PMR - Professional Management Review

The Gauteng Department of Health is making headway in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), recording the cure rate increase of close to 3% from 2003 to 2006.

MEC, Brian Hlongwa, said: “However, it is a sad reality, as indicated in this Report, that tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the period under review.”

He emphasised that TB was curable if people took their medication for the period of six months.

The Report provides important information on the Department’s performance in improving the health status of Gauteng residents, and also where greater attention is needed in order to improve service delivery.

One of the key findings documented in the Report includes the decrease in HIV prevalence among pregnant women between the years 2004 and 2006.

In terms of caring for those affected and infected by HIV and AIDS, expanded access to antiretroviral treatment was evident in the fact that, by the end of the 2006/07 financial year, 47 treatment sites were accredited.

The findings on maternal, child and women’s health indicated that pregnant women in Gauteng are accessing free antenatal services.

Two out of three women attending antenatal clinics underwent voluntary counselling and most of them proceeded to HIV testing. For the period under review, Gauteng’s immunisation coverage was at 95.3%, exceeding the national target of 90%.

Gauteng had a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and mental illness, diseases associated with urbanisation, industrialisation and a westernised lifestyle.

web: www.gautengonline.gov.za
web: www.gpg.gov.za

WESTERN CAPE UPDATE

regional electricity distribution

The Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry is concerned about the Government’s new plans for Regional Electricity Distribution organisations. Business fears that the new plans could do more harm than good.

“There is no doubt that many municipalities need help – but there is no need to treat all councils in the same way,” said Dr Gerald Wolman, President of the Chamber. “Councils that are doing a good job should be left to continue their work without further restructuring disruptions. It is important to understand that the distribution of electricity plays a vital part in sustaining municipalities. It provided a surplus (about 10% in Cape Town) which was used to subsidise other services and it underpinned the cash flow. In addition, the threat of disconnection was one of the most effective ways of getting people to pay their municipal debts. “If we take electricity away from councils, they will lose income and their ability to collect debts will be so severely compromised that we will see municipal bankruptcies,” he said.

These are factors which had led to the defining in the Constitution of electricity distribution as a municipal responsibility.

Dr Wolman said that, in Cape Town, the problem was the Eskom supply and not the City’s distribution system and all the resources and expertise should be concentrated on fixing Eskom. The best way to help municipalities unable to meet their distribution responsibilities would be to provide a team of experts to advise, train and help them to deliver a good service. Business was willing and able to provide this skills development and training effectively and with the necessary sense of urgency.

tel: (021) 402-4300
web: www.capetownchamber.com
email: info@capechamber.co.za

FREE STATE UPDATE

capacitating emerging entrepreneurs in business skills
to become job providers instead of job seekers

In accelerating the pace of developing emerging entrepreneurs to turn the tide against poverty, ensuring economic buoyancy and in identifying development opportunities, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) on national level designed and developed the so-called Shintsha Programme.

Five Provinces, namely Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, have been earmarked for implementation of this initiative.

The Shintsha Programme in Free State has been rolled out by the Provincial Office of Seda in collaboration with the Motheo FET College. This initiative is regarded as a first for the Free State in terms of direct training and capacitating emerging entrepreneurs to become job providers instead of job seekers.

Emerging entrepreneurs from different business sectors will be equipped with enterprise skills and they will be provided with business support as they develop their own small businesses under this developing programme.

Twenty learners have been recruited in the Province for training under this programme. Seda, in partnership with Motheo FET College, established a business centre at the College providing business support services, assisting with the formation of business teams, providing access to markets and customers, funding and access to additional training to the emerging entrepreneurs. After four months of intense training, learners were placed in well-established businesses that are similar to the ones they intend to start.

Motheo FET College, as a leading educational institution, furthermore played a crucial role with regard to learner recruitment, learner induction and preparation, delivery schedule, new venture creation unit standards and additional courses.

The curriculum is regarded as practically orientated with ample opportunity for the emerging entrepreneurs to run their businesses in the real world, monitoring their progress and the way they cope. Focused groups were also formed among learners for support and the sharing of ideas.

A graduation ceremony was recently held for the graduates. This successful partnership between Seda and Motheo FET College strengthens the quest and vision to turn emerging entrepreneurs into successful businessmen and, in so-doing, capacitating emerging entrepreneurs to become job providers instead of job seekers – a significant step towards turning around unemployment in the Free State.

Abram Jansen
Department of the Premier
Free State Provincial Government
tel: +27 (51) 405-4089 fax: +27 (51) 405-4485
email: jansena@premier.fs.gov.za

KZN UPDATE

economic cluster integrated projects

The MEC for Finance and Economic Development and Leader of Government Business, Dr Zweli Mkhize, led the launch of a variety of development projects in the area under the Ugu District Municipality. The projects that were launched jointly by six Government Departments that are members of the Economic Technical Cluster are worth an estimated R431 926 808. These include a One Stop Shop and SMME Financing Support Programme, Ifafa Sugar cane project, “Pouring of cement” ceremony at the site of Malangeni Library, the opening of Main Road P68/2 as well the handover of Beneeva Farm. These are some of more than 30 projects that the Economic Cluster has in Ugu Region. To date, the Departments of Economic Development, Transport, Arts Culture and Tourism, Agriculture and Environmental Affairs as well as Land Claims Commission have invested a total of R 1 073 937 339.

One of the objectives of the Cluster launch is to maximise community participation in programmes of Government through dissemination of accurate information.

Dr Mkhize encourages women and the elderly to take advantage of all the assistance programmes offered by Government. “You are never too old to learn how to read and write.”

Dr Mkhize also expressed sympathy with the South Coast residents who were victims of the recent storms and floods.

He also challenged residents to start growing their own gardens, saying this is the only way to beat souring food prices and poverty.

Musa Cebisa
tel: 071-6878-777 or
Tito Mngoma
tel: 082-413-8573.