As part of the Presidency’s achievements for the past financial year, it's Annual Report highlights significant strides made in drawing black industrialists into the economy, youth employment and deepening the impact of Operation Phakisa.
This was noted by Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, when she tabled the Presidency’s annual report in Parliament on Thursday.
The annual report, which received an unqualified audit opinion for the 2017/18 financial year, reflects the work of the Presidency.
“In the year under review, the Black Industrialists Programme was launched to kick-start greater participation of black South Africans in the industrial sector.
“Government has thus far supported 46 projects that have attracted R3.7 billion of private-sector investment and created 19 859 jobs. To support localisation, 21 products and sectors have been designated for local production,” said the Minister.
The financial year under review also saw the launch of the refurbished Babelegi Industrial Park in Hammanskraal as part of government’s plan to accelerate economic development and job creation.
Dlamini-Zuma highlighted the launch of the Africa Regional Centre (ARC) of the New Development Bank (NDB) in South Africa as one of the major developments in the 2017/18 financial year.
“The launch of the BRICS’s ARC further demonstrates government’s commitment to providing access to capital for infrastructure projects in Africa and other developing countries,” she said.
As part of government’s attempts to facilitate the growth of business by improving the ease of doing business, the President, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, launched InvestSA One-Stop-Shops in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape.
The One-Stop-Shop concept creates a point of contact for investors to obtain services that can fast-track projects and reduce red tape when establishing a business.
Mining
In the interest of creating a favourable environment for long-term investment, the Presidency called for further engagement on the revised Mining Charter.
The engagement was done to allow for communities and other stakeholders to be heard, to secure the consensus and collaboration required for the growth and development of this industry.
Operation Phakisa
In the results-focused Operation Phakisa Programme, Dlamini-Zuma said progress was made in the implementation of the Ideal Clinic Realisation and Maintenance Programme.
An ideal clinic is a clinic with good infrastructure, adequate staff, adequate medicine and supplies, good administrative processes and sufficient bulk supplies that use applicable clinical policies, protocols and guidelines.
“By the end of June 2017, a total of 1 108 clinics in the public sector had achieved ideal status. This performance translates to 30% of the existing stock of 3 477 Public Health Clinic facilities.
“The target set for March 2019 is for 2 823 Public Health Clinic facilities to become ideal,” said the Minister.
Coordinated by the Presidency, Cabinet introduced a total of 33 Bills to Parliament. The Bills pertained to the economy, transport, finance, labour, education, registration of deeds, telecommunications, science and technology, and rural development.
Youth employment
The Presidency also collaborated with stakeholders in government and the private sector to launch the Youth Employment Service (YES) – an initiative that aims to bridge the critical gap between education and the workplace through work experience for young people.
At the time of the launch, 20 companies had already committed to provide 22 000 work experience opportunities, with a further 18 companies on the brink of unlocking a further 21 000 opportunities.
Education
Following the publication of the findings of the Heher Commission on Higher Education Funding - government paid the fee increase, which was capped at 8%, for all students who have a gross combined family income of up to R600 000 per annum.
Government also made arrangements through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for the payment of the upfront registration fees payable by NSFAS-funded students at universities and TVET colleges.
“These achievements signal commitments by the Presidency to grow the economy, improve service delivery, ensure accountability and transparency and set the standard for government’s collective responsibility,” said the Presidency. – SAnews.gov.za
