Mpumalanga ready for the challenges ahead
26 June 2009
Opening its regular cabinet meeting this morning, Mpumalanga Premier David
Mabuza emphasized the importance of single mindedness in tackling the challenges
facing
Mabuza opened the cabinet meeting by reflecting on some of the key highlights
and resolutions of the recent cabinet lekgotla and last Friday’s presentation of
the State of the Province address (SOPA) He summarized the challenges facing his
administration to include, among others, the need to improve the levels of
political cohesion and unity in the province, management and governance
challenges in the departments of education and health, job creation, the
processing of all outstanding payments by August and the need to increase the
capacity of the administration to plan, monitor and evaluate government programs
in an integrated manner, particularly at intergovernmental level.
According to the premier, his government aims to provide a stable leadership
with a special focus on creating a common vision for people of the province.
“This is the leadership that must affirm the real strength of
Cabinet further commended the Premier on his State of the Province address that
he delivered on Friday. The address was generally described as an “honest and
frank attempt to highlight the challenges facing the province and providing a
broad framework of priorities”.
“We can confidently move forward and execute what we have been mandated to do.
The pressure and public expectations are high but, as a team, we also have the
necessary political resolve to make our mark. It’s an honour we cannot defer:”
concluded the premier
Mabuza to investigate scholar transport
In an effort to address challenges emanating from the scholar transport program,
the
This emerged from the cabinet meeting wherein the general state of scholar
transport in the province was discussed. This program was introduced in 2001 as
part of efforts to assist learners who travel long distances to or from schools.
This is targeting mainly far flung rural areas, particularly child headed
households.
Since its inception, the program experienced challenges and various allegations
that range from lack of tight oversight, overloading, unroadworthy vehicles,
discrepancies on the number of learners and route distances, late arrivals.
In light of the above, the Premier’s office will conduct a comprehensive
forensic enquiry with a view to unearth and verify the authenticity of some of
the alleged acts of impropriety , and accordingly cabinet resolved to assign the
provincial roads section to assume the role of being an implementing agent for
the entire provincial scholar transport system. The roads section will do a
complete review; develop policy and implementation mechanisms for future
presentation to cabinet.
According to Premier Mabuza, It’s important that government informs the public
about the real causes and extent of the problems afflicting this program. “We
cant afford to disadvantage vulnerable communities through our own bureaucratic
delays and indecisiveness, our office will immediately conduct investigations so
that we verify some of the allegations, save wastages and nip leakages for
possible corrupt motives” he said.
In line with the stated provincial government’s objective of making education a
prime focus for the new term, cabinet also received presentations around 2009
learner ratios, incomplete schools project, water, sanitation and electricity
challenges in schools and state of readiness to administer this year’s national
senior certificate.
Trade and enterprise development undergoes restructuring
Premier Mabuza announced during the State of the Province address last Friday
that the Mpumalanga Agricultural Development Corporation (MADC) and the
Mpumalanga Housing Finance Company will merge with the Mpumalanga Economic
Growth Agency (MEGA) to form one provincial public entity that will be
responsible for overall business development.
As an immediate response to the Premier’s pronouncement, cabinet expressed the
need for an establishment of merger task team that will comprise of experts. The
task team will be formed and report to the department of economic development,
environment and tourism. It will also develop a legal framework within which
this policy directive will be implemented before the end of this financial year
2009/2010.
The newly envisaged public entity will reduce duplication and streamline
activities aimed at maximizing macro-economic interventions. It will also be
responsible for massive infrastructure roll out, enterprise development and help
promote trade and development.
Cabinet also reiterated its commitment to working together with the people of
the province in strengthening efforts of placing
Enquiries:
Ntime Skhosana
Cell: 0824966875
Tel: 0137662055
Issued by: Office of the Premier,
Mpumalanga Provincial Government