Johannesburg: As South Africa grapples with the effects of global geopolitical developments, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country can only overcome these challenges through a united effort. Delivering the opening remarks at the meeting between the National Executive and the Eastern Cape Provincial Executive Council, the President emphasised the importance of collaboration in the face of mounting external pressures.
According to South African Government News Agency, the President and his National Executive met with Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and his executive council at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to discuss conditions and opportunities in the province. The meeting formed part of strengthening intergovernmental cooperation, collaboration and consultation. President Ramaphosa said engagements such as these were critical for South Africa to realise its full potential.
President Ramaphosa reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening intergovernmental relations. The President said the engagement marked the fifth formal meeting between the national and provincial executives since November last year, following similar sessions in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng. He expressed that these engagements are meant to complement existing structures like the President’s Coordinating Council and foster a more integrated and effective governance model, in line with the District Development Model (DDM).
During the meeting, the President acknowledged the strategic alignment between the Eastern Cape’s Provincial Development Plan and the national priorities of the seventh administration, which include inclusive economic growth, job creation, reducing poverty, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. He noted the alignment of the Provincial Development Plan with these priorities and looked forward to a detailed presentation on the roadmap for implementation.
However, the President painted a sobering picture of the challenges facing the province, which include high levels of poverty, inequality, unemployment, infrastructure backlog, and poor service delivery in key sectors such as health and education. He expressed concern over the Auditor-General’s 2023/24 Consolidated General Report findings, highlighting the Eastern Cape’s significant financial losses due to material irregularities.
President Ramaphosa cited specific failures in the education and health departments and warned that financial management must be coupled with improved service delivery outcomes. He stressed the need for critical decisions about resource allocation and spending in a challenging economic climate, urging leaders to drive inclusive growth and job creation while addressing the public’s cry for better services.
The President urged both national and provincial leaders to work together to ensure that the province’s natural wealth and potential are translated into meaningful development for its people.