THE decline in Africa’s economic growth rate was hampering South Africa’s ability to deliver basic services, said Northern Province local government MEC, Joe Maswanganyi, on Thursday. Addressing an Inter-Governmental Forum in Pietersburg, he said indicators for the continent showed that growth had declined from 4,9% in 1996 to 3,2% in 2000. “In fact, it is said that for Africa to impact significantly in changing the lives of our people, it needs a growth of 8%,” he added. Northern Province is also no way near to completing the transformation of its municipalities, he said. He said service delivery in the largely rural province is still hampered by serious administrative, planning and fiscal challenges. – African Eye News Service