President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended the KwaZulu-Natal province for its resilience and determination in overcoming a series of major setbacks in recent years.
“Having experienced a series of significant setbacks in recent years, KwaZulu-Natal has proven to be resilient and determined to recover. You can be assured of the support of the National Executive every step of the way,” the President said.
The President was delivering opening remarks at the meeting between the National Executive and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial Executive Council at the Coastlands Musgrave Hotel in Durban, on Thursday.
The meeting was aimed at enhancing intergovernmental coordination and improving service delivery in line with the priorities of the seventh administration.
The provincial leadership presented to the President its five-year programme that responds to the national priorities of securing inclusive economic growth, reducing poverty and building a capable and ethical state.
The meeting also discussed interventions to improve service delivery at local government level.
This was the second engagement of the National Executive with a provincial executive council.
Last week, the National Executive met with the Limpopo provincial government, where it was outlined that the seventh democratic administration is prioritising the alignment of the work of national, provincial and local government.
READ | President calls for enhanced collaboration between national and provincial governments
Over the next few months, the President and his Cabinet plan to meet with the leadership of all other provinces.
Tourism boom
With its world-class attractions, the President said that KwaZulu-Natal is perfectly poised to lead a tourism boom supported by the visa reforms being undertaken by national government.
“KwaZulu-Natal is rich in natural splendour, has vast tracts of arable land, considerable marine resources and a ready and able workforce. These are just some of the province’s comparative advantages. It is up to us to ensure that these endowments are harnessed for economic growth and for development.”
Cooperation and shortcomings
The first citizen reiterated the importance of cooperative governance as enshrined in South Africa's Constitution, calling for strengthened collaboration across all levels of government.
The President underscored that cooperation, consultation, and mutual respect for the unique functions of each sphere of government are critical to addressing national and provincial challenges.
“There is an obligation for all spheres of government to cooperate, collaborate and consult on matters of common interest – all the while respecting the scope of their respective powers and functions.”
He pointed to notable instances in recent years where collaboration proved essential, especially during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the civil unrest in 2021, and the floods in 2022.
“In all of these instances, we can point to successes. But we can also point to serious shortcomings with respect to inter-governmental coordination. There is much that we have to learn from these experiences, and there is much that we need to build on.
“Among the lessons we have learnt is that it is critical for there to be open channels of communication between provincial authorities and their counterparts at national government.
“It is our expectation that this meeting will set in motion a more structured and regular form of cooperation between the national and provincial executives,” he said.
The President also reiterated the vision behind the District Development Model, launched in 2019, which aims to prevent siloed approaches in government by bringing planning closer to communities.
Promoting investment
President Ramaphosa welcomed the KwaZulu-Natal government’s pledge to align its priorities with the overarching goals of the Government of National Unity.
He praised the province’s ongoing efforts to promote investment, particularly in the Dube Trade Port and the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone.
He cited the opening of the King Dinuzulu Innovation Valley at Dube Trade Port as a promising development that could position KwaZulu-Natal as a hub for innovation in information technology.
The President also addressed progress on rehabilitation work in the Durban Port area, which is critical to the national economy.
“We all agree on the importance of deepening our collaboration as government, but also with the business community, labour and other social partners,” he said.
In the aftermath of the 2021 civil unrest, he noted that collaboration among government, businesses, labor, and other social partners proved instrumental in restoring stability and promoting economic recovery.
He commended ongoing efforts by the provincial government and business chambers to address service delivery challenges, infrastructure upgrades, and investment opportunities.
“The President noted tourism as one of the mainstays of the economy of the province.
Earlier on Thursday, the President was at the unveiling ceremony of the statue of King Shaka Zulu at the King Shaka International Airport, where he spoke about the potential of the new monument to promote interest in the rich culture and history of the province.
He spoke of efforts to improve tourism infrastructure and addressing water quality issues at eThekwini beaches, recognising that these initiatives as essential to boosting visitor numbers and economic growth in the province.
“We need to harness this interest in our history and culture to attract tourists from across the country and around the world.”
As the government and provincial leaders strive to implement these initiatives, the President reaffirmed his commitment to cooperative governance and the inclusive economic growth it promises for South Africa’s future. – SAnews.gov.za
