Mpumalanga Executive Council decisions at Dr J S Moroka

05 April 2006

The Executive Council (Cabinet) at its fortnightly meeting held at Siyabuswa in JS Moroka Municipality approved the participation of Ethel Mashaba (quantity surveyor), Johanna Malatsi (building management) and Mmamotshele Mahlangu (civil engineer) in the Republic of South Africa and the United Arab Emirates female developmental programme in the construction, hospitality and finance sectors. All three participants are from the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works.

The programme commenced on the 1 April 2006 and is for a 6-12 months period. This is part of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA). This exchange programme is to address the skills shortage amongst women.

The meeting is being held as part of the government outreach in Siyabuswa, which is being undertaken for the first time this year to coincide with the induction and operationalisation of the new local government. This cabinet outreach also coincides with the National Imbizo Focus Week starting 6-13 April 2006.

The Executive Council resolved to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the province of Maputo and the province of Maputo City respectively to replace the current MOU with the old Maputo province that has now been divided into two. The Memoranda of Understanding will cover areas of transport and logistics; environmental conservation; tourism development; agriculture; trade and industry; culture and sport and health.

The Department of Public Works informed the Cabinet about the progress made in regard to the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) registration of contractors in Mpumalanga.

The CIDB has revealed that there are 22 contractors in the Province and only 15 can do projects between R3m and R30m. Of the 15, only 4 are for general building works, the rest are either electrical, mechanical or civil works specialists. There are 15 schools to be built each costing above R3m. Furthermore, there are 3 clinics and 4 mortuaries to be built each costing above R6m.

The Executive Council noted with concern the slow progress in the registration of contractors with the CIDB from Mpumalanga Province.

In a similar project the Executive Council was informed by the Department of Public Works about the progress in relation to the Sakha'abakhi Contractor Development Programme. It will provide opportunities for existing contractors. It is targeting 50 contractors for the 2006/7 financial year. The programme will enable contractors to embark on bigger projects and to receive a higher grading with CIDB.

The Department of Roads and Transport presented a proposal to the Executive Council for the conversion of provincial roads leading to the borders to be national roads. These are R33 from Commondale to Stoffberg (R555); R35 from Amersfort to Middelburg; R38 from Bethal to Kaapmuiden (N4); R40 from White River to revised Limpopo boundry (Marite River Bridge); R40 from Barberton to Bulembu border; and R50 from Standerton to Gauteng border. This is a total of 865, 52 km of provincial road to be converted. Most of these are extensively used to transport coal. This conversion will afford the Department the opportunity to focus attention on developing and improving current provincial roads. The proposal was approved by Cabinet.

The Executive Council noted the progress made on the efforts to establish a National Institute of Higher Education (NIHE), which is a precursor to the establishment of a university in the Province. The nominees to the board of the NIHE were approved by the Executive Council for consideration and approval by the Minister of Education. The NIHE will be constituted of the University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, Vaal University of Technology, UNISA, Ndebele College of Education, Lowveld College of Agriculture and the Themba Nursing College. The NIHE is to be launched in June 2006.

Issued by the Communication Chief Directorate

Office of the Premier