Mpumalanga Cabinet Statement
5 November 2009
The Mpumalanga Executive Council has, during its ordinary
meeting on Wednesday, expressed concern with the growing dissatisfaction from
the claimants about the slow progress in finalizing land claims in the province.
Many communities have expressed their discomfort through
meetings with the Premier and through phoning the provincial and presidential
Hotline. The majority of the restituted farms are on the verge of becoming
non-productive or being repossessed by the banks.
The Executive council mandated the Department of
Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration to urgently convene an
Indaba to look into the challenges related to the land restitution in the
province so that a lasting solution could be found. The Indaba is expected to
take place before the end of December this year.
The Executive Council was also concerned about the rate at
which sport is developing in the province. Since the advent of Josia Thugwana
and Sipho Ngomane, the province has not performed in athletics and even in the
other areas of elite sports.
Of significant worry is that Mpumalanga is struggling to
compete in the national arena, notwithstanding the significant showing in other
sporting areas, like boxing.
The Executive Council therefore requested the Department
of Culture, Sport and Recreation to investigate the possibility of establishing
a sporting academy in the province.
The academy will seek to assist in the nurturing of
different sporting talents, the management of sports and improvement of sports
education in the province.
Finally, the Executive Council approved the introduction
to the legislature of the Mpumalanga Youth Development Agency Bill for approval.
Therefore the Mpumalanga Youth Commission Act of 1996 will be repealed.
All officials employed by the Youth Commission on a
permanent basis shall be deemed to be employed by the Office of the Premier at
the same salary scale until the Mpumalanga Youth Development Agency Act comes
into operation.
Inquiries:
Mabutho Sithole
Mpumalanga Premier Spokesperson:
Cell: 0823893348
Tel: 013-7662055
Issued by the Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial
Government
