PREMIER THABANG MAKWETLA' WEEKLY ITINERARY
20 - 26 March 2006

Tuesday, 21 March 2006

Premier Thabang Makwetla will deliver a keynote address at the Unveiling of a Cenotaph of victims of and those who selflessly contributed to the liberation struggle. Details are as follows:

Date : Tuesday, 21 March 2006

Time : 08:30

Venue : Lynnville Hall (Witbank)

The celebration will start at 11:00

The media is invited.

Enquiries: George Mohlamonyane (013) 766 2288 / 082 802 8460

Fannie Ngoma (013) 766 2223 / 083 575 2039

Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government

Office of the Premier

MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S DECISIONS

The Executive Council (Cabinet) of Mpumalanga Province at its fortnightly meeting held this week approved the report on the Provincial Departments' Employment Equity Status for 2005-06. The report states that there are 41, 386 public servants and a total number of 212 senior management services members, which is composed of 143 males (67.5%) and 69 females (33.9%). The Executive Council has also approved a recommendation that those departments that are below the statutory 30% target should ensure that female senior managers are employed as a matter of urgency.

The Executive Council also took note of the new employment equity targets of 50% for females by 2009. In order to be complaint the Executive Council will monitor and evaluate departmental employment targets on an annual basis.

Similarly, in relation to the employment equity targets in respect to disabled persons, the Executive Council noted that departments are still below the statutory 2%. However, it was also noted that it is difficult to find appropriately qualified individuals for senior management posts. Departments were tasked to consult with the Office of Disabled Persons to headhunt highly qualified people with disability.

The Executive Council also approved the convening of the Conference of the Mpumalanga Province on the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), which is to be held tomorrow 9 March 2006 at Ingweyama Lodge in Nelspruit.

The anticipated outcomes include:

•  Identification of challenges to sustainable development.

•  The development of a specific plan for the implementation of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and

•  The establishment of the provincial Decade of Education for Sustainable Development Forum.

Other issues to be discussed at the Conference will be waste management, pollution control; water, wetland and sustainable development; sustainable economic development including sustainable tourism and corporate responsibility.

The Executive Council was also informed on a series of activities to disestablish Bohlabelo District Council and the preparations to hand over Greater Sekhukhuni and Metsweding District Councils to Limpopo Province and the Kungwini Local Municipality to Gauteng Province.

In terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Premiers of Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, namely, Thabang Makwetla and Sello Moloto respectively, both Provinces must continue to provide services in the disestablished Bohlabela for the 2006/2007 financial year.

Limpopo Province will continue to provide services in Maruleng Local Municipality and Mpumalanga will provide services in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality for the 2006/2007 financial year.

Furthermore, the sector departments must enter into bilateral agreements to provide continued services until the end of the 2006/2007 financial year, for all committed projects.

The Executive Council also approved the publication of the Mpumalanga Liquor Licensing Bill, 2006, in the Provincial Gazette, for public comment. The objective of the Bill is to increase social responsibilities by licensees and create a platform conducive for all, especially the previously disadvantaged communities.

The National Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor has turned down the request by the Executive Council to establish a university in the Province. The Minister has instead advised the Province to establish a National Institute for Higher Education. The University of Pretoria, the Tshwane University of Technology, the Vaal University of Technology and the University of South Africa have agreed to participate in such an Institute. The next phase is to appoint a board to facilitate the coordination of the activities of this Institute.

Issued by the Communication Chief Directorate
Office of the Premier

Contact Lebona Mosia at 082 5616465/013 7662244 lmosia@nel.mpu.gov.za

PROVINCE TO USE WETLANDS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

An undertaking that emerged at the Provincial Wetlands Workshop

ENVIRO FOCUS: Wetlands Ecologist, Anton Linstrom and Chief Director for Environmental Services, Sam Maluleka during the Wetlands Workshop.

The Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture and Land Administration successfully held a workshop on the 15 th March, on the role of local government in water management and wetland conservation. The workshop held in partnership with the Mpumalanga Wetland Forum (MWF) looked at recent events in the province relating to health hazards and water shortages. It sought to raise the profile of wetlands in the province and highlight the important environmental services they offer. Read more

ANSWERS TO QUESTION PAPER FOR ORAL REPLY BY PREMIER, THABANG MAKWETLA

•  Does the Premier feel that it is unacceptable for municipalities to have to write of money owed to them by provincial government departments as ‘bad debt'?

Read more

REIGNING ENVIRONMENTAL SOUND MUNICIPLITY PROMISES TO ACHIEVE A NEW FEAT.

Environmental sound practices at the Steve Tshwete Municipality in Mpumalanga came under the spotlight on the – 10 th October 2006 . A group of environmentalists and representatives from various structures (the national panel coordinated by DEAT) visited the 2006 Cleanest Town in the province for the National Cleanest Town Competition (CTC) judging. The municipality is the reigning environmental conscious town in the province. Read More

MINISTERS URGE PUBLIC TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO STOP RAGING WILD FIRES

The Minister for Provincial and Local Government Sydney Mufamadi, responsible for disaster management and Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Ms Lindiwe Hendricks returned from Mpumalanga today, Monday 30 July 2007 on a mission to assess the extent of damage causing caused by wild fires during the last week. More information