Statement on the Executive Council Meeting of 30th May 2018
The Executive Council met on Wednesday, 30th May 2018 at the Office of the Premier EXCO Boardroom.
The Premier extended his condolences to MEC Ndalane who recently lost two family members, and further extended a word of appreciation to the MEC’s who attended the funeral to support the Ndalane Family.
Expanded Public Works Programme 4th Quarter Report
The Executive Council noted the progress made on the Expanded Public Works Programme.
The Overal work opportunities created in the province in the fourth quarter of the financial year 2017/18 was 94 498 of work opportunities created against the annual target of 158 638.
- The Infrastructure Sector created 16 686 work opportunities against the annual target of 84 984;
- The Social Sector created 22 658 work opportunities against the annual target of 27,216;
- The Environment and Culture Sector created 12 057 work opportunities against the annual target of 10,438; and
- The Non-State Sector created 30 890 work opportunities against the annual target of 36,001.
Limpopo Provincial Youth Development Strategy 2018-2022
Executive Council approved Limpopo Youth Development Strategy 2018-2022.
The strategy aims to ensure that youth development issues are mainstreamed and occupy their rightful place and space in the planning, budgeting and implementation of programmes of the Limpopo Provincial Government.
The main focus for the implementation of the strategy in 2018/19 will be on to place the institutional arrangements, to audit the existing youth structures in the province, and to build the coordination machinery for the implementation of the strategy.
Concept on the Implementation of the Provincial Baobab Newsletter
Executive Council approved the Provincial Baobab Newsletter concept document for implementation.
The Provincial Government Baobab Newsletter is envisaged to be a channel to communicate government information related to priority programmes, service delivery achievements and projects, and is intended to provide government with an opportunity to increase awareness to the readers about government services.
Reviewed Provincial Communication Strategy 2014-2019 and Plan
Executive Council approved reviewed Provincial Communication Strategy 2014-2019 and the Communication Plan.
The Provincial Communication Strategy has been reviewed and aligned with the State of the Province Address pronouncement made by the Premier as well as environmental changes that affect service delivery in the Province.
Reviewed Provincial PMDS Policy for Employees on level 1-12
Executive Council approved the reviewed Provincial Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) Policy for employees on levels 1-12.
In terms of the Public Service Regulations, 2016 (PSR) an Executive Authority shall approve and implement a system for performance management of employees of different occupational categories or levels of work in his or her department.
The reviewed PMDS Policy for the Province is thus meant to have it aligned to the Public Service Regulation 2016 including the determination and directive thereof.
Limpopo Provincial Implementation Plan on Migration for 2018/19
Executive Council approved the Limpopo Provincial Implementation Plan on Migration for 2018/19.
The Province is required to populate the 2018/19 Implementation Plan on Migration with new targets or confirm the old targets.
All the affected departments were requested to review their populated information and present the revised version.
The Provincial directives as identified out of the Six Pillars on Migration are:-
- Perceived sale and occupation of RDP houses by foreign nationals;
- Inform and educate foreign nationals on their responsibility in terms of obeying the law and promoting social cohesion;
- Involve traditional leaders in the development of mechanisms for the management and integration of foreign nationals in rural communities;
- Determination of the number of foreign nationals utilising the health and education sectors;
- Development of appropriate municipal by-laws to regulating the zoning and business operations licensing (Mandatory for Municipalities);
- Ensure sustained dialogue with representative of émigré communities in SA;
- Prioritise economic growth and job creation through implementation of the NDP;
- Expedite the national programme to revitalize township and rural economies (Mandatory for SALGA); and
- Develop and implement a programme to audit and licence informal business, and enforce relevant local government regulations (Mandatory for Municipalities).
Each Department will be required to report on the Key Result Areas achieved and challenges on a quarterly basis.
Intervention in the Modimolle –Mokgoophong Municipality
Executive Council resolved that Modimolle –Mokgoophong Local Municipality be placed under Section 139(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,108 of 1996,with the provision that CoGHSTA will make a determination on whether the intervention will be in terms of either sub-section 139(1)(a) or (1)(b) after having considered all the factors.
Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs and Provincial Treasury will work on the financial resources to implement the intervention. Provincial Treasury will undertake a forensic investigation on all municipal activities to determine the extent of the challenges and remedial actions necessary to be undertaken.
- The Modimolle-Mokgoophong Local Municipality is experiencing serious institutional, financial and governance challenges since its establishment on 03 August 2016.
- The Municipality is characterized by high vacancy rate at senior management level wherein only two out of seven positions are filled;
- The Municipality is technically bankrupt and owes Eskom more than R260 million (the highest in the Province) while the Magalies Water Board debt exceeds R12 million;
- In order to determine the extent of the challenge, following engagements between COGHSTA, Provincial Treasury and the municipality, a Rapid Assessment Team was established constituted by the CoGHSTA, Provincial Treasury and SALGA;
- The team was mandated to provide a report on the state of affairs of the Municipality focusing on all key functional areas with specific recommendations for remedial actions and/or support required for the Municipality;
- The Rapid Assessment Team confirmed that the state of governance in the Municipality is worsening, and that the Municipality will soon collapse if no immediate action is taken;
- Furthermore, the Municipality has not been able to honour its financial obligations, including payment of salaries and third party obligations on 25 May 2018. This situation is likely to continue for a while until the municipality is stabilised.
Venda Building Society (VBS) Investments: Status on the Limpopo Municipalities
Executive Council has directed the Provincial Treasury to immediately commence with a forensic audit in order to determine whether the 10 Municipalities namely Polokwane, Makhuduthamaga, Elias Motsoaledi, Makhado, Ephraim Mogale, Collins Chabane, Vhembe District,Greater Giyani,Lepelle-Nkumpi and Fetakgomo Tubatse flouted any legal provisions when they invested funds with Venda Building Society(VBS).That instance where the laws and regulations would be found to have been transgressed, actions need to be taken against the offending officials.
The Premier has emphasised that serious actions will be taken against those implicated once the forensic investigation is completed.
There were ten (10) municipalities that invested funds with Venda Building Society (VBS) Mutual Bank in the Province, namely Polokwane, Makhuduthamaga, Elias Motsoaledi, Makhado, Ephraim Mogale, Collins Chabane, Vhembe District, Greater-Giyani, Lepelle-Nkumpi and Fetakgomo Tubatse.
Out of the 10 above-mentioned municipalities, investments for 3 Municipalities have matured and both investment and interest have been paid to the Municipalities, namely Polokwane, Makhuduthamaga and Elias-Motsoaledi.
The remaining seven (7) Municipalities still have their invested funds with VBS Mutual Bank, namely Ephraim Mogale, Lepelle-Nkumpi, Fetakgomo Tubatse, Makhado, Vhembe, Greater-Giyani and Collins Chabane.
CoGHSTA has written letters to all the 10 Municipalities that invested funds with VBS Mutual Bank in with a view to establish the following:-
- Amount invested with Venda Building Society (VBS), date of investment and duration of investment;
- Council resolution or approval authorizing the Municipality to invest with the bank;
- Impact of the non-availability of the invested funds on the financial viability of the Municipality; and
- Measures in place to mitigate the impact thereof.
Special Economic Zone
Executive Council was presented with the report by LEDET on the progress about SEZ.The report provided the state of the readiness of investors for Musina-Makhado SEZ.
The Technical Team designated to determine the state of readiness on investors visited the People’s Republic of China from 16-20 April 2018.
The Technical Team met with permit operators and 12 companies earmarked for investment in Musina-Makhado SEZ, where LEDET, dti and LEDA signed Memorandum of Agreement with 10 companies in Beijing from 25-26 May 2018.
The Premier and MEC LEDET are scheduled to visit China during 2018 to formalize relationships with Shanxi Province on the stainless steel manufacturing investment in the SEZ.
The finalisation of the Musina-Makhado SEZ Board is nearing completion.
Revitalisation of Agriculture and Agro-Processing Plan
The Economic Sector Cluster has tasked the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) to provide a status quo on the production and revitalisation of agriculture and agro-processing plan to contribute to the Limpopo Industrialisation Plan.The Economic Sector Cluster had identified a need to increase primary production with a view to contributing to economic growth and job creation through agricultural development. The potential areas identified for increasing production include irrigation schemes, land reform farms, red meat cluster, poultry units and the Lebowakgomo abattoir.
In response to the directive of the Economic Sector Cluster, a Task Team comprising of officials from Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) and Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) has been established and is currently working on the plans to increase primary production and agro-processing.
COSAFA Cup Tournament – May 2018
COSAFA Cup Tournament involving fourteen (14) countries from Southern Africa started on the 27th May 2018 and will run until the 10th June 2018. All the logistical arrangements to ensure that the tournament is a success have been put in place.
Youth Day Celebrations 2018
National Department of Arts and Culture notified the Office of the Premier on the 15 May 2018 that a decision has been taken to move the National Youth Day Celebrations 2018 from Limpopo Province to Gauteng Province.
As a result, it has been deemed necessary to make alternations to the framework on the hosting of the 2018 Youth Month and Youth Day celebrations as the event will thus be a provincial one. The Executive Council resolved to rescind EXCO Decision No 09 of 2018/19 on the hosting of the June 2018 Youth Day Celebrations as a National Event.
Executive Council has approved the hosting of the Youth Day Celebrations 2018 as a Provincial Event on the 16th June 2018 at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in the Polokwane Municipality in the Capricorn District.
Mapungubwe Arts, Culture and Heritage Festival 2017 Close-out Report
The Executive Council approved the close-out report for the 2017 Mapungubwe, Arts, Culture and Heritage Festival as presented.
The Festival was successful in attracting a greater number of attendees than anticipated which demonstrated a successful and marketing strategy. Much as the Festival was hosted successfully, a few notable challenges were identified:-
- Late approval and implementation of the Project due to uncertainty on the outsourcing of the event management services;
- Defaulting on contracts by some artists;
- Limited co-ordination capacity due to changeover from outsourcing to insourcing arrangements;
- Poor image associated with the management of the event
Out of the identified challenges, a few lessons have been noted, namely:-
- Planning, organizing and marketing of the event should start as early as March to ensure successful implementation of the Project;
- The size of the Project requires that an event management company be sourced for a longer term as opposed to a one-year to two-years’ term in order to allow for the delivery model to be improved upon continuously; and
- The continued shifting of the date of the December has proved to be detrimental as it has been difficult to brand the hosting of the event to a consistent date.
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Phuti Seloba
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