Newly elected KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli. Photo: Mbuso Kunene
hairWaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has committed his provincial unity government to help drive inclusive economic growth and job creation through state-owned enterprises over the next five years.
Ntuli also vowed that during his term in power he would be committed to reducing poverty, tackling the rising cost of living and building a capable, ethical and progressive nation.
Delivering his maiden state of the province address to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday, Ntuli said the province was fully aligned with these strategic priorities outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the opening of Parliament earlier this month.
Ntuli, the 10th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, holds a one-seat majority in the 80-seat parliament and leads a government made up of the Inkatha Freedom Party, ANC, Democratic Alliance and National Liberal Party.
He said these priorities will serve as the “anchor and compass” for his administration's action plan to help rebuild the state's economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, civil unrest and a series of natural disasters.
It will also “strengthen leadership and coordination at the heart of government” to support service delivery.
The state's Public Works Department will be the lead implementing agency for all government infrastructure projects. As part of this consolidation plan, it has been merged with the state's Human Settlements Department.
Ntuli said this would accelerate infrastructure development, ensure better utilisation of domestic resources and achieve the broader goal of supporting economic growth and development.
The Prime Minister said the construction industry would be asked to actively contribute to all provincial projects.
“As the current administration, we must all work together to fight the construction mafia syndrome. There is no place for the construction mafia in our state. We will work with the construction industry to help the industry grow,” he said.
Ntuli said consultations have been held with the boards of state agencies that are utilised to support economic development as well as key economic institutions in the province to ensure that their policy decisions translate into job creation.
His government will work with organised business to “revitalise enterprises, promote collaboration and boost business confidence, thus influencing growth and job creation”.
“In this regard, the government aims to realign its role as a facilitator and catalyst for businesses to thrive,” he said.
Prime Minister Ntuli said the government would “look more closely into the issue of companies owned by illegal foreigners”.
“The town and village economy is a key element of socio-economic transformation. Town and village residents must not be denied these opportunities,” he said.
He added that the state government will work with local governments to ensure that foreign companies comply with environmental health and safety regulations legally. He said the government will also work with local governments to enforce the environmental health ordinance to ensure compliance within three months.
Ntuli said the multiparty cabinet had agreed to step in to ensure struggling municipalities were able to provide basic services and that sound financial management was in place.
“This government will implement a strict zero tolerance approach to non-compliance, strengthen accountability and enforce consequence management,” Ntuli said.
“Clean, ethical and good governance will be the order of the day. Fraud and corruption will not be tolerated in this government. We are committed to professionalising the civil service.”
To this end, a toll-free hotline has been set up within the Prime Minister's Office, allowing whistleblowers to report corruption directly by phone or email.
Ntuli also announced a number of interventions to support victims of the floods that occurred in eThekwini District and other parts of the district in April 2022.
More than two years after the disaster, a total of 1,151 households are still living in temporary housing or rental accommodation.
In eThekwini, five plots of land for permanent housing were rezoned to accommodate 400 families and the provincial commissioner was tasked with ensuring that the process was completed.
He said work had begun on building houses in Pietermaritzburg for flood victims still living in temporary accommodation.
Governor Ntuli also announced measures to support businesses and families still struggling to get back on their feet following the COVID-19 lockdown and the July 2021 violence that devastated the province.
“We know that following the social unrest in July 2021, some businesses remain closed because they do not have the resources to rebuild, and our economic development, tourism and environmental affairs departments will work to provide funding and technology.
“We will help affected businesses rebuild.”
The state will also fast track profiling and mapping of child-headed households who have lost their parents during the pandemic and are struggling to survive, to ensure they receive social security and assistance.
“As the wider KwaZulu-Natal community, we have a collective responsibility to return life to normal for our citizens and help businesses get back on their feet. As government, we will be with you on the journey to rebuilding your lives,” Ntuli said. “We will not stop until we all recover.”
He also promised to take small but concrete steps towards providing affordable housing within his administration's first 100 days.
This included the provision of 150 serviced sites, 500 new development homes, and housing 99 families through a first-time home buyer financing program.
