North West to Get War Room On Poverty

from All Africa

BuaNews (Tshwane)

By Bathandwa Mbola
Mmabatho

The North West province has announced it will be introducing a War Room on poverty which will help contribute to building a better life for all.

"We have moved with an implementation plan, including the formation of a dedicated War Room on poverty, similar to that articulated by President [Thabo Mbeki] in his recent State of the Nation Address," said Premier, Edna Molewa at the opening of the provincial legislature, Friday.

During his address in Cape Town last week, President Mbeki announced that government intends to intensify the campaign to identify specific households and individuals in dire need and to put in place interventions that will help, in the intervening period, to alleviate their plight.

The War Room for a War Against Poverty aims to bringing together departments such as Social Development, Provincial and Local Government, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Land Affairs, Public Works and Health as well as provincial and local administrations.

They will work with non-governmental organisations and businesses to identify the interventions required in specific households and implement them as a matter of urgency.

Ms Molewa said the developmental state remains unchanged and continually gravitates towards the objective to improve the quality of life of the poor.

"The North West provincial government has designed integrated strategies, plans, policies, projects, and programmes that are currently addressing social transformation matters in a coherent and holistic manner," she said.

Ms Molewa revealed that the province has expanded social services delivery in the province particularly to the rural areas.

These services consist of a broad range of programmes that include improved access to education, health, social development, sports and arts and culture.

Through providing these services, Ms Molewa said the province has been able to keep intact the onslaught in the fight against poverty.

Eradicating poverty is government's highest priority towards building a better life for all.

"In terms of access to social grants, we have substantially silenced the hunger pangs of poverty, by extending our safety net to include those most vulnerable in our society," she said adding that the number of beneficiaries has increased.

"In 2004 we had a total of 1 156 562 qualifying beneficiaries registered for child, elderly and special grants. By the end of 2007, that figure rose to 1 536 173."

The province has also increased the intake of learners and educators as part of massification of Expanded Public Works Programme employment creation initiatives within the social sector.

She revealed that the migration of the Early Childhood Development Programme from the Department of Education to the Department of Social Development has been completed.