EXCO Media Statement

27 October 2022

EXCO INTENSIFIES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION BY FOCUSING ON MATTERS RAISED BY THE CITIZENS RECENTLY

The provision of basic needs is a Constitutional imperative that the South African government is committed to Section 27 (1) states health care, food, water and social security as rights and makes it an imperative for the state to provide to those unable to support themselves.

Government’s public participation programmes are a platform for citizens to express these basic needs, and serve as one of the mechanism of the state to formulate the required interventions. In Mpumalanga, public participation programmes are coordinated periodically as a measure for a seamless engagement between government and the citizens.

The Presidential Imbizo and Taking Legislature to the People (TLP) programme, were held in May 2022 in the Chief Albert Luthuli and in Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Municipalities, respectively. The EXCO Outreach and Premier’s Imbizo programme was held in September 2022 in the Dr JS Moroka Municipality. EXCO convened a sitting in Mbombela on Wednesday to focus on the public participation programmes and to analyze progress made in through the intervention measures that respond to the basic needs of the citizens and service delivery challenges. These include, but not limited to, lack of access to social amenities, poor public infrastructure and crime.

1. PRESIDENTIAL IMBIZO

EXCO noted that Departments have taken significant steps to respond to the basic needs and service delivery challenges, extracted from the Presidential Imbizo. Although EXCO expressed appreciation for the recorded progress, however, measures were explored to accelerate the interventions, through an integrated approach. The poor road conditions was raised by most citizens across the province, with rural roads described as badly damaged and inaccessible.

While EXCO highlighted limited resources to address the road infrastructure in a sustainable way, however, it was resolved that an integrated approach of the District Development Model (DDM) should be adopted for intervention. This, according to EXCO, will ensure that the infrastructure is addressed without wastage and duplication of the limited resources, in the three Districts.

A similar integrated approach to address all concerns, was adopted. To this end, EXCO resolved that an action plan must be developed, with a progress-tracking metrix to ensure that all the concerns are addressed sustainably. The Presidential Imbizo will be treated as a standing item during the EXCO sittings, to track progress.

EXCO further resolved to escalate matters of national competency to the relevant Departments, based on the commitments made during the Imbizo.


2. PRESIDENTIAL IMBIZO

The 3-day programe held in May 2022, provided an opportunity for local citizens to raise service delivery challenges, crime in the local schools and racism in the local farms.

EXCO noted that Departments are already addressing the challenges, as raised by the local citizens, through a collaboration with the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Municipality. The following progress was highlighted:

• The Department of Education has set aside seven buses to transport about 250 learners in between Secondary schools, with effect from January 2023, in response to the overcrowding concerns of schools;
• The Department of Human of Settlements is committed to finalize the construction of houses in Vukuzakhe A, and start a similar project in Vukuzakhe B, by the end of October 2022;
• The Department of Health has already appointed doctors with effect from June 2022, of which two of them are assigned to all PHC facilities in the municipality. The number will increase in light of the ongoing recruitment process. The availability rate of medication in the municipality is at 90.4%;
• The Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison has already conducted sports against crime awareness programme and school safety awareness at Vukuzakhe Township in response to substance abuse;
• The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs will utilize 155 hectares of land for food production and five food gardens in Daggakraal, before the end of January 2023. A nursery is also planned for Daggakraal through the Fortune 40 programme
• The Department of Public Works Roads and Transport has conducted an assessment of all damaged bridges in Ward 6 and 10. Pothole patching has been conducted on various road sections in the municipality;
• The Department of Social Development is also providing sanitary towels as part of Sanitary Dignity Programme, reaching 1 782 girls
EXCO resolved that an action plan, must be developed to address the concerns through an integrated approach of the DDM.

Matters raised at Senotlelo in Dr JS Moroka Municipality during the Premier’s Imbizo are implemented, and progress will also be subjected to EXCO and communicated to the citizens through media platforms.


3. NEW APPOINTMENT

Ms I.N Mashinini-Nkosi: Deputy Director-General for Macro Policy – Office of the Premier.

Ends…


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