Mpumalanga 2009 State of the Province preview
19 February 2009
Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla will deliver his final State of the Province Address (SoPA) tomorrow (20/02/2009) at the Mpumalanga provincial legislature in Nelspruit. The address will give a high-level account of the performance of the current administration since it assumed duties in 2004.The address will also highlight some of the successes, constraints and challenges of service delivery encountered over the last 15 years of freedom and democracy.
Among others, the speech will place an emphasis on the importance of infusing and sustaining the values and systems based on integrity and efficiency in the provincial administration. These include the transformation of the public sector to be responsive to the service delivery expectations of the populace.
Of particular importance will be a progress report on the implementation of the five key provincial flagship projects, commonly referred to as the “big five”. They include Maputo Development Corridor, Moloto Rail Development Corridor, Water for all, Heritage, Greening Mpumalanga Tourism and the Accelerated Capacity Building Project. These were announced by the Premier during the 2007 SoPA as part of the efforts to grow the regional economy but also to advance the priorities of social development.
Skills, which has been isolated as one of the key constraints for socio-economic development also emerged as one of important priorities during Makwetla’s term. Following the first ever skills audit (in 2005) to be undertaken in the public sector, the provincial administration was found to have performed below average. This necessitated the province to initiate the “accelerated capacity building” flagship as a direct response aimed at enhancing the skills base in the management echelons of the province. Specific progress around this intervention in order to match the skills profile and the economic requirements of the province will be highlighted
In the same vein, the importance of agriculture as a means to diversify the economy, boost employment, create an asset base for communities and mitigate the threat of food security will be emphasised. Of particular focus is the province’s high impact program, known as “Masibuyele emasimini” (back to tilling land) which was targeting poverty-stricken households with no meaningful gains of employment. This will also be linked to the recently launched “anti poverty war room.”
The private sector’s role in increasing investments to the province over the last five years and their contribution to economic growth and job creation are expected to be commended by highlighting their economic value to the province’s Gross Geographic Product (GGP).
Makwetla will also announce additional public sector driven measures to invest and diversify the regional economy. A key highlight will be the investments in roads and rail infrastructure as key enablers in attracting investments. The last five years in the province have seen government investments in roads increasing notably and this is expected to continue. In addition, targets met around the Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) and its contribution in expanding work opportunities over the last five years will be revealed.
Challenges encountered and possible interventions in the provision of housing, water and electricity will be unveiled. Premier Makwetla will also touch on strategies to prevent and reduce the socio-economic and health impact of malaria, tuberculosis (TB), HIV and AIDS in the rural communities.
Special programs aimed at readying the province to host a world-class 2010 spectacular are on firm course and they include a progress report on stadia, roads, volunteer programme, mobilisation effort, disaster management compliance and other related plans.
The speech will be available tomorrow at 10 am on the website: http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za
Date: 20/02/2009
Venue: Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature
Time: 10h00
For media registration contact:
Mokope Taiwa
Cell: 082 802 8460
Tel: 013 766 2288
Issued by: Office of Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
