5 March 2009
Mpumalanga province has embarked on a road signage revamp project. This was
revealed at the bi-weekly meeting of the Mpumalanga Executive Council that took
place on 4 March 2009. The project was started in January 2009 and all priority
road signs will be completed by April 2009. It is expected that the signage of
the whole province will be completed by March 2010.
The Mpumalanga Executive Council was alerted by the Department of Local
Government and Housing of the hazardous situation prompted by the
malfunctioning of the sewer system at Embalenhle extension 22 in the Govan
Mbeki Municipality. The Executive Council ordered that the usage of the system
be urgently suspended and cleaned to establish the causes, and that
well-serviced mobile toilets in the meantime be installed to alleviate the
situation.
The Department of Public Works presented an audited report on Expanded
Public Works Programme (EPWP) phase one and the framework for the
implementation of EPWP phase two. The Executive Council welcomed the fact that
the province exceeded its target to create 100 000 jobs this financial year by
six already by September 2008. It also appreciated the improvements that were
done on phase two, which seeks to enhance the quality of jobs by extending the
duration of employment in jobs created through the EPWP, especially in the
infrastructure sector.
The political and administrative accountability will be strengthened across
all spheres of government in order to facilitate the up-scaling of the job
opportunities from one million to 4,5 million at the national level and 100 000
to 650 000 in the province in the coming five years. Some of the job
opportunities are envisaged to come from partnering with non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) and the private sector.
The Executive Council has formally adopted the reviewed Provincial Growth
and Development Strategy (PGDS), which sets the framework to guide the
development of Mpumalanga province. The adoption of the strategy comes after a
rigorous interrogation of the previous framework, extensive research work and
consultation with all stakeholders, including business, representatives of
trade unions, NGOs, community based organisations (CBOs) and municipalities
over the past three years.
The Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) identifies the
following areas as being critical if the province is to realise measurable and
meaningful development:
* providing support to the industrial and services sectors to stimulate the
creation of jobs
* using indigenous resources to create jobs
* providing social services
* enhancing social cohesion and enhancement of human capital
* maximising the provincial benefits from the mining and energy sectors, while
strengthening sustainable development through mitigating environmental
impacts.
A Provincial Development Council (PDC) will be established to monitor
compliance by the provincial government. The Executive Council has welcomed the
progress the province is making with regards to the promotion of tourism in
Mpumalanga. The province has moved from number four to number three according
to the 2008 Third Quarter International Arrivals Report. The province dropped
to number eight in the 2006 Domestic Survey Report and we are awaiting the 2008
figures which will be released at the end of March 2009.
The Executive Council resolved to revamp the Manyeleti Game Reserve, a
reserve that is popular for its group accommodation, especially educational
tourism for school groups. The Manyeleti biosphere is reported to have the
largest concentration of animal species.
Finally, The Executive Council expressed appreciation for the intervention
by the MEC for Local Government and Housing in the Pixley ka Seme Municipality.
The Department of Local Government has taken over the executive powers of the
municipality and appointed an administrator, which has ended almost nine months
of mass protest.
This has brought about peace and stability in that municipality. We further
convey our sincere gratitude to the community of the Pixley ka Seme
Municipality for understanding and supporting the intervention. This is an
obvious illustration that with us all working together, no challenge is
insurmountable.
Enquiries:
Ntime Skhosana
Tel: 013 766 2055
Cell: 082 496 6875
E-mail: ntime@prem.mpu.gov.za
Issued by: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
5 March 2009
