President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of closer cooperation between national and provincial governments, urging ministers to engage more directly and consistently with their provincial counterparts.
The President was addressing a meeting between the National Executive and the Limpopo Executive Council, led by Premier Phophi Ramathuba, at the Polokwane Municipality Council Chamber in Limpopo on Friday.
President Ramaphosa described today’s meeting as significant, marking the start of a programme by the National Executive to visit all the provinces in the coming months and to engage directly with their leadership.
The President outlined the significance of the meeting as the first high-level bilateral engagement between the National Executive and provinces under the 7th Administration and the Government of National Unity (GNU).
President Ramaphosa highlighted the necessity for such interactions to ensure that both spheres of government can effectively coordinate their efforts and address local needs.
“As we strive for greater alignment between the developmental priorities of national and provincial governments, there is a need for Ministers to engage more directly and regularly with their provincial counterparts.
“On the one hand, this enables the National Executive to have better line of sight of provincial programmes. On the other hand, it enables provincial executive councils to better align their developmental roadmap with national plans,” the President said.
The President reiterated the constitutional mandate for cooperation among different spheres of government, stressing that effective governance must be transparent, accountable, and coherent in serving the people of South Africa.
“Section 41 of the Constitution outlines the obligation of different spheres of Government to cooperate with one another, assist one another, coordinate with one another and consult on matters of common interest.
“The spheres of government are to do so, while respecting the scope of their respective powers and functions,” the President said.
He called for a focus on overcoming structural challenges that hinder investment and job creation in the provinces.
The GNU, the President said, has identified a set of key priorities for the term of its administration, which includes driving inclusive growth and job creation; reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical and developmental State.
He underscored the vital role provinces play in achieving these goals, particularly through the implementation of the Medium-Term Development Plan.
“Our collective focus now is on marshalling the necessary will and resources to finalise and implement the Medium-Term Development Plan. Driving economic growth that is inclusive and transformational is at the centre of our national agenda.
“Provinces have a critical role to play in this effort. Improving service delivery, accelerating job creation and growing provincial economies are as much a priority for provinces as they are for national government.
“What will be critical in the coming months is a razor-sharp focus on the actions that we all need to take to enable provinces to leverage their respective endowments – be they avocados, minerals or citrus fruit – to ensure that that endowment is more effectively used for economic growth,” the President said.
The discussion also highlighted the need for provinces to leverage their unique resources such as agriculture, minerals, and tourism to stimulate economic growth.
President Ramaphosa noted the under-utilisation of arable land and the potential for improved tourism infrastructure as areas needing urgent attention.
Some provinces are extracting large amounts of minerals from the soil, but are not moving to another level. They need to start looking at the second level to beneficiate those minerals.
“We need to move beyond diagnosis of problems. We need to look at how to overcome the obstacles to provincial endowments being successfully used for development,” he said.
Premier Ramathuba and the provincial leadership were urged to identify obstacles to growth and to collaborate with ministers to formulate actionable strategies.
President Ramaphosa pointed out that ongoing structural reforms in sectors, such as electricity and water management, are critical to unlocking provincial potential.
This engagement is intended to open channels of communication and foster a collaborative spirit, with the aim of ensuring that Limpopo and other provinces align their economic development plans with the national vision.
Limpopo perfectly positioned to lead in a number of key sectors
The President said this first engagement between the National Executive and the Limpopo Executive Council must set the tone and agenda for future cooperation.
“We have to set our collective sights on what must be done to ensure provinces' economic development plans align with the broader national economic vision.
“Limpopo is perfectly positioned to lead the country in a number of key sectors, including agriculture, tourism, freight and logistics, and also mineral resources. The province is set to play a major role in the green economy transition.
“Limpopo possesses a number of critical energy transition minerals, including platinum, and has been designated as a site for the proposed Hydrogen Valley. We are pleased with the work already underway in this regard,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa added that Limpopo, by way of geographical positioning, is South Africa’s gateway to the continent.
He said the province is well positioned to strengthen South Africa’s links to the rest of the African continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The President called for innovative solutions and clear timelines to realise the full potential of provincial economies and improve the lives of citizens.
As government prepares for further engagements across the country, the focus remains on creating a capable and accessible governance framework that prioritises the needs of South Africans.
From here, President Ramaphosa will go to KwaZulu-Natal next week and then to other provinces.
“Our plan is to go to each province over the course of one year. We engage with provinces on an ongoing basis through MinMEC [Minister and Members of Executive Council] meetings and other forums, and we engage with people through izimbizo. This is the government that we want to make more capable and accessible to the people,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
