Mpumalanga Provincial Government gearing up to accelerate Service Delivery

The Executive Council was briefed on progress made pertaining to the elimination of the bucket toilets at Lekwa, uMjindi, Msukaligwa and Albert Luthuli Municipalities. After the completion of this project, residents in those areas can rejoice and celebrate for such change that they patiently waited for, for so many years the improved living conditions.

When MEC Mahlangu visited the area to witness the significant progress made in this regard one old woman commented, “ At my age, 79 years old, I will now die having tasted a decent toilet because of what the Mpumalanga Provincial Government has done today for the people of Lekwa”.

The Executive Council has approved the appointment of four Senior Managers in the Department of Finance for the following areas, Internal Audit, The Public Private Partnership Programme, the Co-ordination and Monitoring of Infrastructure, and the Monitoring and Evaluation, in order to ensure that mandates of the Provincial Government are carried forward.

HOUSING DELIVERY RESTORES PEOPLE' S DIGNITY IN DIPALESENG

Mpumalanga Provincial Government is moving with speed to provide houses and shelter to the needy. This is in line with the National Government's priorities to provide decent and affordable housing to our people.

Dipaleseng Municipality, one of the most impoverished municipalities in the province, with a population of more or less than 40 000, according to Census of 2001, is addressing challenges of homelessness and evicted farm workers. It looks determined in answering the call to provide sustainable human settlements for its people. Two years ago the Municipality had a housing demand of 5000 and now we can proudly boast of reducing the demand to 2 000.

Other projects with a total cost of R43 980 000 which are currently completed or in progress in the Municipality include the following:

Skills Development and Job Creation Centre.

A Skills development and Job Creation Centre has been established at Siyathemba Township at the cost of R1 200 000 .This project which was started in 2003 and completed in 2004 has produced 13 electricians, 14 welders, 12 bricklayers, 12 plumbers and 9 carpenters to do construction related work in the various projects in the Municipality.

Paving, storm water construction and upgrading of roads at a total amount of R5 500 000 at the following areas :

•  Siyathemba- Paving and storm water construction was completed at the total cost of R2 000 000.

•  Nthorwane – Upgrading of main access road at the cost of R1 500 000.

•  Grootvlei – Upgrading of access road at the cost of R1 000 000.

All these projects were started in 2003 and completed in 2004.

•  Further upgrading of road intersections has started this year at Balfour at the cost of R1 000 000.

Upgrading of water purification works and water reticulation at a cost of R11 200 000 at the following areas :

•  Balfour- Upgrading of water purification works at Haaroff Dam and bulk water supply was started in 2003 and completed in 2004 at the cost of R8 500 000.

•  Balfour - Upgrading of main water supply to reservoirs was started in 2003 and completed in 2004 at the cost of R1 000 000.

•  Siyathemba - Water reticulation was started in 2003 and will be completed this year at the cost of R600 000.

•  Greylingstad - Upgrading of water network and reservoir was started in 2003 and will be completed this year at the cost of R1 000 000.

Sewarage reticulation system at a cost of R19 500 000 at the following areas :

• Siyathemba Township Ext. 2 & 3 – The project was started in 2003 and completed in 2004 at the cost of R2 800 000.
• Siyathemba Township Ext 7 - The project was started this year at the cost of R2 000 000 and it is still in progress.
• Siyathemba Township Ext.2 - The project was started this year at the cost of R2 500 000 and work is still continuing.
• Balfour - Two projects were started in 2003 at a cost of R3 200 000.
• Nthorwane - The project was upgraded in 2003 and completed in 2004 at the cost of R4 500 000.
• A Multi-Purpose Community Centre is under construction at Siyathemba Township at the cost of R6 000 000.

Renovation and upgrading of sport and recreational facilities at a total cost of R1 880 OOO at the following areas :

•  Siyathemba - Upgrading of a stadium was started in 2003 and completed in 2004 at the cost of R700 000.

•  Siyathemba - Renovation of a Library was started in 2004 and completed the same year at the cost of R490 000.

Electrification and installation of pre-paid electricity meters was done at a total cost of R4 700 000 at the following areas:

•  Siyathemba Township Ext.7 – Electrification was started in 2004 and will be completed this year at a cost of R1 200 000.

•  Dipaleseng Municipality – The project was started in 2003 and completed in 2004 at the cost of R3 500 000.

This list of service delivery at the Dipaleseng Municipality can only confirm that the Mpumalanga Provincial Government is committed in improving the lives of its people.

Issued by Mpumalanga Provincial Government Communications and Information System

Enquiries Sibusiso Shube 082 553 7479 or George Mohlamonyane 082 802 8460