Executive Council Meeting
The Executive Council held its fortnightly meeting at the Mpumalanga
Provincial Government seat on Wednesday 10 August 2011.
Economic Impact of Infrastructure projects in the Rural Areas
Only four municipalities out of 18 can be classified as urban by the
Mpumalanga Provincial Government standards, and have potential to sustain its
populace.
The Executive council received a report on the impact of infrastructure spending by the provincial government in rural areas. The study concluded that only four out of 18 municipalities can be classified as urban that is, Mbombela, Steve Tshwete, Govan Mbeki and Emalahleni municipalities. These municipalities have a minimum capacity to sustain themselves, provide a diversified source of employment, high level of contribution to the GVA (Provincial Gross value add) and are densely populated. The five municipalities together contribute 70%, to the provincial gross value added (GVA), while the 12 rural municipalities put together contribute only 30%.
Government is the biggest employer in rural areas of
Mpumalanga
The Executive Council undertook this assessment of the
impact of infrastructure projects in rural areas in order to ascertain to what
extent spending on infrastructure is likely to impact on the development of the
rural areas.
In the rural areas in Mpumalanga, government is the
biggest employer compared to the urban municipalities where the biggest employer
is mining, manufacturing and trade related industries and the government
accounts for only 13% of employment. Similarly unemployment is the highest in
the rural municipalities ranging from 20-58% compared to 8.6-17.6% in the urban
municipalities.
Provincial Government spent more on infrastructure
development 2006 to 2010
The provincial government has increased its infrastructure spending from R676m in 2006-07 to R2, 2bn in 2009-2010, mounting to 2.1% of provincial GVA. It should be noted, though, that per capita spending on infrastructure has increased by 220% since 2006/07. Department such as Public works Roads and transport, Health, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Affairs allocated as high percentage spending as 42%, 24%, 17.2% and 11% respectively. With Public Works Roads and Transport spending 35%, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Affairs 30% and Culture Sports and Recreation 26% on infrastructure projects in rural areas.
The Provincial government to spend more on CRP infrastructure projects
The executive council has therefore resolved to continue to dedicate more resources to the comprehensive rural development programme (CRDP) and structure the projects in such a way that they have higher spinoffs by emphasizing high labour intensity, local involvement and local procurement and capacity building. The cooperatives involvement in the CRDP and their capacitating and support will be intensified through facilitation of financing partners.
Malaria season has started
The Executive Council also approved the early start of a malaria control programme which is going to include spraying of malaria pesticides in malaria prone areas that include Bushbuckridge, Mbombela and Nkomazi municipalities. This programme will start the month of August 2011 to December 2011. The spraying includes potential breeding areas in the neighbourhood of human settlements, all forms of dwellings, where people are found.
We appeal to the communities in these areas to cooperate with the clearly identifiable fumigating and spraying officials in order to save us from this top three killer disease in the continent. We request communities to give access to their houses to this spraying team and ensure that they do not clean the walls or paint them after the spraying programme, until the malaria season pass, unless we have means to re-spray or fumigate.
The main objective of the Programme for the 2011/12 financial year is
to manage and eliminate malaria. The uninterrupted and continuous implementation
of this intervention has been proven as the most effective means of reducing the
local transmission of malaria in the province.
Additional to this, the public is advised to report early to clinics
immediately they suspect any symptom of malaria, which includes severe
temperature fluctuation accompanied by headaches and sometimes nausea. Malaria
kills, but is curable when treated early.
Appointment of Members of the Premier’s Advisory Forum
The EXCO approved the appointed members of the Premier’s Advisory
Forum. These are:
- Mr. Norman Mokoena MEC for Economic Development, Environment and
Tourism
- Mr. Ndivhiniswani Aaron Tshidzumba
- Prof. Mthembeni Mkhize
- Prof. Dr. John Shongwe
- Mr. John Wallington
- Mr. Peter Llewellyn Rogers
- Dr. Setumi Mohapi
- Head of Macro Policy in the Office of the Premier
- Mr. Leonard van Vuuren from Finance Department
- Sector specialists in the Department of Economic Development,
Environment and Tourism.
The main purpose of the Advisory Forum is to advice the Premier on
various economic issues including the implementation of the Provincial Economic
Growth path.
The 2011 World Gold Panning Championships (WGPC)
The EXCO approved the trip by the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation led by MEC Sibongile Manana to the WGPC in Ziatorija, Poland from August 12-25 2011. The delegation which includes cultural performers and gold panners will leave in a staggered manner with the MEC leaving the country on the 23rd August 2011. SA is the only African country among 20 participants in WGPC. SA will be hosting the 2012 WGPC which includes the 1000 gold panning participants. Kwazulu-Natal, Western Cape and Limpopo provinces will be participating for the first time in the WCGP in Poland.
Enquiries
Lebona Mosia
Cell: 082 561 6465
Tel: 013 7662244
Email: lmosia@mpg.gov.za
Issued by the Communication Chief Directorate, Office of the Premier
