State of the Province Address

Speeding up economic growth that creates decent work and sustainable livelihood for people in the province, particularly the poor and the working class.
Dealing with challenges affecting our rural masses on a daily basis, especially matters involving access and ownership of land that should be utilised for subsistence and food security for the country as a whole.
Ensuring that the challenges relating to creation of decent work, education, health, fighting crime and corruption do not escape the radar screen.

Ehlanzeni District’s Disaster Management Centre will be utilised to ensure that we are ready to deal with any disaster should it happen. This centre will be ready in time for the hosting of the World Cup in the Province.
The Safety and Security sector has developed an Integrated 2010 safety and security plan, aligned to the General Security Concept of the Local Organising Committee World Cup infrastructure programme has injected massive investment into the provincial economy, resulting in business development, employment and skills development opportunities for local people.

Fighting crime requires the participation of all citizens. I am calling upon all the citizens of the Province to participate in community policing forums as well as street, village and block committees and contribute to making the areas where they live secure and safe.
Let us report crime and corruption.
Let us not habour criminals in our homes and communities.
Let us not buy stolen goods.

Strengthen the institutional capacity at all levels to ensure the delivery of quality health-care. In this regard, ensure that we continue attract and retain medical and health care professionals to address skills shortages.
As a matter of urgency, all critical vacant posts will be filled.
Accelerate the implementation of the Comprehensive HIV and Aids Plan and significantly reduce the mortality rate related to TB and opportunistic diseases. In this regard, accredit more primary health care facilities to provide Anti-Retroviral treatment as part of expanding access.

Strengthening capacity to accelerate access to the social security net for the poor and vulnerable.
Providing a safety net in the form of social grants.
In putting together a package of stimuli that could assist in mitigating the recession and also speeding up economic growth to create decent work and sustainable livelihood. This will be achieved in partnership with the private sector, labour and all other relevant stakeholders.

Structured skills transfer from multinationals to locals.
Procurement focused on assisting small local businesses.
Eskom establishing a black local business support programme.
Infrastructure rehabilitation to improve our tourism products and services.
Positioning of Mozambique, Swaziland and Mpumalanga as the Regional destination brand of choice in the SADC region for international market.

The Provincial Government has;

Constructed 550 new housing units that will be handed before the end of this financial year to the deserving members.
Assisted households to produce their own food.
Assisted children to access early childhood development facilities.
Provided three additional mobile clinics for the deep rural parts of the district.
Developed an Agri-villages in the Mondi area

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