Mpumalanga Executive Council holds its bi-weekly meeting
5 March 2009Mpumalanga Province has embarked on a road signage revamp project. This was revealed at the biweekly meeting of the Mpumalanga Executive Council that took place on 4 March 2009. The project was started in January 2009 and all priority road signs will be completed by April 2009. It is expected that the signage of the whole province will be completed by March 2010.
The Mpumalanga Executive Council was alerted by the Department of Local Government and Housing of the hazardous situation prompted by the malfunctioning of the sewer system at Embalenhle extension 22 in the Govan Mbeki Municipality . The Executive Council ordered that the usage of the system be urgently suspended and cleaned to establish the causes, and that well-serviced mobile toilets in the meantime be installed to alleviate the situation.
The Department of Public Works presented an audited report on EPWP phase 1 and the framework for the implementation of EPWP phase 2. The Executive Council welcomed the fact that the province exceeded its target to create 100 000 jobs this financial year by six in September 2008. It also appreciated the improvements that were done on phase 2, which seeks to enhance the quality of jobs by extending the duration of employment in jobs created through the EPWP, especially in the infrastructure sector. The political and administrative accountability will be strengthened across all spheres of government in order to facilitate the up-scaling of the job opportunities from 1 million to 4,5 million at the national level and 100 000 to 650 000 in the province in the coming five years. Some of the job opportunities are envisaged to come from partnering with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the private sector.
The Executive Council has formally adopted the reviewed Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS), which sets the framework to guide the development of Mpumalanga Province . The adoption of the strategy comes after a rigorous interrogation of the previous framework, extensive research work and consultation with all stakeholders, including business, representatives of trade unions, NGOs, CBOs, and municipalities over the past three years. The PGDS identifies the following areas as being critical if the province is to realise measurable and meaningful development: Providing support to the industrial and services sectors to stimulate the creation of jobs; Using indigenous resources to create jobs; providing social services; enhancing social cohesion and enhancement of human capital; maximising the provincial benefits from the mining and energy sectors, while strengthening sustainable development through mitigating environmental impacts. A provincial Development Council (PDC) will be established to monitor compliance by the provincial government.
The Executive Council has welcomed the progress the province is making with regards to the promotion of tourism in Mpumalanga . The province has moved from number four to number three according to the 2008 Third Quarter International Arrivals Report. The province dropped to number eight in the 2006 Domestic Survey Report, and we are awaiting the 2008 figures which will be released at the end of March 2009. The Executive Council resolved to revamp the Manyeleti Game Reserve, a reserve that is popular for its group accommodation, especially educational tourism for school groups. The Manyeleti biosphere is reported to have the largest concentration of animal species.
Finally, The Executive Council expressed appreciation for the intervention by the MEC for Local Government and Housing in the Pixley ka Seme municipality. The Department of Local Government has taken over the executive powers of the municipality and appointed an administrator, which has ended almost nine months of mass protest. This has brought about peace and stability in that municipality. We further convey our sincere gratitude to the community of the Pixley ka Seme municipality for understanding and supporting the intervention. This is an obvious illustration that with us all working together, no challenge is insurmountable.
Contact:
Ntime Skhosana
Tel: 013766 2055
Cell: 082 496 6875
E-mail: ntime@prem.mpu.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier