Premier Mabuza advises Mpumalanga DA leader
03 July 2012
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has advised the Democratic Alliance leader Anthony Benadie to express a view to Nedlac about the implementation of a proposed youth wage subsidy.
Premier Mabuza told the DA MPL leader at a meeting today [Tuesday, 03 July 2012] that although he personally supported the youth wage subsidy, it would be advisable to send a submission to Nedlac as the matter was currently discussed there.
This was after Mr Benadie had lobbied the Premier to sign a letter of endorsement to run a provincial programme of the wage subsidy. He said they were lobbying the premiers throughout the country because the youth wage subsidy’s budget was available and it needed to be utilised.
Mabuza did not sign but urged the DA leader to consider making a submission to Nedlac.
“As a government, we have created a forum to discuss this matter with other recognised stakeholders, therefore we cannot start our own processes, otherwise we would be seen as people who are discussing not in good faith.
“I would however appreciate a situation where we express our collective view as a province because it is true that the situation is dire on the ground, and indeed we cannot talk forever,” said Mabuza.
Mabuza asked Benadie to get different sectors and compile one provincial submission to Nedlac.
The Premier explained that the ruling party was also proposing a job seekers’ fund to compliment other programmes meant for youth development.
Mr Benadie also asked the Premier whether there would be job opportunities in the province for graduates of the envisioned University of Mpumalanga.
“The University should be forward-looking by producing needed skills in order to meet labour demands. Sectors such mining, agriculture, and manufacturing would be critical in absorbing skilled people from the university,” said Mabuza.
He said trade activities were improving in the province. Speaking about land invasion in Mpumalanga, both the Premier and the DA Leader agreed with the establishment of rural security structures for the farmers.
“We need to be proactive and forward-planning in order to settle people in right places as society expands. Land invasion is as a result of residential areas mushrooming all over because there is no plan of settling the people.
“The farmers are doing a good job of producing food that is needed by the country and the world; therefore we cannot afford not to protect even a single farmer because losing a farmer is quite costly even on our food basket.
They also agreed that farm eviction had scaled down dramatically in the province and any tendencies to ignite it should be avoided at all costs.
“Land eviction is a very fragile matter, let us condemn it at all costs but at the same time we must plan properly for human settlement to avoid un-necessary friction between citizens,” said Mabuza.
Benadie appreciated Mabuza’s views adding that he would rally other stakeholder his organisation worked with to have confidence on the Premier’s vision on issues which concern them in the province.
Enquiries:
Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Tel: (013) 766 – 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za
Issued by the Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
