PREMIER 'S ADDRESS
Chairperson,
President of the Republic of South Africa Thabo Mbeki
Cabinet Ministers and Honourable Premiers,
Deputy Ministers
Honourable Members of the NCOP
We have made a difference.
A FEW months ago I told colleagues that history teaches us that humans prove their worth not in good times, but in times of challenge and stress. This is when the weakest go to the wall and the best come into their own.
Indeed the past few months were trying times for the Mpumalanga government and the people of the province.
We can be glad that many of those problems are now behind us.
This 100-day report is genuine testimony to the achievements, trials and setbacks of the Mpumalanga Provincial Government since June.
Mpumalanga is a mainly rural province. Some of the country's
worst cases of poverty and human deprivation are to be found in these areas
stretching from Msogwaba in the former homelands of KaNgwane, Mkobola in what
was known as KwaNdebele, Mararapyane in the former Bophuthatswana and some areas
of Lebowa.
Chairperson, our people are victims of abject poverty, so-called surplus
people deported to these areas. We are a province of largely landless people who
are unemployed and largely uneducated.
We say these things not to dredge up history but so we can
understand why most of our budget went towards improving the lives of our people
in the rural areas.
Not much can be made towards a life of human dignity for our people as a whole
unless we ensure the development of these areas.
The Mpumalanga Government is fully committed to unlocking
the huge latent human potential in the Province through appropriate
socio-economic programmes, especially in the field of education and training.
At the same time it is committed to creating an environment conducive to
vigorous and sustainable economic growth through high levels of private sector
investment, enhanced productivity and the creation of adequate employment
opportunities.
During my address at the Opening of the Mpumalanga Legislature I recommitted
the Provincial Government to the following:
- Speeding up delivery of basic needs and developing human resources; Building the economy and creating jobs;
- Combating crime and corruption;
- Transforming the state;
- Building a better Africa and a better world.
Immediately after the opening of the Legislature, the Mpumalanga government accepted that there must be a deliberate bias in developing our human resources and earnestly began to re-prioritize on the following:
- Programmes on poverty alleviation,
- Recreation; Housing;Welfare;Health care.
- Education; Job creation; romotion of tourism; Safe and secure environment.
- Upgrading of rural roads; Intensification of municipal infrastructure provision; Sustainable utilization of the natural resources.
- Our strategic vision is the reconstruction development and sustainable growth with an emphasis on employment and redistribution.What is our mission? You may ask.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Government is committed to:
- Good governance; Promoting economic growth;
- Ensuring the provision of basic needs;
- Facilitating the development of infrastructure;
- Ensuring sustainable use of natural resources;
- Investing in the development of the Provincial Human Resource.
Soon after the elections we visited a number of areas in the province listening to our people in line with our promise of forging a partnership and learning from them.
The programme we embarked upon was both proactive and reactive. My office receives many requests of meetings, visits and other public engagements. In responding to these requests, the Office attempts to ensure that there is a balance of interests.
On the other hand the proactive programme has been developed to ensure that it is not only those who have access to government, or who have the power to influence government who benefit from the presence, involvement and support of the provincial government.
Furthermore, it is a definitive attempt to ensure that the executive is involved with communities, stakeholders and issues deserving attention, and that we interact and engage with the full spectrum of stakeholders in Mpumalanga and South Africa as a whole.
We visited a number of communities, particularly in the
rural areas. We visited Badplaas, Matibidi, KaBokweni, Nsikazi, Nkomazi,
Matsulu, Volksrust, Moutse, Msogwaba, Kwamhlanga, Moretele, Mbibane, Saaiplaas
to name a few. In these areas we met with the Chiefs, the local structures and
the community.
In some of these areas there are tensions between elected structures of local
government and traditional leaders. We urged them to find ways they can work
together for the good of their communities. This is a crucial area for
reconstruction and development, and a resolution of outstanding differences and
conflictual matters is of the greatest importance.
Our experience has shown that with goodwill and a commitment to the interests of the community as a whole, even the most difficult problems can be overcome and mutually beneficial solutions found. Problems in most of these areas centred around: water, roads, housing, job creation and a safe and secure environment.
We also had a number of surprise visits to government institutions, government offices. We plan to extend these unannounced visits to meetings of city and town councils in the Province to assess attendance and the level of debate.
We also met stakeholders in the Province ranging from business; church leaders; organised labour; mayors; the Local Government Association of Mpumalanga (Logam), athletes, journalists and investors.
Chairperson, we intervened in a number of disputes, notably the ousting of the leaders of the House of Traditional Leaders in Mpumalanga.
Allow us to look at concrete steps we took in addressing some of the problems in the province.
In order to curb corruption, fraud, theft and mismanagement of Government assets, we established policy on asset management; Integrated budgetary frameworks; Provision of accurate financial reports and Integrated transformation framework to curb overspending in the Province Cabinet recommended that the Department of Finance must allocate specific staff to assist specific departments in relation to finance issues.
MEC's are required to report any crisis or a matter of importance in their respective Departments daily to the Premier (normally telephonically). Each MEC and His/Her HOD are required to report to us, in person, about the general performance of his/her department on delivery, effectiveness of steps taken to curb corruption, fraud and theft, patterns of spending, progress on projects of the department etc. on a monthly basis.
MEC's are also reporting quarterly on the performance of
their various departments. In this way progress in departments is monitored. In
line with our commitment to give particular attention to the needs of youth,
women, and the disabled, we can announce the following achievements. More than a
dozen young people have been trained in project planning and management.
A local bus company has offered training in computer literacy to 10 people
with disabilities; five officials of the OSDP have been trained in computer
literacy.
The spin-offs are massive, as these trained people will train others on
location. The bus company is also transporting the disabled to their training
centre at no charge.
Other projects driven from the Premier's Office include the Kamagugu Multi Lingual Primary School. This integrated and inclusive school will cater for all children, including the disabled.
Thus far 8 798 applications for Child Support grants have
been approved it is envisaged that 300 000 children will ultimately benefit in
the province.
Women, youth and persons with disabilities in poor communities are primary
beneficiaries of 186 income-generating projects completed in the past 100 days.
An amount of R13 845 320.00 has been allocated for this purpose.
The Department of Economic Affairs trained 32 young people in Business
management and drafting business plans. It is hoped that they will contribute to
the creations of a viable economic environment for the Province.
We have also been able to create a number of job opportunities.
One of the world's largest chipboard manufacturers is in the process of
establishing in the Panbult area. Total investment R270 million and 150 jobs
created.
In discussions with Goldfields it was agreed that they would avail some of their
unused mining sited in the Barberton area to small-scale mining. We are now in
the process of getting a consortium of small-scale miners together to enter into
a joint venture with Mpumelelo. An agreement will be formalized to protect the
interest of all parties.
On the investment front 10 Maputo Corridor Anchor Projects
to the value of R134 million were launched to potential investors. Other
ventures include a tyre recycling investment worth R18 million. It in the
creation of 80 jobs. 200 jobs were created through the glass manufacturing
investment worth R105 million.
The department of Agriculture is close to making a breakthrough on a
multimillion rand development project, the Nkomazi Irrigation Expansion
Programme
With regard to working for a better life we have made great strides. Ninety
percent of the capital funding is targeted at the poverty pockets of the
province and they are mostly water related:
We are presently upgrading a Sewer Purification Works in Hazyview,
KwaThandeka, Leandra, Lebohang, Amersfoord, Amsterdam and Zamokuhle.
- Water Supply at Embalenhle, at Tonga "A", Tonga "C", Clau-Clau, Phosaville, Sabie and Harmony.
- We installed bulk water connectors at Lihawu.
- We upgraded roads in Caroline and Silobela.
- We constructed new outfall sewer lines in Ermelo and Wesselton
Chairperson, let's take a look at other social issues:
In order to eliminate incidences of fraud 86 477 persons have been re-registered on the social grants system. The process is ongoing and 855 problematic cases have already been identified which are currently being investigated. 173 042 social grants amounting to R88 930 493.00 are paid monthly.
Our roads are mainly gravel and are in a desperate state of disrepair. This has prompted some taxi owners refusing to use some of their newer and more roadworthy vehicles on some of these roads. As a start we have graded yes, graded and not tarred - a total of 5 709km.Sixty-four kilometers of road was re-graveled.
The Daggakraal Community Health Centre has been completed and new wards have been added to the Ermelo Hospital.
The following clinics are under construction, Lefiso, Verena and Kabokweni. The Health department is preparing a Patient Rights Charter and a continuous program is underway with NGO's and community organizations to review the HIV/AIDS program in the Province.
There are 3983 beneficiaries from the land reform policy The department of Housing has completed the construction of 2497 houses and the installation of essential infrastructure service in Kwamagugu. The Sewerage treatment plant in Siyabuswa has been upgraded.
We completed renovations to Emdunkule Primary School, Manzini Clinic Sakhile Secondary School Masoyi Primary School Khulani Primary School Khanyisani Secondary School. 65 new classrooms have been completed and we hope to complete another 227 in a few weeks.
Crime, corruption, fraud and theft in departments and generally will be fought with more vigour. Delivery of service in the Province will be accelerated. Economic growth and facilitation of Job creation.
The challenge facing government is to harness the popular conviction in democracy generated during the election period into a movement for faster change.
The completion of projects of various departments will be accelerated as far as financially possible. To many, this may not sound as much. But to Mrs Mabeba in Mathanjana, whose life improved because she no longer has to inspan donkeys to transport her to a dirty well, kilometers away to draw water, we have made a difference.
I thank you.