Preparation of these projects has been a valuable learning experience for us. This is even more crucial, because ours is a comprehensive programme, not an exercise in throwing money at problems. Firstly, the RDP Fund should be seen as a temporary measure. Funding from a special instrument should taper off as the Ministries themselves redirect their spending and give their operations a reconstruction and development character. Secondly, central government can only provide the framework.
Implementation has to be carried out by local structures.
It is for this reason that central government and the provinces have put in place mechanisms to co-ordinate their work and expedite the allocation of powers to the Provinces. The Office of the President is paying particular attention to this, as well as the matter of speeding up the establishment of transitional local government structures. Without the latter, allocation of funds and therefore implementation of many of the projects may be unduly delayed.