Premier Mabuza warns MEGA and municipalities not to be corrupt
17 October 2012
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has warned both MEGA and eight “stressed” municipalities not to be corrupt when they roll out the bulk water supply intervention scheduled to hit the ground as from the end of November this year.
The Premier was speaking during the EXCO Lekgotla in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park.
Mabuza did not mince his words when he cautioned different spheres of government involved in the intended bulk water intervention project not to embark on turf battles, adding that they should prioritise the delivery of water to the people.
He stressed that district municipalities should not compete for space as the authority for water provision to communities lied with local municipalities and MEGA in this special project.
“The general perception that is rife out there is that we are known to be corrupt as a province. I am therefore expecting the leadership here to bring back the credibility of government.
“All the processes of this intervention should happen within the law so that when people need to scrutinise them, we should not come back and say things happened incorrectly.
“Regrettably those who wear ties everyday have washed themselves this morning, but the masses who voted us into power are moving up-and-down with containers searching for water.
“It is not right that people will always march on the streets to demand water when they have appointed us as their leaders to solve their problems. Water is a basic need, we cannot deny the people this need,” said Mabuza.
Mabuza said he was hoping that by the end of November at least the first contractor would be on site, and that at least by 2014 more than 90 percent of the population in the province would have access to water.
He urged MEGA to speedily enter into service delivery agreements with the municipalities to get permission for rolling out the projects.
He emphasised that there were “quick wins” which could quickly deliver water to the people while the long term processes were taking place.
The Premier further encouraged the mayors to play their leadership roles by being “innovative and find solutions” to the problems they had in their municipalities.
“As leaders, we must find solutions to the problems we have. When we wake up every day, we must have ideas on how we will solve everyday problems because people rely on us for their problems.
“As long as there is sunrise, let us go all out to try and solve the problems of the people. Let us unite the municipalities, we should not lead the divided institutions; otherwise it is a recipe for failure.
“At times we should supress our wants and feelings and apply logic on the decisions we make. Otherwise there is no miracle, there is no fixed way of solving problems, we simply need to be creative,” said the Premier.
Issued by Zibonele Mnwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Tel: (013) 766 – 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za
