Parliament, Wednesday, 11 October 2017 – The Northern Cape provincial delegates of the National Council of Provinces have resolved that discussions around the revision of the Division of Revenue Act are due. The resolution followed a meeting as part of the Provincial Week programme with the provincial executive on interventions that are aimed at creating work opportunities for the people of the Northern Cape.
The provincial executive highlighted the continued frustration faced by provinces such as the Northern Cape in relation to the small equitable share allocation the province receives from the National Treasury. The Northern Cape receives among the smallest share from National Treasury because of the population size of the province which impacts on the capacity of the province to roll out developmental programmes.
The delegation acknowledged the challenge and undertook to engage the executive at national level to resolve challenges caused by inadequate funding.
The provincial executive also raised frustration over the lack of cooperation by governmental departments at all spheres of government. Despite a number of commitments made by government departments, carrying through those commitments has proved to be challenging. A prime example is the commitment made during Taking Parliament to the People in De Aar to revitalise the railway hub in the area as a means of economic development.
The delegation committed itself to strengthening its oversight role to monitor commitments made by national government. Furthermore, the delegation emphasised the need for the strengthening of intergovernmental relations between spheres of government in order to enhance service delivery.
The leveraging of rural tourism was also highlighted as an area of opportunity that the province must look into. “The province must look beyond the Big Hole and look to enhancing rural tourism to create job opportunities. The Tourism Enterprise Support Grant is an ideal initiative that can encourage small and medium enterprises to develop,” said Mr Raseriti Tau, the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.
In relation to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), the delegation encouraged the province to develop a sustainable model that will ensure that skills acquired by beneficiaries are useful to them on long-term basis.
Investment in renewable energy as part of the nine-point plan to resolve the energy challenges facing the country has been amplified. The Northern Cape is uniquely positioned to be the renewable energy hub of the country. As a result, the Committee has encouraged the Minister of Energy, together with the provincial executive, to urgently hold a renewable energy summit to fast-tract the implementation of projects.
The delegation will tomorrow visit various projects to assess the implementation and impact of the projects.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE NCOP NC PROVINCIAL DELEGATION
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