Parliament, Sunday 8 October 2017 – Permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will embark on a week-long Provincial Week programme across the country to assess employment creation initiatives by various sectors of society.

The theme for this biennial event, to be held from 10 to 13October 2017, is: “Advancing our collective efforts to creating work opportunities for our people.” This year’s Provincial Week occurs as Parliament and the legislative sector celebrate 20 years of the Constitution and 20 years since the establishment of the NCOP.

The delegates, joined by their counterparts from Provincial Legislatures, will meet with the Premiers, Members of the Executive Councils (MECs), the Local Government Association (SALGA), Mayors and other relevant stakeholders. In some provinces, the delegates will be split into groups that will visit various District Municipalities in their respective provinces to follow up on commitments made in the creation of employment opportunities to communities.

The delegations will use this opportunity to conduct oversight visits to short and long term projects and interventions such as factories, industries and expanded public works projects to, among others, assess:

• Measures in place to leverage the potential of township economies to create job opportunities for all;

• How public and private partnerships are harnessed to open up job opportunities;

The Provincial Week provides an opportunity for the NCOP and Legislatures, to engage directly with citizens on challenges they experience. It further provides an opportunity to receive reports from Government departments and municipalities on progress made regarding service delivery.

Programmes outlining sites and projects to be visited by the delegates for Provincial Week are available on the Parliament website.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo 082 370 6930