17 May 2007
The Mpumalanga Executive Council (Cabinet) held its routine meeting on
Wednesday, 16 May 2007, at Mbombela Municipality Chamber, where it deliberated
on the number of issues of public importance.
Amongst the issues deliberated above was the process of taking forward the
implementation of flagship projects. Cabinet decided that a private company
must be appointed to manage the implementation of the flagship projects. When
delivering his annual state of the province address, Premier Makwetla announced
five key programmes that the provincial government will henceforth focus its
resources on and deploy high level capacity on because they carry the potential
of growing our regional economy and more importantly, they can assist us move
closer to the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The "Big 5,"
as the flagship projects are commonly referred to, include:
* Maputo Development Corridor
* Moloto Rail Development Corridor
* Accelerated Capacity Building
* Water for all
* Tourism, Heritage and Conversation.
The provincial Cabinet also discussed progress report with regard to the
coal haulage business plan. Eskom had already done some work on this subject,
especially in the relation to routes that are used to carry coal to collieries.
Eskom presented the report, which includes a study that covers the impact that
the coal haulage is having on the road infrastructure in the Gert Sibande area
and what needs to be done to alleviate the extent of damage. After intense
deliberations, it was agreed that Eskom and the provincial Department of Roads
and Transport must finalise the business plan on how to turn around the adverse
impact on the roads network in the Gert Sibande district.
More importantly, Cabinet welcomed the recent bestowing of the "Order of
Ikhamanga" to the late Gert Sibande during the Presidential national award
ceremony held at the Union Building this month. Gert Sibande, affectionately
known as the "Lion of the East," was nominated by the province in recognition
of his leadership he demonstrated during the struggle for democracy, especially
with regard to fighting for the plight of the poor and the farm workers in
South Africa and specifically in the areas of Bethal.
During the 1950s, the late Gert Sibande, mobilised media, particularly the
Drum Magazine, to help expose and highlight the plight of potatoes farm workers
who were subjected to gruesome labour slavery. As part of profiling and
preserving our heritage, the former Eastern Highveld region of Mpumalanga was
renamed after as the Gert Sibande District Municipality.
Furthermore, in honour and recognition of his role, the provincial Cabinet
has therefore agreed that the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation
investigate further work that can be done to honour this hero, including the
possibility of erecting a monument.
Enquiries:
Ntime Skhosana
Cell: 082 496 6875
Issued by: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
17 May 2007
