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Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Council
Meeting in Nelspruit
11 June 2008
The Mpumalanga Executive Council (Exco) opened its bi-weekly meeting
held in Nelspruit with a reflection on the budget vote debates process
in progress in the Legislature.
The Executive Council appreciated and welcomed the valuable inputs
and advice that has been given by members of the Legislature, which has
added significant value to the work of the Executive. However, the
Executive Council noted with concern the absence of the members of the
Democratic Alliance (DA) during the Education budget vote debate. The
Executive Council is of the view that education is a societal matter
that cannot be reduced to an individual or party concern, but requires
involvement and inputs from all of us. In this spirit, the Executive
felt that the absence of the DA members have denied the electorate, who
would have preferred to convey their contributions through the
Democratic Alliance, this noble opportunity.
The Executive Council also felt the DA acted in bad faith in that it
chose to make its input through media statements when a chance was given
to it to debate or provide advice to the MEC for Education. Such an act
does not only constitute political immaturity, but display a serious
conspiratorial attitude that not only strain relations, but also destroy
trust between the DA and the Executive they are tasked to advise and
oversee, in particular that this happened after the constructive
interaction the Premier had with the Leader of the DA.
Finally, the Premier took this opportunity to thank and congratulate
members of the Executive Council who have already presented programmes
in their respective departments on behalf of the Executive Council.
On 2010
The Executive Council received a draft progress report on the 2010
Project by the Deputy Director-General responsible for 2010, Mr Desmond
Golding and The Mbombela Municipality Administrator, Mr Mpungose,
accompanied by the Executive Mayor of Mbombela, Mr Lassy Chiwayo. This
report was presented as part of the preparation for the visit of the
President of the Republic of South Africa , Mr Thabo Mbeki, to the
province. The Executive Council expressed its appreciation of the
progress made with regard to the construction of the stadium, which
currently stands at 40% and destined to finish on time by 31 May 2009.
The Executive Council also appreciated progress reported on the
precinct plans that are near completion, completed road infrastructure
designs and costing, as well as progress made on other projects relating
to the Fifa 2010 guarantees.
As part of the preparations for the 2010 Fifa Cup, the province will
be launching an annual Premier's International Football Cup on the 12
June 2008. The Premier's International Football Cup will feature
provincial and national clubs, as well as international clubs, including
those selected from Swaziland and Mozambique . Details shall be
pronounced at the launch.
Finally, the Executive Council applauded the work done by the
Political Committee on 2010 and instructed that going forward the
following will have to be prioritised: Finalisation of the transfer of
the stadium precinct land to the municipality; finalisation of the
filling of vacancies with regard to the nationally approved 2010 local
office and beefing up of the 2010 office in a manner that takes care of
the Fifa 24 guarantees. Attention should be paid to the tourism
attraction features and facilities such as recreational amenities,
cultural precincts, ecological parks and accommodation for various
spectators. The Political Committee will convene an urgent strategic
session to attend to the above matters and tighten project management
and co-ordination further.
On preparedness for the Veld Fire Season
The Executive Council also received a report on the state of readiness
for the upcoming fire season in the province from the Departments of
Agriculture and Land Administration and Water Affairs and Forestry. The
Executive Council welcomed the fact that command teams to assist the
land owners during major fire incidents have been trained on advanced
international fire fighting techniques; 50 structural fire fighters from
the Wild Land Fire Fighting teams are going to be placed in both local
and district councils, including veld fire prone municipalities such as
Thaba Chweu, Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge and Emakhazeni. Fire protection
associations will be established in various municipalities where land
owners and volunteers are participating, and two world class fire
bombing aircrafts with a maximum capacity of 3 000 litres will be
contracted.
The public is alerted to the fact all land owners are expected to have
maintained their fire breaks by the end of July 2008. The Executive
Council also called on all members of the public to note the volatility
of the dry season we are entering and to also make it their
responsibility to avoid acts of negligence that may result in fires,
which account for major disastrous incidences in the province during the
dry season. We must avoid starting fires that we cannot control, leaving
open fires unattended, and throwing burning cigarette stubs in the open.
The Executive Council called on all citizens to act responsibly when
handling fires.
For more information the public should consult municipalities and fire
associations in their own areas. Meanwhile, government will tighten its
co-ordination and communication capacity within its relevant structures,
as well as heightening our awareness campaign through disaster
management structures.
On Thusong Multi-Purpose centres
The Executive Council received a presentation on the findings on the
sustainability of service delivery in Thusong centres by Government
Communication and Information Services. The Executive Council noted the
importance that is placed by the communities on the need for delivery of
services such as application of grants, birth certificates, pensions and
tele-centres and impressed on all departments to make sure that services
provided by the Thusong centres are not frustrated by bureaucracy.
On the tendencies to attack foreign nationals
The Executive Council reiterated the need for our communities to remain
vigilant against any attempt by anyone to victimise, abuse and attack
foreign nationals.
Appointments
Finally, The Executive Council approved the following appointments:
* Mr M Mokonyama as the Head of Department of Roads and Transport as
from 1 June 2008. Mr Mokonyama is currently a General Manager in the
national Department of Transport.
* Ms RP Nkosi as Senior Manager: Policy and Planning in the office of
the Premier. Ms RP Nkosi holds National Diploma in Water Care and is
studying towards an MBA. She is currently employed as a director in
Mbombela Municipality .
* Ms JB Julies as Senior Manager: Communication and Protocol in the 2010
office. Ms Julies holds a BCom degree specialising in marketing and is
currently employed by the Agricultural Research Council Institute in
Nelspruit.
* Mr MJ Simelane as Director: Traditional Affairs in the Department of
Local Government. Mr Simelane holds a BA (honours) degree in social
demography, studying towards a Masters and is currently employed as
Deputy Director in the Office of the MEC for Local Government and
Housing.
* Mr BP Khubayi as the Ehlanzeni Regional Director in the Department of
Safety and Security. Mr Khubayi holds a Bachelors degree in Social Work
and is currently employed as a district Manager in the Department of
Safety and Security.
* Ms NS Nkambule as the Gert Sibande Regional Director in the Department
of Safety and Security. Ms Nkambule holds a BA (honours) degree,
previously worked as Deputy Director in the Office of the Premier and is
currently employed by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture,
Conservation and Environment.
* Mr MG Vuma as Director: Monitoring in the Department of Safety and
Security. Mr Vuma holds a BTech degree in policing and is currently
employed by SAPS as Senior Superintendent.
* Mr MD Tshabalala as Director: Communication in the Department of
Agriculture and Land Administration. Mr Tshabalala holds a BA degree and
is currently studying towards a Masters in Development Communication and
is currently employed in the national Department of Agriculture as a
Deputy Director.
* Ms HD Mhlongo as Director: Human Resources in the Department of
Agriculture and Land Administration. Ms Mhlongo holds a BCom (honours)
degree in Management and BCom (honours) degree in Psychology and is
currently employed as Deputy Director Human Resources in the National
Treasury.
The Executive Council also approved the appointment of the following
members of the Mpumalanga Agricultural Development Corporation Board:
* Mr Andrea Nzima, as Chairperson of the Board
* Ms NR Shabangu
* Ms LO Nghantsane
* Mr JF Malemone
* Mr. GV Nkosi
* Mr RD Matlala, as a temporary member
* Mr FL Guma, as a temporary member
For more information contact:
Mr Lebona Mosia
Head: Communication
Tel: +27 13 766 2244
Cell: 082 561 6465
E-mail: LMosia@mpg.gov.za
Issued by: Mpumalanga Office of the Premier
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