New MEC, Mr Sikhumbuzo Eric Kholwane encourages officials to work together to fight unemployment

The newly appointed MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Sikhumbuzo Eric Kholwane urged the managers to spend less time in meetings, and dedicate more of their time into working towards finding solutions to the Province's challenges.

MEC Kholwane was addressing the Senior Management Teams of the former Departments of Finance as well as Economic Development, Environment and Tourism on Friday, 30 May 2014.

He said most of the solutions to major challenges of the Mpumalanga Province can be found in the collectiveness of the officials, who are entrusted with the responsibility of developing the economy and managing the provincial budget.

“We have a problem of unemployment in the country and the Province as well. We must therefore dedicate most of our time to find solutions to unemployment,” said MEC Kholwane. MEC is one of the newly appointed Executive Council Members who were announced by the Premier, Mr. David Mabuza on Friday, 30 May 2014.

The former Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communication, Mr Kholwane brings a wealth of experience to the merged Departments, which collectively have the additional responsibility of providing information and communication technology solution to other provincial departments in Mpumalanga.

In his role, the MEC will also lead efforts of the Department in responding to the mandate of supporting other provincial institutions to improve systems, and processes that drive delivery and accountability for financial resources.

The Department is looking forward to the leadership of the MEC in steering it to the desired level of service excellence, in executing responsibilities of overall provincial budget management; economic development and tourism; and also assisting other provincial departments and public entities to continue to improve on areas of financial governance.