Welcome to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government

ADDRESS BY HONOURABLE PREMIER DD MABUZA AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE MPUMALANGA BRAND AND THE ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN


04 December 2014

Programme Director;
Members of the Provincial Executive Council;
Members of our Provincial Legislature;
Executive Mayors and Coucillors;
Amakhosi;
Director -General of the Province;
Senior Government Officials as well CEO’s of our State Owned Organizations;
Esteemed Guests from the Private Sector;
Members the Media;
Comrades and compatriots,

The hope for a better life for all

Mpumalanga is a very special place. It is the ‘Place of the Rising Sun’. This is the land of special people whose dreams and aspirations continue to shape our collective identity and search for a better future for all.

We are the descendants of brave warriors and ordinary people whose heritage continues to inspire our generation to believe that ‘nothing is impossible’. Our forebears sacrificed their lives in search for a better future founded on the core values of freedom, respect and human dignity.

In moving Mpumalanga forward, we draw inspiration from the early struggles by indigenous communities against land dispossession and oppression in the 19th century. We draw inspiration from our liberation heroes and heroines whose struggles for freedom and equality are embedded in our collective consciousness to shape our new future as a people.

As a people, we have emerged from a difficult history of racial conflict, pain, and apartheid subjugation. A lot has been achieved to move the Province and the country forward to ensure that our collective future is founded unity, social cohesion and a strong sense of patriotism.

As the people of Mpumalanga, we have a responsibility to work together across all sectors of society to build a united Province. We have to work hard to create opportunities for every child, every citizen, to grow, dream, and live a better future.

Mpumalanga – the Place of the Rising Sun - must be anchored on our commitment to develop a winning province, offering opportunities for thriving businesses and tourism. Our economy has a potential for successful entrepreneurship and the creation of decent work.

We must continue to build safe and cohesive communities and make that communities leave in peace.

We must continue to ensure that visitors to the Province are safe from crime and the negative impact of road accidents.

When the sun rises, we must always be a Province at work to keep our communities and road users safe.

Brand Mpumalanga

Ladies and gentlemen, as we unveil our campaign for road safety this festive season, we also officially launch our new theme and brand positioning statement for the province - The Place of The Rising Sun.

‘The Place of the Rising Sun’ represents our brand identity as a Province. As various sectors and stakeholders this brand positioning statement must be a constant reminder to all of us that each day must be a day of hope for the people of Mpumalanga.

Each day, we must join hands and move closer to achieving the goals of a united a prosperous Province. To do this, we must share a common vision and unity of purpose as we tackle and overcome obstacles to a better future for all of us.

The official launch of our brand is meant to galvanise our collective vision and purpose to emancipate our children from poor schooling environments, achieve better education and health outcomes, and ensure that our people have better lives tomorrow.

It is meant to push us to deliver more homes for the scores that still live in difficult conditions. It is meant to ensure that we strive hard to deliver water, sanitation and electricity to our people.

When the sun rises, we know that with every mile, every step, ‘kancane, kancane’ life is changing for the better. United in action, we are the people from the Place of the Rising Sun, Mpumalanga.

The Place of The Rising Sun is a promise we’re giving to the people of our beautiful land Mpumalanga that each day presents a new opportunity to deliver on our mandate of creating a better life for all.

Welcoming the tourists in the Place of the Rising Sun

In ‘the Place of The Rising Sun’, the festive season marks a very busy period on our roads leading to our tourism attractions. Families are re-united to celebrate the goodwill of Christmas and a New Year.

Mpumalanga, as a tourism destination of choice, offers unique experiences for international and domestic visitors. Our natural and cultural heritage defines key aspects of our tourism product offerings.

Mpumalanga boasts the exhilarating scenic landscapes and beauty, exciting activities, tranquil evenings and a perfect place to unwind, meditate and rediscover one’s sense of purpose.

The Place of a Rising Sun is considered worldwide to be one of the most geographically diverse and unbelievably beautiful places in South Africa. People are drawn to the province by the magnificent scenery, by the fauna and flora and the historical saga of the 19th century gold rush. By the wealth of fascinating tribal legends, mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests that characterise the landscape.

As ‘brand Mpumalanga’, our brand value proposition is that all visitors to the Province will receive exceptional service, hospitality and unmatched experience. I have no doubt that the tourism sector stakeholders are ready work around the clock to make our tourist happy.

As open our arms to welcome all our visitors, we want to ensure that our roads are safe. Today, we are also launching a comprehensive road safety campaign that will run for the duration of the festive season.

For all of us, the festive season is a time of joy and peace. But for other families it becomes the time of sorrow, of sadness, and grief as a result of road carnage that does not only rob us of our family members and friends but also cost the economy of South Africa billions of rands.

As a Province, we are calling upon all road users and pedestrians to exercise care, caution and patience as they will be driving to their destinations of choice whether it be home or holiday.

When the sun rises, we, as the government of Mpumalanga, are here to deliver safety on our roads and save lives.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mpumalanga is a special Place. This is the Place of The Rising Sun.

I thank you


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