Premier Mabuza to formalise working relationship with Sasol
26 September 2012
In a drive to strengthen public-private-partnership, Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza will on Tuesday sign a memorandum of understanding with the country’s integrated mining, gas, oil and chemicals company, Sasol.
The public agreement follows a multi-million Rand intended investment by Sasol in Mpumalanga especially in Govan Mbeki and Dipaliseng local municipalities respectively where it is doing its business.
At a meeting yesterday [Tuesday, 25 September 2012] with Premier Mabuza, Sasol’s Group Executive Member Maurice Radebe said his company had committed R70 million for Govan Mbeki Municipality and R25 million for Dipaliseng Municipality through their social and labour plan projects.
He explained that they needed government to partner with them in terms of man-power and other management logistics of their projects.
According to Mr Radebe, the projects for Govan Mbeki include purchasing of sewer trucks for Charl Cilliers, Kinross water connection project, construction of Leandra fire station, upgrading of eMzinoni stadium and construction of a multi-purpose centre in Charl Cilliers.
Sasol will also construct Phase 2 of Lebohang storm water drains; upgrade sewerage plant and a stadium in eMbalenhle Township outside Secunda. They will also construct foot bridges, install public lights at eMbalenhle and improve living conditions by building 20 houses to be donated to the local impoverished households.
Another amount has been set aside for clean-up and refuse removal in eMbalenhle, clean-up of green belts in Secunda, crime prevention, school security projects and upgrading of roads in Metsimaholo.
On the other hand, Dipaliseng Municipality is set to benefit also on upgrading of sewerage plant and a road, and the fencing of a reservoir in Nthoroane area.
Sasol also invest annually close to R10 million at Osizweni Skills Development Centre, which is an education flagship initiative for maths, science and technology meant create interest for children between the ages of two to six years.
They are also expected to set up a team of the engineers to provide a solution on the dire sewerage situation in eMbalenhle. The Premier noticed the problem recently during his visit in the township to identify the beneficiaries of the sponsored houses.
“Whilst it is not our competency to deliver on such projects, we see it befitting to partner and seek leadership from the provincial government in order to ensure that these projects are a success and that they leave a lasting positive impact in the communities where we do our business,” said Mr Radebe.
“Sasol’s current and future success depends on our ability to attract, retain and develop highly skilled individuals through a deliberate investment in pre-employment skills, development interventions and formal value adding learning programmes,” said Mr Radebe.
Meanwhile the Premier supported the idea of the establishment of a faculty of science and technology in Secunda of the envisioned University of Mpumalanga as raised by Sasol.
He said he would look into the matter and influence the Department of Higher Education to ensure that a campus with this faculty was strategically positioned in Secunda.
He conceded that the faculty would be nearer to Sasol and would be able to produce graduates who are ready for employment.
“Our aim as a provincial government is to make Mpumalanga a centre of science, it is in this regard that we say Secunda should be a science hub because of the chemistry facility Sasol has.
“We welcome the partnership with Sasol, with this investment in the communities; our people will see and understand that Sasol is not an enemy but a friend. Let us move with speed and deliver on our commitments,” said Mabuza.
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Tel: (013) 766 – 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za
