Limpopo Executive Council held its first lekgotla of the year on 4 to 5 January 2010 in Polokwane. Lekgotla was attended by the premier; MECs; executive mayors of district municipalities, heads of department; district municipal Managers; chief executive officers of parastatals; representatives of national departments and other senior government officials.
Underpinning this lekgotla was the evaluation and assessment of the performance of the provincial government since 2009 nationwide democratic elections, the identification of challenges faced by the government in carrying out its electoral mandate and above all, the development of the programme of action, (POA), of the provincial government for the next financial year, 2008/09.
In opening Lekgotla, the Premier emphatically stressed the need to give more attention to education given the decline in Grade 12 results the province has experienced in the past two to three years. In this regard the premier called on all present to work together and mobilise stakeholders in an effort to improve the quality of education in the province.
The premier further intimated that the improvement of primary health care services and facilities such as provision of medicine and related amenities, appropriate accommodation and working conditions for health professionals, and above all, an intensified fight against HIV and AIDS were also identified as issues the provincial government will prioritize in the next financial year. This was agreed to, and the Provincial Treasury was accordingly mandated to commit the necessary resources in order to ensure that this programme is carried out.
“The creation of jobs, fight against crime and focused attention on a comprehensive rural development as per the electoral mandate will continue to be high on the agenda of this provincial government”, emphasised Limpopo Premier, Cassel Mathale.
Lekgotla also received a progress report in terms of the finalisation of Limpopo employment growth and development plan. This follows the provincial Economic Summit held in October last year, 2009. The summit was reviewing the provincial economic growth and development strategy that was adopted in 2004 by the previous administration. The Executive Council Lekgotla was unanimous in its appreciation of the work done and adopted the new Limpopo employment growth and development plan.
In order to position the provincial economy on the sustainable developmental path, Limpopo employment growth and development plan identifies the 13 pillars or programmes as strategic economic growth points. These programs include Integrated Industrial Development programme, Enterprise Development programme, Regional Economic Development and Integration programme, Public Infrastructure Investment programme, Water Resources Development programme, Agriculture and Rural Development programme, Environment and Natural resources Development programme, the Green Economy programme, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Information Society Development programme and more importantly, build the capacity of the state to deliver.
“We believe this will enable Limpopo to create the requisite number of decent jobs and create a better life for all”, said Limpopo Premier, Cassel Mathale.
The detailed programme of action of Limpopo provincial government for this year, including an account of the progress made by government in implementing priority programs included in the 2009 state of the province address will be outlined by the Premier of Limpopo when he will be opening Limpopo provincial legislature on 18 February 2010.
Contact:
Mogale Nchabeleng
Cell: 082 520 8966 or 072 632 8984
Phuti Mosomane
Cell: 082 7282 783
Tel: 015 287 6083
Issued by: Limpopo Provincial Government
5 February 2010
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government (http://www.limpopo.gov.za/)
