President Jacob Zuma says the Operation Phakisa project has attracted billions of rands in investments since it was launched three years ago.
He said this when fielding questions in the National Assembly in Parliament on Thursday.
Operation Phakisa was launched in 2014 to fast-track the implementation of key economic and social development projects through a unique service model adapted from Malaysia.
President Zuma said the programme was unique because it brings together sectors like business, labour, academia and government, sectors that traditionally do not plan together, to work out the most ideal plans to achieve growth and development.
“The ocean economy has attracted R24 billion in investments. The Department of Trade and Industry has provided incentives to the value of R428 million.
“The global amount of R24 billion consists of investments from different companies of the Ocean Economy Lab. The Maritime Transport and Manufacturing Delivery Unit has secured investments to the value of R5.6 billion while the oil and gas component unlocked a total of R18.4 billion,” he said.
The President said the aquaculture leg of Operation Phakisa’s Ocean Economy has so far raised R444 million while the marine protection services and governance raised R31 million. The coastal and marine tourism sector raised R40 million.
“Skills development is a core component of the oceans economy. A total of 614 women have been trained in the marine and manufacturing sector and 733 women in the marine transport sector. More than a thousand youth have been trained in marine manufacturing and close to 2000 in marine transport sector,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Zuma said over 1 000 clinics have to date achieved their ideal clinic status.
The Ideal Clinic Programme is aimed at improving the quality of care at primary healthcare facilities.
The President said an ideal clinic is one with good infrastructure, adequate staff, adequate medicine and supplies, good administrative processes and sufficient bulk supplies that use applicable clinical policies, protocols, guidelines as well as partner and stakeholder support.
He said these elements are important in order to ensure the provision of quality health services are given to the community.
“By the end of June 2017, a total of 1188 clinics in the public sector had achieved their ideal clinic status.
“This performance translates to 32% of the existing stock of 3477 primary healthcare facilities. The set target is that 2 823 primary healthcare facilities should reach the ideal clinic status by March 2019,” he said.
He said Operation Phakisa in the basic education sector, which promotes the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for teaching and learning, had reached milestones.
Since the basic education leg was launched in October 2015, a total of 3455 have been connected to the internet and received devices.
“Approximately 54% of the more than 25000 schools had acquired connectivity through various technologies.
“A total of 31 800 teachers have been trained in various levels of ICT skills.
“In this way…the archaic methods of teaching and learning are being rapidly replaced as teachers and learners move towards 21st Century approaches,” President Zuma said.
