Statement of the Mpumalanga Executive Council
10 September 2009
Mpumalanga remains serious and steadfast on ensuring Good Governance and capacity building for service delivery improvement
In the Executive Council of the 10th of September 2009, the Premier of Mpumalanga, D.D. Mabuza requested Members of the Executive Council to assess all systems of recruitment and dispute resolution mechanisms in the departments and strengthen them where they are weak. Premier Mabuza made this request after he took time to read various Public Service Reports, which notes individuals who have lodged various complains about recruitments in various departments. The Premier further requested Members of the Executive Council to identify areas that might require attention in the endeavor to strengthen Good Governance in the province.
The Executive Council decided to send 20 government officials to Germany for training as part of the capacity-building programme and to strengthen good governance. The 20 officials are part of the 100 that have completed three parts of the programme. In the course of their study they were exposed to theory, experiential learning both at the provincial and national levels. They are now sent for the last lap of the programme, which is the international exposure. The programme was started because of a skills audit that was done in the 3rd term of the Democratic government and was endorsed by the current Executive Council.
The Executive Council welcomed the progress made with regard to dealing with improprieties in Government. Recently, Government has just suspended about 13 officials in the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport on suspicion of corrupt activities. This is just another sign of the intolerance of the Executive Council of Mpumalanga towards corruption in the government administration.
Mpumalanga Enhance Guest Relations in tourism
Furthermore, the Executive Council has approved the sending of 10 unemployed tourism graduates for placement in the USA as part of the National Department of Tourism and JIPSA. The available placement facilities include the Carlton Hotel and Resorts Worldwide; the Mariot (International); and the Whistler Blackcomb (Canada). The province is establishing new information centres as part of enhancing tourism, in Komatipoort, Badplaas, Acornhoek, Machado and Middleburg.
The provincial candidates will be focusing on the front Desk and guest relations. On coming back the graduates will be placed for a period of a year in the newly established information centres.
Mpumalanga Welcomes in the province a new partner in Economic Development
The Mpumalanga Executive Council has welcomed the move by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to establish a regional office for the first time in Mpumalanga. This was revealed in the interaction the province had with the Corporation as part of a process of mobilizing partners in economic Development. The IDC has decided to be more involved in Mpumalanga with an intention to strengthen their regional development strategies aligned to the Provincial Growth and development Strategy of the province. The regional office is envisaged to proactively identify and drive new business development and opportunities, provide Business Support and Stake Holder Relations.
The IDC is already having some serious foot prints in Mpumalanga in the areas of mining and beneficiation, wood and paper, tourism, Food Beverage and Agro, Franchising, techno Industries and Chemicals. All these initiatives have created job opportunities of about 12 534. The Executive Council welcomed this and the financing of individual initiatives to the tune of R168.8m and created further 254 job opportunities.
The IDC has also already invested a total of R3.43m towards supporting the process of establishing viable development agencies in Mbombela, Umjindi and Thaba Chweu. The IDC invested a further R11.2 million through the its social investment programme, including R1.2 million worth of equipment to four schools in the province for a period of 3 to 5 years.
“We appreciate the gesture by you deciding to be part of our endeavors to develop our economy and create jobs. The people of this province will appreciate it very much and I am looking forward to meeting you again at the Launch of the office by the end of September, as invited. No doubt that the business people of Mpumalanga will benefit from the presence of the IDC in Mpumalanga and we call on SMME’s to take an advantage of this and make the best out of it” The Premier of Mpumalanga David Mabuza concluded.
Celebrating Mpumalanga heritage through
The province will celebrate the Heritage Day at Kghodwana Cultural Village in the Thembisile Hani Municipality at the Nkangala District Municipality on the 24th of September 2009.
The Executive Council approved the appointment of the following senior managers:
1. Mr. K.S. Dongo as Director Research Technology and Development in the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land affairs.
2. Mr. T.L. Ramathikithi as Director for Legal Services in the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land affairs.
3. Mr. E.P. Mnisi as Director Agribusiness and Marketing in the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Affairs.
Inquiries
Mabutho Sithole
The Premier's Spokesperson
Cell: 082 3893348
Issued by the Office of the Mpumalanga
Premier