EXCO Media Statement
13 July 2022
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES TOP EXCO’S AGENDAThe Executive Council (EXCO) convened on Wednesday to discuss intervention measures pursued by the Provincial Government to address socio-economic challenges that communities are grappling with. Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane raised matters with implications to the provincial economy during the session. She cited the recent road blockades, as a matter of concern. “The protests are a sign of discomfort by our communities, regarding the fuel hikes. While we symphathise with them, however, we are concerned that some elements hijacked the protests for their nefarious gains,” the Premier warned.
The Premier expressed satisfaction that the matter is being addressed at national level with the engagements of stakeholders, such as taxi organizations, for an amicable solution.
EXCO commended the trade and investment round table discussion with the USA’s business conglomerates as a major milestone in pursuit of the province’s economic recovery initiatives. The investment webinar was addressed by the Premier, MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Vusi Mkhatshwa, USA’s Embassy in South Africa, Mr Duncan Walrker and South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Ms Nomaindiya Mfeketo. Mtshweni-Tsipane says the investment discussion has paved way for US and local investors to identify opportunities in the agro-processing and energy sectors. She says investments are vital to boost the economy and for job creation initiatives.
During the session, Departments tabled reports in line with commitments set out in the State of the Province Adress (SOPA), Socio Economic Review Outlook (SERO) and priorities of the 6th Administration.
- Progress on the roll-out of the Mpumalanga Youth Development Fund (MYDF)
- Establishment of Ward Committees
- Lessons learnt from operations of the COVID-19 Provincial Corona Virus Command Centre
- Report on Section 106 investigation of Emalahleni Local Municipality
- Provincial Programme of Action (PPOA)
- Progress on the finalization and implementation of the provincial skills development master plan
- Support for the Netball World Cup through Netball Fridays
A progress report which details the roll out of the MYDF was presented to EXCO. The MYDF is the Provincial Government’s intervention measure to mitigate youth unemployment and economic participation of youth. The initiative was tabled by the Premier, in the SOPA to increase economic and entrepreneurship opportunities for the youth in Mpumalanga and to encourage youth to youth employment and not to be job seekers.
The report provides an insight into the number of beneficiaries and the amount of funds disbursed, since the inception of the flagship project. According to the report, an amount of R81, 95 million has been disbursed to 64 beneficiaries, across the three districts. Among the beneficiaries are persons with disabilities.
The number of beneficiaries will increase, in light of the second phase of the approval of applications by August 2022. The provincial government has set a target of R250 million for financial support during the five year period of the MYF. Stringent verification measures are applied before funds are disbursed to the beneficiaries, to prevent corruption. In approving the report, EXCO resolved to monitor the disbursement process to ensure that only the disenfranchised in the society are the beneficiaries.
EXCO approved a report which depicts progress for the establishment and induction of new Ward Committees in the province. The period of the previous committees lapsed when the term of the 5th Local Government Administration lapsed in 2019.
The successful establishment of 393 out of the 400 Ward Committees by June 2022 is recorded, with few municipalities, granted an extension to finalize the process in some Wards.
EXCO views the role of these structures, as critical to deepen democracy and their linkage to service delivery. These include profiling service delivery needs of communities in the Wards, to become a repository of information to be used for development purpose.
EXCO’s emphasis of the critical role of Ward Committees in serving all communities without barriers, was spelled out, to make socio-economic and service delivery matters on top of the agenda. EXCO urged all members to be seized with development initiatives of their constituencies and weed out individuals whose objective is to use these structures as a tool for their nefarious acts, such as jostling for positions.
A report about the operations of the COVID-19 Provincial Corona Virus Command Centre was shared for EXCO’s. The report provides an insight about an integrated approach adopted by the Provincial Government, in line with the Disaster Management Act, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the report stipulates the role that the Department of Health played as content leader and the role of other stakeholders in containing the spread of the pandemic.
EXCO approved the report to give effect to the recommendations that make the COVID-19 operation centre as a framework for future reference in case of an outbreak of a similar disaster in future. Reference was made to the management of the monkeypox disease. EXCO recommended that the COVID-19 operational centre approach should be adopted to contain the spread of the monkeypox disease.
The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) was assigned to establish a Provincial Bill as an instrument that will guide Disaster Management. Mpumalanga is prone to disasters, and the importance of setting aside funds to augment Disaster Relief measures, was identified as a pressing necessity. Therefore passing of a Bill through the Legislature, according to EXCO, is the only avenue to follow for effective disaster management.
EXCO further resolved that a list of officials implicated in the PPE cases in various departments, be compiled in order to make a determination of action taken against them. This, as EXCO explained, will help avoid collusion against law enforcement agencies that are already dealing with the cases of this nature.
EXCO considered the outcome of the Section 106 investigation, conducted in Emalahleni Local Municipality, which commenced in August and was completed in November last year.
The investigation focused on, among others, allegations on financial matters, which include payment of fixed travelling allowances and adjustment to the total remuneration packages to some officials, contrary to the provisions of the Local government regulations, allegations of corruption and nepotism regarding the recruitment of employees including the Leaners for the Basic Traffic Officers course.
The report was approved and recommended for implementation by COGTA, and that feedback of the implementation must be reported to EXCO.
The Provincial Programme of Action was approved. The PPOA is based on the 2030 National Development Plan (NDP), the draft 2019-24 Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), the State of the Nation Address (SONA), the SOPA and Makgotla resolutions. At the apex of the PPOA are catalytic projects to be implemented as game changers to make a meaningful impact on job creation, poverty alleviation, economic growth and service delivery.
The catalytic projects include, among others, the Nkosi city project, Loskop Bulk Water Project, the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the revitalization of the Industrial Parks and Shopping Complexes and Skywalk Project and the Mpumalanga Youth Fund.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Skills Master Plan was presented to EXCO. The plan is designed as a regulatory instrument through which the provincial government will guide the achievement of the National Skills Development Plan 2030 vision of: ‘An Educated, Skilled and Capable Workforce for South Africa’.
The development of the master plan is informed by the SERO report, which categorizes Mpumalanga as a province with a population, age 20 + years, at the higher levels of education than what is the situation nationally. Mpumalanga, as the fourth highest with a share of people 20 years and older with matric among the nine provinces, slightly lower than the national share of 30.8%, also set the basis for the report.
EXCO acknowledged the private sector’s contribution towards the realization of the skills development objectives through the awarding of bursaries. Funza Lushaka Bursaries and SASOL, are among the bursary providers in which dozens of students have benefited, some of whom are registered at the University of Mpumalanga.
A report for the country’s successful bid of hosting the Netball World Cup in 2023 in Cape Town, was presented. In light of unsavoury scenes that depict a divided nation, EXCO view the World Cup as an opportunity to advance the country’s efforts to unite the nation. As such, EXCO approved the campaign for citizens in Mpumalanga to wear Netball T-Shirts on Fridays. The Netball World Cup viewed in the same line as the 2010 Soccer World cup, held in South Africa.
Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government
(A) Provincial Government’s Spokesperson: Mr George Mthethwa
Tel: (013) 766 2242
Mobile:083 302 2774
E-mail: gpmthethwa@mpg.gov.za
