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EmailExpansion Plan for ECATU
Submitted by: ECATU Management
10 January 2008
1. Introduction
1.1 Mandate of ECATU
The Eastern Cape Appropriate Technology Unit (ECATU) is a public entity listed under Schedule 3C of Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), no 29 of 1999. The entity reports to the Office of the Premier (OTP) in the Eastern Cape Province, through a Service Level Agreement that forms the basis of performance review.
1.2 Pre 1994
The organisation was established as regional institution in 1983 under Section 3 Transkei Corporations Act, 1976. Before 1994, it was called the Transkei Appropriate Technology Unit (TATU). The Transkei Corporations Act repealed by the Corporations Act, 1985. The form of land ownership, where ECATU is located, is based on Permission to Occupy. The size of the land donated to ECATU is 3 hectors of land. ECATU at the time was fully funded by government. The mandate was to research on appropriate technologies for rural development.
1.3 Post 1994
The Corporations Transitional Provisions Act, 1995 amended the Transkei Act. A task team was established to review the relevance of TATU. Their findings were that the organisation is relevant for rural development and poverty alleviation challenges of the Eastern Cape Province. The name was changed from TATU to ECATU. ECATU reports to OTP. Although the name ECATU indicates that the organisation covers the entire Eastern Cape Province, its area of jurisdiction, however, remains the former Transkei.
1.4 Post 2000
A process of establishing ECATU by an Act of law was initiated in 2000. The process was driven by the Portfolio Committee on the Office of the Premier (Portfolio Committee). The White Paper which will culminate into an enacted ECATU bill legitimizes ECATU and provides for a clear mandate in terms of the objects of ECATU, its' [powers, its functions as well as its governance.
Public consultations were spearheaded by the portfolio committee in the Office of the Premier and among others a visit was made by this committee to ECATU to better understand the functions of the entity and the plans for ECATU going forward. This was followed by stakeholder consultations spearheaded by the by the Office of the Premier in all the district municipalities of the Eastern Cape. The aim of the consultations was to ensure a consultative approach and also collect views and comments on the bill. This process also seeks to ensure that ECATU’s mandate is not only owned by ECATU staff and its structures of governance but by the relevant stakeholders and the rural communities who are its client.
1.5 Reasons for Expansion
The ECATU Bill will necessitate that the organisation be strategically placed to serve the rural and poor communities of the Eastern Cape Province. Having been involved in rural development since 1983, ECATU is strategically placed to ensure its visibility and impacts are felt across the province, building on its past experiences. ECATU’s expansion will also operationalise its’ mandate for innovative technologies for rural development and poverty alleviation in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape.
It is important to note that our understanding of the following terms is as outlined in the ECATU bill;
Poverty: “The inability of individuals, households or communities to command sufficient resources to satisfy socially acceptable minimum standards of living and including lack of opportunities and assets.”
Rural areas: “Areas comprising of homelands, mining towns, white rural areas (predominantly farms). This may also include small towns and village areas”
Rural development: “This is a multi dimensional phenomena which encompasses improved provision of services, enhanced opportunities for income generation and local economic development, improved physical infrastructure, social cohesion and physical security within rural communities.”