5 April 2006
The Executive Council (Cabinet) at its fortnightly meeting, held at
Siyabuswa in JS Moroka Municipality, approved the participation of Ethel
Mashaba (quantity surveyor), Johanna Malatsi (building management) and
Mmamotshele Mahlangu (civil engineer) in the Republic of South Africa and the
United Arab Emirates female developmental programme in the construction,
hospitality and finance sectors. All three participants are from the Mpumalanga
Department of Public Works. The programme commenced on 1 April 2006 and is for
a six to 12-month period. This is part of the Accelerated and Shared Growth
Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA). This exchange programme is to address the
skills shortage amongst women.
The meeting is being held as part of the government outreach in Siyabuswa,
which is being undertaken for the first time this year to coincide with the
induction and operationalisation of the new local government. This cabinet
outreach also coincides with the National Imbizo Focus Week starting 6 to13
April 2006. The Executive Council resolved to sign Memoranda of Understanding
(MoU) with the province of Maputo and the province of Maputo City respectively
to replace the current MoU with the old Maputo province that has now been
divided into two. The MoU will cover areas of transport and logistics;
environmental conservation; tourism development; agriculture; trade and
industry; culture and sport and health.
The Department of Public Works informed the Cabinet about the progress made
in regard to the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) registration of
contractors in Mpumalanga. The CIDB has revealed that there are 22 contractors
in the Province and only 15 can do projects between R3m and R30m. Of the 15,
only four are for general building works, the rest are either electrical,
mechanical or civil works specialists. There are 15 schools to be built each
costing above R3m. Furthermore, there are three clinics and four mortuaries to
be built each costing above R6m.
The Executive Council noted with concern the slow progress in the
registration of contractors with the CIDB from Mpumalanga Province. In a
similar project the Executive Council was informed by the Department of Public
Works about the progress in relation to the Sakha'abakhi Contractor Development
Programme. It will provide opportunities for existing contractors. It is
targeting 50 contractors for the 2006/07 financial year. The programme will
enable contractors to embark on bigger projects and to receive a higher grading
with CIDB.
The Department of Roads and Transport presented a proposal to the Executive
Council for the conversion of provincial roads leading to the borders to be
national roads. These are R33 from Commondale to Stoffberg (R555); R35 from
Amersfort to Middelburg; R38 from Bethal to Kaapmuiden (N4); R40 from White
River to revised Limpopo boundry (Marite River Bridge); R40 from Barberton to
Bulembu border; and R50 from Standerton to Gauteng border. This is a total of
865, 52 km of provincial road to be converted. Most of these are extensively
used to transport coal. This conversion will afford the Department the
opportunity to focus attention on developing and improving current provincial
roads. The proposal was approved by Cabinet.
The Executive Council noted the progress made on the efforts to establish a
National Institute of Higher Education (NIHE), which is a precursor to the
establishment of a university in the Province. The nominees to the board of the
NIHE were approved by the Executive Council for consideration and approval by
the Minister of Education. The NIHE will be constituted of the University of
Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Vaal University of
Technology, University of South Africa (Unisa), Ndebele College of Education,
Lowveld College of Agriculture and the Themba Nursing College. The NIHE is to
be launched in June 2006.
Enquiries:
Lebona Mosia
Tel: (013) 766 2244
Cell: 082 561 6465
E-mail: lmosia@nel.Mpu.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
5 April 2006
Source: http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za
