MPUMALANGA 2007 STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS PREVIEW
Mpumalanga Premier,Thabang Makwetla will deliver the annual State of the Province Address during the opening of the Mpumalanga Province Legislature on Friday, 23 February 2007, in Nelspruit.
The SOPA is a broad annual overview and political pointer of developmental priorities and strategic direction of the province. The address will present a glance of past achievements, successes and challenges that government continues to address in an effort to build a better quality of life for all its citizens and stakeholders.
The speech will flow from the ruling party's 2004 election manifesto guidelines, the national and provincial cabinet makgotla resolutions. The speech will also cover, amongst others, investment plans towards growing the economy, creating jobs, improving the health profile of communities, tackling the scourge of poverty, crime and plans around the 2010 world cup preparations. In other words, The main focus will be around stated objectives of developing the regional economy in line with national objectives of attaining the 6% economic growth target.
Mpumalanga , as South Africa 's 4 th largest economy, through its growth and development strategy(PGDS) based on a spatial development framework, aims to diversify its economic offerings in sectors that include agriculture, tourism, electricity, petrochemical and forestry industries.
More importantly, the Premier will unveil and launch five flagship development al programs that the provincial administration is expected to comprehensively focus on and invest substantial resources in order to attain. The flagship projects, otherwise known as the “Big Five”, will serve as a provincial blueprint for economic and social development thus complimenting the PGDS objectives.
Following the successful piloting of the high impact (household food security) project, known as “Masibuyele Emasimini”, additional resources will be allocated to expand the roll-out to other poverty stricken areas that have limited economic strengths. The program involves providing families and communities with basic amenities(seeds, tractors, plantations etc ) for backyard tilling.
Other key service delivery areas to be highlighted include social grants, HIV and AIDS, education, poverty and crime ,youth development programs and the EPWP.
DATE : 23 February 2007
VENUE : Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature
TIME : 10: 00 AM
ISSUED BY :
Ntime Skhosana-
+27 13 766 2055 /0824966875
MEDIA ACCREDITATION:
Mokope Taiwa
0137662288 /0828028460