely;
i) the Legislature;
ii) the Executive; and
iii) the Judiciary.
The Constitution further allude that these arms of the state shall be; inter-related; inter-dependent and yet distinct from each other. The Free State Provincial Government therefore appreciates that, as the executive, our roles, duties, powers and functions are inter-related, inter-dependent and distinct from those of the Parliament, Legislatures and the judiciary. We therefore affirm our full support for the doctrine of separation of powers, as enshrined in our Constitution.
South Africa before the Constitution
Ours is a painful history. Before the Constitutional dispensation in South Africa there was no separation of powers between the different arms of the state. During the Apartheid era, there was no oversight by Parliament over the Executive.
The Judiciary and the Parliament were nothing but an extension of the repressive regime. The courts and parliament were used by the Apartheid government to enrich the white minorities through massive dispossession and oppression of the black majority, mostly Africans.
The African National Congress, as the main political party that led the resistance to Apartheid and colonialism, has a history of true commitment to the rule of law and the doctrine of separation of powers.
Through successive policy positions, like the adoption of Bill of Rights in 1923 as well as the Freedom Charter in 1955, the ANC laid a foundation for a constitutional dispensation that we all enjoy today.
The Free State’s adherence to oversight
The Free State Provincial Government has always, and shall always to adhere to oversight by Parliament and the Legislature. Our Departments will always honour invitations to appear in various Portfolio Committees who conducts oversight in matters of financial management, governance and other areas.
The improvements made in the audit outcomes of our Departments and entities is an indicator of how we have adhered to principles of sound financial management, good governance and accountability. In 2008/09, there was only one government department or entity with a clean audit.
In the 2014/15 financial year, we managed to get 6 clean audits at the provincial level. This progress is a result of good systems and mechanisms that have been put in place following various oversight interactions with various arms of the state. We will continue to work hard to ensure that we realize more clean audits and deliver more services to our people.
Improved service delivery
As a sign of sound financial management, the Free State Provincial government has made good progress in the delivery of services to our people. Since 2009, through our Service Delivery Model, Operation Hlasela, we have indeed changed the lives of our people.
The 2016 Community Survey by Statistics South Africa has shown that the Free State’s poverty rate has decreased by 2.1 percentage points from 42.2% in 2011 to 41.7% in 2016. The Free State now has the second lowest poverty rate after Western Cape. Re a Hlasela!!! We have indeed delivered.
In this year, The Year of President Oliver Reginald Tambo, healthcare remains one of our strategic areas of focus. Through strategic interventions like the appointment of healthcare workers, building and upgrading of health infrastructure, and extension of operating hours of some clinics, we have improved the quality of health services delivered to our people.
The Provincial Average Life Expectancy at Birth for males has increased from 44.9 years in 2001 to 52.5 years in 2016. For females, the average life expectancy increased from 47.7 years in 2001 to 58 years in 2016. As part of managing HIV/AIDS, we have also seen the decline of TB mortality from 9% in 2015 to 7.1% in 2016.
These outcomes are direct results of our radical programme to improve our healthcare system. In this regard, we have adopted Four Strategic Outcomes, which are;
- to increase life expectancy;
- to decrease maternal and child mortality;
- to combat HIV/AIDS and TB; and
- to decrease the burden of disease.
Our goal is to enhance the provision of quality and affordable health care services, as well as to achieve a strengthened public health care system. We aim to achieve a better healthcare system which shall benefit everyone, irrespective of race, gender, class or geographic location. Re a Hlasela!!!. We have Delivered.
Conclusion
On behalf of the Free State Provincial Government, I welcome the NCOP to our province. We hope that the 2017 Taking Parliament to the People will be very fruitful. We commit to ensure that our Departments will give all Honourable Members of the NCOP, as well as Members of the Legislature, the cooperation that this process deserves. Let this oversight effort be used to enhance the legacy of President OR Tambo. You are welcome in the Free State. We Thank You!!!Re a Hlasela!!!
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