PLAN TO UPLIFT RURAL COMMUNITIESMunicipalities will henceforth have to adhere to strict conditions in order to receive grants from the provincial treasury.
These measures are apparently being implemented in an effort to fast track rural development. MEC for treasury, Sa’ad Cachalia, said at the announcement of the province’s budget last week that capacity challenges have impacted on municipalities.
"We cannot just put money where there is no capacity. If we do money will be lost," Cachalia said. He said rural development is a top priority for government and added that when economic difficulties arise, rural communities are inevitably the hardest hit.
Cachalia said this is particularly true in the case of the cost of food and transport.
"If the national inflation rate is at 7% then for rural people it would be at 8 % plus and we must bring that to an end".
The MEC opened his speech by referring to a speech by former Cuban president Fidel Castro, who highlighted the large difference between the rich and the poor in South Africa.
He also touched on the infant mortality rate, life expectancy and employment statistics as well as literacy levels.
by Kgaogelo Magolego on Tue, 2008-03-04 09:20. Northern Review: News | 
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