Cabinet Media Statement

15 May 2014

1. Thank you members of the media for coming to this press conference, we have called you to communicate the decisions of the Cabinet Meeting as usual.

2. We will not take much of your time; there are only two matters we would like to share with you. It is the decisions of yesterday’s Cabinet Meeting and give you some clarity with regards to the activities around the installation of the new government.

3. Yesterday, as the Mpumalanga Executive Council, we held our last official meeting according to our timeline since we came in, as from the year 2009.

4. We found it appropriate yesterday to reflect on the journey travelled in the past five years. Indeed ladies and gentlemen, this was not an easy journey, but we confidently can say as members of this executive council, we all appreciated the confidence given to us by the Honourable Premier Mr David Mabuza to be entrusted with leading the provincial government of the people of Mpumalanga.

5. As you may remember, we started on a bad note, there was too much negativity, and we improved as the time went on. Quoting from the Honourable Premier, we hope the team that will come in, will take the baton and put more efforts on especially job creation.

6. Without singing our own song, we believe that the efforts of this out-going executive council will not go unnoticed. Some of us had served in the executive for so many years and have acquired maximum experience to be deployed to other provincial and national responsibilities.

7. We believe that wherever we will be deployed, we will be able to work hard and serve the people of South Africa with passion and determination.

8. While we were reflecting as individual MECs during yesterday’s meeting as afforded by the Honourable Premier, we agreed that we would forever cherish the experience given to us.

9. Looking back, we see Mpumalanga as a different province, indeed there is a good story to tell. We acknowledge and concede that although great work has been done in the province, there are some areas that still need much of the government’s attention.

10. Cabinet Decisions

10.1. Progress report on rain disasters

The executive council noted progress on the provincial flood disasters that took place in March this year. After the executive council pronounced a provincial disaster in April this year, the national disaster management centre was duly informed of the proclamation and it has since deployed its task team to verify the information and begin the classification process.

As the total cost for the damage was estimated at R535 million, the provincial government has only manage to set aside R158 million, we have requested a further financial assistance from national.

The PDMC will monitor with the relevant sector departments that irreparably damaged structures are demolished once new structures have been built. This will be set as part of the conditions for any relief funding provided.

10.2 Progress report on interventions in three departments [Health, Dardla and DCSSL]

Cabinet noted the close out report on the interventions in the provincial departments of Health, Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Land Affairs that had been placed under the curatorship.

Cabinet further allowed an extension for the next three months [April to June 2014] in order for the systems that were introduced during the intervention period to be strengthened and that the Provincial Treasury may provide guidance on the implementation of improvement plans.

11. Inauguration of Premier

Ladies and gentlemen, preparations for the inauguration of the Premier are afoot, and we wish to give you a direction on the processes.

Although yesterday’s meeting was our last executive council meeting, we remain the MECs until the new Premier pronounces the new Cabinet. It is then that we will seize our positions.

On Wednesday, 21 May 2014, there will be a special Legislature sitting which will be presided over by the Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba at 10h00 in the morning.

The purpose of that special sitting will be for the swearing in of 30 members of the provincial legislature, election of the Premier, election of the Speaker and his or her deputy.

The Premier elect will also take an oath on the same day at the executive council boardroom. We wish to emphasise that the swearing in of the members will happen concurrently with that of the national parliament.

After the Premier elect has been sworn in, he or she will have to decide with the Office of the Premier on the nature of his or her inauguration and will subsequently affirm the date, which will be communicated to you accordingly.

On the evening of the same day, there will also be a gala dinner to be hosted by both the Premier elect and the Speaker of the Legislature.

Further, ladies and gentlemen, we wish to inform you that the inauguration of the President will take place on Saturday, 24 May 2014. The citizens of Mpumalanga have been invited to witness the inauguration. Those who are interested may liaise directly with their local municipalities and or the Department of Culture Sports and Recreation.

12. Appointments

Cabinet further approved the following appointments:

12.1 Mr George Mthethwa – appointed Director: Communications [COGTA]

12.2 Ms Ditebogo Mokonyana – appointed Director: Financial Accounting [COGTA]

12.3 Mr William Mthombothi – appointed Head of Department [Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison]

13. Appointment of Members of the Consumer Court

13.1 Professor J M Maseko: Chairperson

13.2 Mr B C Matsane: Alternate Chairperson

13.3 Ms T E Mawekeke: Member

13.4 Ms N B Mzuzu: Member

13.5 Ms M Swart: Member

Alternate Members

13.6 Ms L Mcitwa-Mahlangu

13.7 Mr D E Mashego

13.8 Mr V R Nkosi

14. Lastly, ladies and gentlemen, this outgoing executive council would like to thank the Honourable Premier for his visionary leadership he has displayed over the years.

If it was not for him, we are not too sure if we would have managed to weather the storms that come with the responsibility of serving the people of Mpumalanga at this level. We wish him well in his future deployment.

Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government

Enquiries:
Zibonele Mncwango
Tel: (013) 766 2453
Mobile: 079 4910163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za