Mpumalanga Cabinet Statement
Integrated service delivery taken to a new level19 September 2008
Intergovernmental relations between the provincial government and its district counterparts were further cemented this morning when the Provincial Cabinet agreed to initiate quarterly visits to the three districts in Mpumalanga , namely Ekangala, Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni district municipalities.
The provincial cabinet-district municipality imbizo is aimed at strengthening intergovernmental relations and improve the capacity of government in planning and implementing integrated service delivery programs.
The Imbizo will also accord the provincial executive an opportunity to appraise itself on service delivery challenges that face this sphere of governance. The district municipalities perform oversight and support functions to municipalities under their jurisdiction.
The format of the Imbizo will include the convening of working sessions with district executive councillors, business representatives and civil society in respective districts. These consultative sessions will strengthen other efforts aimed at expanding stakeholder and community participation in policy development, service delivery campaigns and monitoring of government programs.
R60 Million to fight poverty
Mpumalanga government has spent more than R60 million over the last three years in a program that is offering support to targeted poor families and communities through the provision of basic support infrastructure and instruments to initiate small scale family level farming.
The support includes the provision of seeds, tractors, power hoes and other infrastructural support to stimulate subsistence farming and poverty alleviation.
This emerged when the provincial department of agriculture was presenting a revised implementation framework of Masibuyele Emasimini Campaign to the provincial executive this morning.
The program, officially known as ‘Masibuyele Emasimini' was officially launched by Premier Thabang Makwetla and the then MEC for Agriculture and Land Administration, Mr.Madala Masuku, who was accompanied by her national counterpart, the then Minister of Agriculture, Ms Thoko Didiza, in 2006 at Daggakraal and later piloted in all the three districts of the province.
Part of the challenges encountered during the implementation stages include; the limited reach to intended beneficiaries and insufficient monitoring and evaluation of the program.
The new framework will however be refined to include an analysis of land ownership patterns in targeted areas, involvement of traditional councils and local municipalities in rolling out the program, institutionalised support, the identification of under utilised land, provision of means of production, community involvement and forming linkages with extension workers and other institution such as agricultural colleges and the Mpumalanga Agricultural Development Corporation (MADC).
A revised version of the framework will be presented to cabinet for further refinement and adoption in the near future.
The recently adopted provincial growth and development strategy identified the agricultural economy as one of the key sectors with a potential to create jobs and alleviate poverty.
Declaring war against poverty
Following the recent national launch of the ‘anti poverty war room' by the Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Minster in the Presidency, Kgalema Motlanthe, Mpumalanga province has moved swiftly to develop and later launch its own Anti-Poverty War Room Campaign.
The establishment of anti poverty war room forms part of government's 24 Apex priorities that were announced by President Thabo Mbeki when he opened parliament early this year.
Speaking during the Provincial Growth and Development Summit held early this month, Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla said a crucial aspect of the national anti-poverty strategy is the development of social cohesion and social capital.
“This includes a more inclusive and integrated society whose focus will be the expansion of its networks and ensure people have access to information and opportunities” explained Makwetla
The objective of the program is to improve alignment and coordination of government anti poverty initiatives, ensure spatial integration and encourage sustainable economic opportunities. The provincial war room will also serve as an information hub for poverty assessment, planning, profile index, beneficiaries register and statistics.
The strategy is expected to add to initiatives as highlighted in the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy with a special emphasis on job creation, economic development, human development and environmental conservation.
The provincial Anti-Poverty Strategy will target areas in the province that were previsiously, under the homeland administrations (former KwaNdebele, Ka Ngwane, Gazankulu and Bophutatswana) prior the democratic breakthrough of 1994. The strategy acknowledges that one of the main service delivery challenges is the scattered dislocation of poor communities from key economic centres.
As an initial phase, six municipalities will serve as pilot areas for rolling out the strategy. They include Mkhondo, Albert Luthuli, Thembisile, Dr JS Moroka, Bushbuckridge and Nkomazi municipalities.
The provincial executive further supported the establishment of a permanent desk, Anti-Poverty War Room, to be staffed by a full time ‘war manager' who will be based in the Provincial Department of Social Development. The manager is expected to advise the department and the provincial executive on policy and strategy direction of the campaign and set targets and standards for service delivery in poverty stricken areas. The desk will also be tasked to develop a portfolio of indicators for graduating out of poverty.
The 2007 poverty headcount index released by the Policy Coordination and Advisory Services (PCAS) in the Presidency noted that Mpumalanga has more than 1 million inhabitants living below R250 per month
Mpumalanga to tighten control over number plates
In an effort to regulate the manufacturing and distribution of number plates, the provincial Department of Roads and Transport will embark on a consultative process to change the current format and type of motor vehicle registration plates.
This is necessitated by the current type of plates that is open to abuse by criminals, contains very minor security features, easy to clone and makes it difficult to control embossers. Among other advantages will be the central system of accreditation of suppliers, reducing the possibility of cloning vehicles and improving easy detection by law enforcement agencies.
“The new number plates will also have self destruct features when forcefully removed” emphasised the MEC for Department of Roads and Transport, Jackson Mthembu.
The proposed number plates will integrate all existing regulations and put additional improved security features. Different colours for different categories of motor vehicle are mooted to assist identification. e.g government vehicle plates will be differently colour coded from private and public transport vehicles. Also to be considered will be the introduction and display of a third number plate that is not easy to remove and reuse.
Accordingly, cabinet endorsed the decision for the publication of a notice to seek public comments on a proposed new number plate system for the province.
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Issued by: Office of the Premier