MEDIA STATEMENT

TO ALL MEDIA/NEWS EDITORS

12 APRIL 2017

PROGRESS MADE IN THE PAST FINANCIAL YEAR UNDER THE LEADERSHIP

OF PRESIDENT ZUMA
As President Jacob Zuma celebrates his 75th birthday, The Presidency takes stock of
some of the progress made in the past year alone under his leadership. The list is
not exhaustive but covers some of the achievements of the past financial year which
ended on 31 March 2017.
ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND REIGNITING GROWTH AND JOBS
Progress was made in various programmes including energy, manufacturing,
transport, telecommunications, water, tourism, the ocean economy, mining,
agriculture, telecommunications, Industrial Policy Action Plan and managing
workplace conflict.
To actively ensure the ease of doing business in the country, the Inter-Ministerial
Committee on Investment was established, chaired by the President, with the Deputy
President and 18 Ministers as members. One of the key practical steps has been the
establishment of the One Stop Shop or InvestSA initiative to remove obstacles to doing
business in South Africa. The project, overseen by the IMC, works actively to assist
potential investors to fast-track company registrations, water or energy licensing,
environmental impact assessments, visa requirements and other imperatives. The
programme will be rolled out in all provinces, removing the red tape in government
that is impeding new investments.
Progress has been made in various focus areas, such as the following;
Manufacturing

Significant strides were made to support the countrys manufacturing

sector. During the 2015/16 financial year, the Department of Trade and
Industry (dti) through its range of incentives supported 1 770
companies resulting in a total of R57 billion new investment made by
the private sector and more than 80 000 jobs were supported. In the
first six months of the current financial year, the dti through its
 incentives leveraged more than R27 billion private sector investment
and supporting just over 7 000 new jobs to be created. The dtis
Automotive Production and Development Programme has attracted
automotive investments from across the world.

The Industrial Development Corporation last year approved R14,5 billion in new
investment, the largest sum to date and 26% higher than the preceding year. Of
particular note is the fact that this included 2,9 billion in transactions involving 54 black
industrialists, so that we broaden participation in the economy. Roughly R1 billion was
approved for youth-owned enterprises, showing that we are serious about
implementing the Youth Employment Accord.
The Black Industrialists Programme was established to enable black industrialists to
enter strategic and targeted industrial sectors and value chains. This project seeks to
enable black empowerment beyond share ownership schemes, to create a footprint of
industries owned by black people.
So far, more than 27 black industrialists have been supported to the value of more
than R1.5 billion, mainly in agro-processing; plastic and pharmaceuticals; electro
technical equipment; and metals sectors. More than 2000 jobs were created across
the sectors. The Special Economic Zones programme remains an important
instrument to attract strategic foreign and domestic direct investment, build targeted
industrial capabilities and also build new industrial hubs.
Since the introduction of the Programme; investments worth R41,2 billion have
already been secured and the relevant projects are at various levels of
implementation. Of these, R9.4 billion worth of investments are already in operation
in the zones.
Agriculture and rural development
The agricultural outlook has improved and growth in this sector is expected to return
as weather conditions improve in the coming months as expected.

The value of agricultural production in South Africa was R247 billion in 2015/2016,
with its contribution to the GDP being close to R72 billion. South Africas exports of
agriculture, forestry and fisheries products increased by 18,0% year on year, leading
to a country being a net exporter.

The sector was affected by the devastating drought. During the course of 2015/16 the
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, collaborating with provincial
departments of agriculture allocated an amount of R263 million towards agricultural
drought relief, focusing on the provision of animal feed, drilling and equipping of
boreholes for smallholder and subsistence producers. In addition the provincial
equitable share funds to a total of R124 million was allocated.
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) further made available an amount of
R500 million to the Land Bank for lending to farmers towards drought relief. As drought
is still upon us, Government is rolling out a further drought relief programme focusing
on animal feed to the amount of R212 million to be completed by the end of December
2016. This is coupled with on-going capacitation of farmers to enhance their resilience
from the effect of drought and related hazards.

Good progress has been made in the implementation of Rural Development and Land
Reform programmes across the country. One hundred and eighty six farms were
supported under the Recapitalisation and Development Programme and 730 farmers
have been trained through the Programme.
The programme also created 1,030 jobs in land reform projects. With regards to the
work of the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, 183 land claims settled
impacting 4,318 Households consisting of 32,172 beneficiaries and 35,204.89
hectares. Financial Compensation to the value of R636 006 442.71 was paid to land
claim beneficiaries.

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform also facilitated seven Agri-
park projects.

Mining and the revitalisation of mining towns

The partnerships formed in 2012 with mining companies following the Marikana
tragedy, known as the Special Presidential Package aimed at revitalising mining
towns, continues to yield results.

Various government departments implement various projects in the mining towns

curently. There are 351 informal settlements in the mining towns that are receiving
support from Governments National Upgrade Support Programme

The Department of Social Development conducts community fieldwork through project

Mikondzo providing support to mining communities. The Department of Mineral
Resources employs mine accident and occupational diseases prevention mechanisms
through improved mine inspections, audits, investigations and monitoring of
occupational exposure levels. The Department of Health has established one stop
service centres to bring health and compensation services to former and current mine
workers in the mining towns and in labour sending areas. One stop service centres
have been established in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape and Carletonville in
Gauteng. The Mthatha centre is fully funded by government and more than 3000
former mine workers have already made use of the centres services. Also, to date
over 3000 current and former-miners have already made use of the Carletonville
centres services.

There is R10 billion of unclaimed former mineworkers retirement benefits in various

pension and provident funds. The Financial Services Board is providing support to
provident and pension fund administrators to identify former mineworkers who need
to receive the pension and provident funds due to them some dating back to the
1970s. The 1970s mineworkers provident and pension fund has already paid over
R20 million to 7 200 former mineworkers, the Amplats provident fund has paid
R6.4million to 488 workers.

Energy, water and environmental sustainability

Significant progress has been made to stabilise electricity supply in the country.
Eskom has been able to meet the demand and no load shedding was experienced
since August 2015. The stabilisation of the grid has been a direct result of
commissioning of new capacity of the Eskoms build programme and additional
capacity sourced from the Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

The extension of electricity supply to communities continued. In the 2016/17 financial

year a total grant of R5, 6 billion was made available to the Department of Energy for
the electrification of 235 000 households with grid and 20 000 with non-grid. In the first
and second quarters of the financial year, R1,3 billion has been spent realizing 167
225 household connections.
Importantly, Cabinet also designated Eskom and the South African Nuclear Energy
Corporation as the procurers and operators of the various components of the nuclear
new build programme. The Department of Energy, the Energy Security Cabinet Sub-
Committee and, ultimately Cabinet itself, will remain responsible for overall
coordination and oversight of the programme.
Before any nuclear new build procurement takes place, the Request for Proposals has
to be issued. Once proposals have been received and evaluated the Department of
Energy is required to report back to Cabinet on the proposed funding model. Any
procurement process must be on a scale and at a pace that our country can afford.
The development of infrastructure to expand water supply to communities and
businesses continued.
To alleviate the pollution in the Vaal River System, the Oranjeville Waste Water
Treatment Plant in the Metsimaholo District Municipality and Leeuwkuil Waste Water
Treatment Plant in the Emfuleni District Municipality were refurbished at a cost of
R44.4million. This is part of the R300 million set aside to upgrade 24 dysfunctional
waste -water treatment works in parts of Gauteng and the Free State.
Other infrastructure projects opened include the following;
The Ncora Bulk Water Treatment Works Project in the Eastern Cape, which is
estimated to benefit 17 887 families from 208 villages.

The Drakenstein Waste Water Treatment Plant which was launched and
handed over to the Drakenstein Municipality in the Western Cape.

The Mokolo and Crocodile River (West) Water Augmentation Project which
supplies water to the Lephalale Local Municipality, Eskom's power stations
(Matimba and Medupi), the Zeeland water treatment plant, and Exxaro's
Grootegeluk Mine. It also transfers water from the Crocodile River West near
Thabazimbi to the Lephalale area.

The training of youth as plumbers and water agents continued as part of the War on
Leaks programmes. Government will train 15000 young people to help curb the R7
billion a year water losses.
The Environmental Sector continues to be a source of job creation, skills development
and economic empowerment.
Through the Expanded Public Works Programme, environmental programmes have
created work opportunities for over 97 000 previously unemployed people. Working
for Waste has provided 3 750 job opportunities. The Working for Water programme
employed 33,000 participants to clear invasive plants. The 5,000 Fire-fighters of the
Working on Fire programme continue to save billions of Rands for the country.
The 1,450 Environmental Monitors have made a significant difference in combatting
the poaching of rhinos and other species.
During 2016, there has been a reduction in cases of rhino poaching, which points to
the success of our Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros approach.
South Africa has also ratified the Paris Agreement to combat climate change.
Operation Phakisa
Government has initiated Operation Phakisa to boost delivery initially in the oceans
economy, education and health. The programme has since been expanded to mining
and agriculture, in particular aquaculture. The President will officially launch the
aquaculture and mining Phakisa initiatives early in the New Year.
A lot of work has been done in the two sectors this year already by government and
stakeholders.
The education Phakisa has focused on the use of information and communication
technologies in schools while the health Phakisa helps government to develop ideal
clinics.
SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
Investment in teacher education and training continued in order to improve education
outcomes. The Funza Lushaka Teacher training bursaries were awarded to 14343
students studying towards a Bachelor of Education or a Post Graduate Certificate in
Education during 2016. The Bursary Programme targets students wanting to be
teachers in scarce skills areas such as Mathematics, Science and Technology as
well as for students studying to become teachers in the Foundation Phase.
The question is no longer why there are mud schools in the country but how far
government has gone in eradicating them in a programme that is delivering on its
intentions. Government completed the building or refurbishment of 170 schools
through the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure delivery Initiative, (ASIDI). The schools
not only meet the minimum norms and standards expected of a school in a democratic
South Africa but some exceed them. Government has also provided water to 615
schools, decent sanitation to 425 schools and electricity to 307 schools.
On learner transport, 377 933 learners were targeted to be transported. As at the end
of the first quarter, 418 947 learners were transported to schools
In the 2015/16 financial year, the school feeding scheme, the National School Nutrition
Programme reached a total of 9 630 590 learners in 21 177 public primary, secondary
as well identified special schools. The major spinoffs are higher levels of school
attendance, concentration and retention.
This programme also plays a major role in promoting local economic activity and
community participation as well through the procurement of goods and services from
4 998 service providers nationally, including small medium enterprises and
Cooperatives. Furthermore, 55 658 Volunteer Food Handlers who cook and serve
food to the learners received a monthly stipend thereby ensuring food security and
work opportunities.
To improve the health of learners in schools, the Departments of Basic Education,
Health and Social Development jointly provide run the Integrated School Health
Programme in schools, and reached 949 138 learners.

The Department of Basic Education also ran a successful National School Deworming
Programme. A total of 3 523 794 (57%) learners were dewormed. Government has
put through a request to the World Health Organisation for deworming tablets for the
2017 roll out.

The adult basic education programme, Kha Ri Gude Project, has reached the target
and 4, 2 million completed classes from 2008 to 2015. Kha Ri Gude has created
326 320 job opportunities from 2008 to 2015. The campaign has won various awards
including the UNESCO Confucius award.

Cabinet approved the Integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policy

confirming ECD as a public good, to promote child development. In preparation for
implementation, the National Treasury allocated an amount of R812 million for
improving ECD infrastructure and increasing the child subsidy. To date, more than
1.4 million children attend ECD centres.

Government is committed to ensuring that all financially needy, academically

deserving youth are able to attend university and training and vocational education
and training (TVET) colleges. As a result, a tremendous amount of progress has been
made, particularly with expanding access to the poor through the National Student
Financial Aid Scheme. The scheme currently supports approximately 480 000 poor
undergraduate students to access university and TVET colleges.
The President established the Presidential Commission of Enquiry into Higher
Education and Training under the leadership of Justice Jonathan Heher to investigate
and make recommendations on the feasibility of implementing fee-free Higher
Education and Training in South Africa. It is due to provide a final report mid-year.
Human settlements
Government continued to restore the dignity of our people through building decent
human settlements. Over the past 22 years, government has spent almost R170 billion
to provide housing to over twenty two million indigent and vulnerable beneficiaries.
Over fifty six percent (56%) of our housing beneficiaries are women.
The country this year celebrated the delivery of over 4,3 million houses and subsidies.
Our eyes are now firmly on the target of delivering six million houses and subsidies to
our beneficiaries by 2019. The integration of communities continues with the
settlements in COSMO City in Johannesburg and Cornubia in Durban being good
examples.
Support for SMMEs in the housing sector continued. Since our Cabinet approved
intervention in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, the Department of Human Settlements
has been paying more than R16 million to the contractors on a weekly basis. As a
result of this intervention in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) our contractors
have been paid within fourteen days.
Care and support to military veterans
The delivery on some of the benefits to military veterans as stipulated in the Military
Veterans Act of 2011 increased this year. The Department of Military veterans is
currently providing 5 782 bursaries to military veterans and their dependents of which
3 655 is for Basic Education while 2 127 is Higher Education. An amount of R121
million has been paid for Education support. To date, almost 15 000 military veterans
are being provided with free healthcare support. The DMV is working to sort out its
database so that more deserving veterans would be able to receive much needed care
and support.

Government is on course to provide 1000 houses to military veterans and a total of

R138 million has been set aside for that purpose. Currently 1 900 destitute military
veterans are provided with support through the Social Relief of Distress programme
run by the Department of Social Development and an amount of R12million has been
set aside.

Health
During the reporting period, 65 Clinics and Community Health Centres were under
construction across the country, which has also contributed to job creation.
Overall life expectancy has steadily been increasing from 60 years in 2012 to
62.9 years in 2014 due to improved health care provision. The health sector has
recorded good progress in managing communicable diseases, inclusive of HIV
andAIDS and TB. During quarter two 2016/17, a total of 2 416 020 clients were tested
for HIV. A total of 3,520,305 patients remained on Antiretroviral Treatment. The
number of male clients who underwent Medical Male Circumcision improved from
124 762 in Quarter 1 to 245 599 in Quarter 2.

A total of 12,9 million people were screened for high blood pressure, which
exceeded the set target of 8 million. A total of 10 million people were screened for
raised blood glucose levels, which exceeded the set target of 8 million

Social support
Governments social assistance programme continues to support poor households.
To date, over 17 million people access social grants. The Child Support Grant and the
Older Persons Grant are the two largest grants, with 12 million children and 3.2 million
older persons. Government will always make sure to overcome whatever challenges
may threaten the provision of this important social security net to our people.

With regard to Comprehensive Social Security, Cabinet supported proposals on

mandatory contributions for retirement, death and disability benefits, and the
establishment of a single National Social Security Fund to administer the benefits.
The Ministers of Social Development and of Finance will conduct consultations on this
work with relevant stakeholders and report back to Cabinet.
To promote food security, government, through the Department of Social
Development has facilitated the establishment of a network of food distribution
centres, which includes setting up Provincial Food Distribution Centres and 212
Community Nutrition Development Centres in partnership with Non-Profit
Organizations operating in the targeted deprived communities.
Through this programme the Department has since financial year 2015/16 provided
food to 3,155 306 beneficiaries, created a market for 245 emerging food producers
and cooperatives and procured about R9, 222 862.00 worth of food from these
emerging food producers and cooperatives that previously would not be able to
participate in the food supply chain in this country.
The Community Work Programme (CWP) run by the Department of Cooperative
Governance, which offers an employment safety net to the poor, has expanded to 219
sites in 212 municipalities across South Africa. From a participation rate of less than
100 000 at its inception in 2010/11, the programme now employs 214 430 people in
all nine provinces, mainly women and youth.

The impact of the programme in Gauteng for example can be measured by a number
of interventions by programme participants: cleaning almost 300 000 square meters
of public spaces, rivers and canals; clearing 1 051 illegal dumping sites; maintaining
2 076 community gardens; cleaning 81 000 square metres of cemeteries; benefitting
10 800 children at crches; refurbishing 2 058 desks and benefitting 34 000 learners
with school patrols. The Community Work Programme provides hope and opportunity
to a sector of the population that is economically and socially excluded.

GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Government continues to fight corruption and promote professional ethics in the public
service. As part of this drive, the Department of Public Service and Administration
(DPSA) has introduced various measures through the Public Service Regulations,
2016, which came into effect on 1 August 2016.

The 2016 Public Service Regulations further prohibit Public Service employees from
receiving, soliciting, or accepting gifts in return for performing or not performing their
official duties and from conducting business with any organ of State, in their own
capacity as individuals or through companies in which they are directors.

The DPSA, together with National Treasury, will be monitoring the implementation of
this prohibition clause, and will further put measures into place to prevent Public
Service employees and their companies from being listed on the Central Supplier
Database.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

The fight against crime and corruption continued.
The consistently increasing incidence of violent public protests across the country
during 2016 placed the resources of the SAPS under considerable pressure to tangibly
demonstrate its ability to not only stabilise and contain such protests, but to do so
within the context of the proportional use of force, guided by the principle of maximum
restraint.
During the 2015/16 financial year, the Public Order Policing (POP) managed to control
14 693 crowd-related incidents.
Since South Africans have a right to protest peacefully as stipulated in the countrys
Constitution, the SAPS will continue to capacitate the 28 Public Order Policing Units
that it has at its disposal to manage public-related protests, including the training and
equipping of members to deal with crowd management. This is also in line with the
recommendations made by the Farlam Commission following the Marikana tragedy.
Government has made good progress in reducing the numbers of children in
correctional centres and in prioritizing them in implementing correctional and
developmental programmes.

Since the introduction of the Child Justice Act, the number of children incarcerated in
correctional centres was reduced by 74%, from 1004 to 287 in six years. As much as
this trend in commendable, a challenge that requires all n society to address, is that
the nature of crimes committed by children is more violent, which results in 90%
children being on remand not qualifying for bail.

The President currently leads the fight against crime and has visited communities
affected by crime, promoting community participation in the fight against crime.
FOCUS AREAS IN 2017
Promoting economic growth, radical socio-economic transformation, land reform and
redistribution, the funding of higher education, fighting crime and corruption, fighting
racism and building a non-racial society as well as building the capacity of the state
are the key priorities for the President and government in the current year.

Enquiries: Dr Bongani Ngqulunga on 082 308 9373 or bongani@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria

www.thepresidency.gov.za