ADDRESS BY PREMIER
Members of The Executive Council
Mayor J Ngomane - Ehlanzeni District Council
Acting Mayor Lydia Pretorius - Mbombela Municipality
Councillors of Mbombela Municipality
Amakhosi
Reverend Sihlangu
Representatives of SNA and Bigen Africa
Matstrans
Ladies and Gentlemen .
I as Premier of Mpumalanga am proud to be part of this process of interacting with citizens and people of this area. The executive council has since 1999 visited the length and breath of this province on its fortnightly Cabinet Outreach Program.
The vision of this program is to listen to the masses of our people and witness first hand experiences that our people are enduring on a daily basis. This valuable information feeds into our programs to accelerate service delivery to our people.
Our interaction further entrenches the principle of respectful and constant contact with our people.
We are converging here not because of any coincidence but because of our desire to celebrate the achievements we make in our province and the country as a whole.
Yes, indeed the opening of the Daantjie/Luphisi and phase two of the Daantjie/Gobhoza roads make us proud South Africans. Proud because we can now, with our eyes see that we are making strides towards a better life for all.
As proud South Africans and Mpumalanga inhabitants, we have a duty and greater responsibility to ensure that we take stock of our achievements. In our reflections the signs of proper planning, implementation and monitoring becomes clearer.
The main challenge which we are facing as proud South Africans is the need to have self-confidence, and hope that we can do things better.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Government together with the people of this province is convinced that we have embarked on a journey that will deliver a better life for all. We are in the process of eliminating the legacy of apartheid policies and practice which cut-off the majority of our people from the mainstream of the economic activity.
This is in line with our stated policy of providing services to all our people with a clear bias towards the disadvantaged communities. The road we have taken is the road of actual delivery and progress. As our beloved former President, Cde Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, once said 'If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness'.
There is no way in which we can ask for forgiveness if we are still engaged in activities that deprive our fellow human beings the right to enjoy their lives to the fullest. The residents of Daantjie and Luphisi will as from today, be able to enjoy this basic facility of a newly tarred road.
We as government have responded to the concerns raised by this community during our last Cabinet Outreach in which the community raised the issue of bad roads in this part of the province.
Rest assured that the delivery of basic services, such as roads, water, sanitation, housing, social services and schooling is a major priority for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.
I further assure you that the Provincial Administration I lead, will continue to strive to achieve and realize these objectives we have set ourselves in order to ensure a better life for all.
Together as proud South Africans, we have a duty to work together to ensure that the gains we have made remain entrenched in our society and provide further impetus to residents in our Province to work together, assist each other and make all our dreams a reality.
I urge you all to form partnerships with the Public Sector in order to speed up delivery of services in our communities. Remember that during the elections, we promised that together we would fight for change.
Lastly, may I take this opportunity to mention to you what other service delivery initiatives that government has brought to this community of the Mbombela Municipality:
Government has invested a total of R 92.7 million in various projects in Mbombela Municipality and the breakdown is as follows:
Government has invested more than R 33 million in 2250 project linked housing units at Tekwane South and East. 833 of these units are complete and the remaining units are likely to be completed at the end of November 2001.
R 35 000 has been used to release the land for an integrated rural housing program combined with agricultural and economic development in Masoyi, Khumalo, Mbuyane, Mhaule and Mdluli tribal jurisdictional areas.
Government has set aside an amount of R 4,6 million for bulk water supply at Tekwane North and Primkop. This project should be completed towards the end of next year (2002).
A further R 26 million has been spent on 1500 housing units at Teka Takho near KaboKweni and to convert 123 hostel units into family units at Ka-Nyamazane. These projects are likely to be completed by the end of this year.
An amount of over R 8.7 million has been set-aside as grants to benefit 556 households at Phumulani near Rocky's Drift and at Sibonelo through the land restitution program of government.
About R 250 000 has been spent to renovate Ka-Nyamazane Stadium. This project was completed early last year, 2000.
More than R 8 million was spent on the construction of a bus route (phase 2), a taxi rank, the upgrading of a road at Daantjie and the reconstruction of Daantjie/ Luphisi road.
Government has earmarked more than R 6.9 million, for the provision of 128 classrooms, 7 Administration blocks and 114 toilets at various schools some of which are: (Msogwaba Primary School, Benjamin Primary.School, Phumalanga Primary School and many other schools in this municipality. Most of these projects will possibly be completed by the end of 2000.
Furthermore Government has spent R 2,5 million to repair and renovate 18 schools, which were ravaged by the floods in this municipality. Some of the schools are Vukusambe Primary in Msogwaba, Tenteleni Primary in Ka-Nyamazane and Tikhontele Secondary in Matsulu. T
R 198 000 has been put aside for minor renovations, fencing, water and electricity in the whole Ehlanzeni District to be used when the need arises.
Under poverty alleviation, Government is spending R 346 203 for six projects, namely; cement brick-making at Daantjie, Thembelihle Pottery Making at Matsulu, Shoe leather work at Ka-Nyamazane, Silk screening and fabric at Msogwaba, car wash and a cultural food service restaurant at Matsulu.
Over R 1,9 million is spent on Primary School nutrition project to feed 25 075 pupils in 93 schools in Mbombela Municipality.
An amount of R 400 000 has been set aside for the promotion of cultural activities at Matsulu cultural village.
Government has joined hands with Eskom to provide a booklet on safety and security in order to sensitize learners on criminal justice system in all primary schools. Eskom has donated R28 448 towards this good cause.
I thank you.