Mpumalanga Cabinet media statement
18 March 2009
Cholera outbreak update
Efforts by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government to contain
the spread of cholera are beginning to bear results. Since the
outbreak of the disease in December last year, the provincial
Department of Health, in collaboration with the Education
department, embarked on a major public education drive in the
affected areas. The departments have used schools, churches and
community events as centers to disseminate communication about
the disease and how to prevent it. The municipalities mostly
affected include Mbombela, Bushbuckridge, Nkomazi and Thaba
Chweu.
In addition to other immediate interventions (for example the
deployment of Jojo tanks, distribution of Jik packets, etc) the
province, through its Water for All Flagship, aims to provide
clean running water to all household by the year 2010.
The disease can spread easily in areas with inadequate
treatment of sewerage and drinking water, and the disease can be
prevented through early detection, confirmation of cases and
appropriate responses.
According to the report presented to Cabinet, no additional
deaths occurred since the end of January 2009, and the number of
patients visiting Mpumalanga public hospitals presenting
symptoms of diarrhea has declined from a peak of more than 200 a
day during the December and early January period to an average
of eight a day over the February and March months.
In addition, Cabinet re-emphasised the importance of community
involvement in all the campaigns aimed at curbing the spread of
the disease, particularly the importance of adhering to basic
hygiene guideline that include boiling of water before use,
washing of hands prior to handling meals, etc.
Cabinet also commended the supportive role played by
municipalities, traditional leaders, schools and the general
community in responding to efforts aimed at curbing the spread
of the disease.
Lion of the East and the 1958 Potato Boycott musical play gains
momentum.
The much awaited musical play commissioned by the Mpumalanga
Provincial Government in order to highlight the historical
importance of the 1958 Potato Boycott, is on a week-long tour at
the Emalahleni Civic Centre from 16 March 2009 to 23 March 2009. The premiere of the full show will also be performed live by the
cast on Friday, 20 March 2009. The road show will include all
three districts of the province and thereafter embark on a
nationwide tour. World-renowned musical play specialist, Mbongeni Ngema, is in
charge of the production of the show and more than 50 aspirant
actors from within Mpumalanga have been selected to form part of
the cast.
Due to the high interest generated by the play, foreign
countries such as Jamaica, Surinami, Trinidadi and Canada have
already expressed an interest for the show to be performed in
their respective places.
As part of efforts to maximize the profile of the production and
due to its importance in promoting the history and heritage of
the country, the South African Broadcasting Corporation has also
entered into an agreement with the provincial government to
serve as a media sponsor for the show.
Cabinet also welcomed the outcome of the recent court ruling
dismissing an urgent interdict against the play lodged by the
some family members of the late struggle hero, Gert Sibande. The
ruling reaffirms Cabinet’s view that the events leading up to
and during the 1958 Potato Boycott belongs to the common history
and heritage of all the South African people.
A
mong other objectives, the play is aimed at celebrating the
50th anniversary of the 1958 Potato Boycott that drew nationwide
and international attention to the plight of farm workers. In
line with the objectives of the Heritage, Greening Mpumalanga
and Tourism Flagship, the show is expected to enhance other
government programs aimed at reconstructing and profiling the
historical significance of events that shaped South Africa’s
path to democracy and freedom.
Umsobomvu Empowers Youth
More than 1 135 young people in Mpumalanga have benefited from
loans disbursed by the provincial office of Umsobomvu Youth
Fund. The value of loans disbursed since 2006 amounts to more
than R10 million and a total of 1 703 jobs were created. This
emerged from a progress report presented by the provincial
manager, Mr N Mahlangu, to cabinet this morning in Nelspruit.
In addition, more than 2 000 vouchers totaling more than R24
million was spent benefiting 1 106 women, 27 people with
disabilities and creating 804 job opportunities. According to
Mahlangu, business vouchers help young people to gain access to
quality business development support ranging from accounting,
bookkeeping, business plan development, tendering support, etc.
Meanwhile, Cabinet received an update report on the work
undertaken to establish a new integrated Youth Development
Agency. The National Youth Development Agency was signed
into law by President Kgalema Motlanthe in January 2009.
The Agency will be responsible for, among others, involvement of youth in economic activities, policy research, managing the national youth fund and the roll out of youth advisory and information services.
International Partnerships
Mpumalanga Provincial Government has over the last five years re-aligned and linked its international framework to be based on the province’s Growth and Development Strategy, Big Five Flagships and high impact projects. The Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) was signed with Alberta in Canada, Chongqing and Sichuan in the People’s Republic of China, Ismalia in Egypt, Maputo Province and Maputo City in Mozambique. Through this process, it is envisaged that progress will be made in advancing the socio economic development of the province (and its international partners) through improved planning, innovation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
In the above context , Mpumalanga’s international twinning
partner, North Rhine Westphalia in the Federal State of Germany
has recently hosted ten Mpumalanga based public sector managers
who went on a five day international exposure visit as part of
the Accelerated Capacity Building Flagship.
The ten managers were exposed to an elementary training in the
fields of project management, high level event management,
disaster management, volunteerism, government training academy
and other areas of migration control.
North Rhine Westphalia signed a renewed MoU with Mpumalanga in
2008 as part of the partnership framework that South Africa
entered with the Federal State of Germany. The MoU covered areas
of health, 2010 preparations and economic development.
2008 matric results findings
Cabinet received feedback on the findings commissioned by the National Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, into the delayed resulting of some of the 2008 Matric students.
The following factors were found to have causes of the delays:
- collection and control of mark sheets
- manually generated mark sheets in relation to capturing
- irregularities
- processing and releasing of results
According to the report presented by the Provincial Head of Department, Ray Tywakadi, the reduction of exam time frames from 47 to 27 days also had a direct impact and the vacancy rate in key areas of examinations overstretched the exam units due to increased workload .The report also sights limited training of provinces on the new web based technology that processes results. The main challenge was that manually generated mark sheets did not always match the system generated mark sheets which required specialised skills.
As a result, the provincial education department will be taking firm steps to prevent the recurrence of the 2008 incidents. These include:
- redefining the exam business process
- process definition of learner registration
- control of exam mark sheets
- definition of norms and standards for capturing of marks and storage
- direct learner and teacher support, resourcing grade 12 and multimedia communication
- advocacy and community mobilisation.
Cabinet reiterated the Premier’s public apology for the inconvenience and distress suffered by the students, parents, donors and community at large over this incident. Provincial Government also undertook to invoke firm disciplinary measures should any official, either by commission or omission, be found to have transgressed the regulations.
Community unrests in Avalon, Middelburg
Cabinet received a briefing from the MEC for Safety and Security, Siphosezwe Masango, about the reported incidents of violence and intimidation in the Avalon area in Mhluzi. The barricading of roads, burning of property and intimidation were reported on the 15 March 2009.
Whereas, the Provincial Government believes any individual or community is entitled to protest over any other issue of concern to them, we however wish to firmly caution and discourage the continued resort to violence as a means to resolve service delivery challenges. Communities are advised to explore all available spaces in a democracy to voice their disillusionment, this includes appealing to higher levels of authority, consultation with municipal leadership, engagement with Community Development Workers, participation in ward committees, etc.
We accordingly condemn the recent sporadic and isolated incidents of violence and intimidation, and further urge the law enforcement agencies to apply the full text of the law when dealing with the situation.
Appointments
Mr T Twala and Mr R Matsila have been appointed as additional members to serve on the board of the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency for the remainder of the term of office till 2011.
The following names were recommended to be published for public comment and allow for objection on their eligibility to serve as new members of the Mpumalanga Gambling Board with effect from 1 April 2009.
Mr Raymond Mogopi, Mr Vusi Simky Nkosi, Ms Liana Visagie, Mr Sam Mthembu, Mr Moletje Phatudi, Mr Mfana Ntuli, Ms Helen Thrush, Mr Donald Mabuza, Mr Lemon Mahlangu, Ms Molatelo Mashabane, Mr Joseph du Preez, Ms Rachel Kalidas, Mr Mduduzi Singwane, Mr Joseph Thobela, Mr Charlie Mnisi, Mr Jerry Vilakazi, Mr Gaylene Deiner, Ms Nelly Mashinini, Mr Mammule Chidi, Ms Nomaswazi Shabangu, Mr Sandile Skhosana, Mr Elmer Cousins, Ms Mildred Sephiri, Mr Simphiwe Mthiminye, Mr Hassan Shaik, Ms Nthabiseng Motete.
Events
Human Rights Day
Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla will deliver a keynote
address on the occasion of the celebration of the Human Rights
Day on Saturday. The theme is Celebrating 15 years of Freedom
and Human Rights. Cultural activists and national artists (DJ
Cleo and Rhythmic Elements) will provide entertainment.
Among other invited stakeholders is the House of Traditional
Leaders, Freedom Park Trust, Youth Commission, Human Rights
Commission, organised labour and military veterans associations.
Date: 21 March 2009
Venue: Solomon Mahlangu Stadium, (Kwa Mhlanga) Thembisile Hani
Municipality
Time: 10h00
Contact:
Ntime Skhosana
Cell: 082 496 6875
Tel: 013 766 2055
Issued by: Office of the
Premier