16 April 2009
In what may be regarded as the final cabinet meeting of the current
executive that assumed its duties in 2004, Premier Thabang Makwetla commended
and expressed his gratitude to the team for all the years that they have been
in charge of the public affairs since they assumed duties following the 2004
elections.
âWe have done our bit and there is no doubt that we could have done more. We
have made a difference in the province and taken service delivery further in
the realisation of a better life for all. I therefore wish to thank every
executive member for an assignment well handled in the execution of our duties.
More importantly, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the community, civil
society, public servants, development finance institutions, media, political
parties, business sectors and the international twinning partners of Mpumalanga
for their support throughout the term,â concluded Makwetla.
A five year report was presented to Cabinet by the macro policy unit in the
Office of the Premier, consisting of an overview of the provincial governmentâs
performance spanning its five year period in office. The report highlights
successes and outstanding challenges that the current administration
encountered during the period 2004 to 2009. It focuses mainly on the provincial
growth and development priorities that was adopted in the year 2005 in Badplaas
and reviewed again in 2008 by social partners, which included civil society,
business, organised labour and government. The priorities include economic
development, sustainable development, infrastructure development and human
resource development.
In addition, key development indicators will be on the big five flagship
projects that were adopted by the provincial government as part of efforts to
accelerate socio-economic development in the province. They include the
Accelerated Capacity Building, Moloto Rail Development Corridor, Maputo
Development Corridor, Water for All and the Heritage, Greening Mpumalanga and
Tourism flagships.
Among others, the report also mentions the attainment of targets in relation
to the creation of jobs through the Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP). The
provincial government set a target of 100 000 and exceeded this by creating 106
000 labour intensive work opportunities over a five year period. The province
also initiated a unique poverty eradication program, âSiyatentelaâ, wherein
mostly rural women were employed to provide labour in road construction and
surfacing projects. A total of more than 2000 women benefited through this
infrastructure programme.
The province also broke new ground by being the first to completely
eradicate the toilet bucket system in all formal areas before the stipulated
national deadline of December 2007.
On matters of food security, the success of the high impact âMasibuyele
Emasiminiâ project also contributed to efforts aimed at mitigating food
insecurity and also assisted in stimulating small scale community farming.
Through this intervention, individual rural households were given seed,
tractors and other implements to start small scale backyard farming. Since the
2005 launch, a total of 15 021 rural households benefited from the project.
However, the report also highlights the need for government to align land
reform policy initiatives in order to complement each other on matters of rural
development and agrarian reform.
In other social infrastructure investments, a sum total of 700 classrooms
were built, however, there is still a backlog that remains a challenge. More
toilets, administration blocks, laboratories, sports fields and libraries still
have to be built, particularly in rural schools. Despite these challenges, the
province has made strides in implementing the no-fee schools policy. The report
reveals that the province is currently standing at 49% in realising the
national target of 60% by 2009/10 as part of efforts to grow the provincial
economy and create sustainable jobs; the province has ensured that all Further
Education and Training (FET) Colleges provide courses comprising a range of
skills that match the requirements of the economy. More importantly the
province has build 14 health clinics during this term and thus reducing the
travelling distance of various communities in order to access health services
within a radius of 5km thus bringing service delivery closer to the people.
Other challenges highlighted by the report include the governance and
management challenges with respect to planning, budget control, monitoring and
evaluation.
The full text of the five year report will be made available as from the 21
April 2009 on the provincial government website: www.mpumalanga.gov.za
Cabinet mourns the passing of Minister Matsepe-Casaburri
The Provincial Cabinet observed a moment of silence for the late Minister of
Communications, Ms Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, who was laid to rest on Monday 13th
of April 2009 in the Free State province.
Cabinet received with shock the news of her passing on following a short
illness in hospital. Speaking on behalf of the province, Makwetla described the
Minister as having a unique experience of being an activist. âIn a remarkable
way, she has been involved in the pursuit of education throughout her life.
Hers is a life of someone whose legacy of integrity and education in the
performance of duties must be emulated by other generations. Her contribution
in the struggle for gender mainstreaming has left a lasting legacy,
particularly in the field of women leadership.â he said.
On behalf of the people and government of Mpumalanga, Cabinet expressed its
word of sympathy and condolences to her next of kin, relatives, former and
current colleagues in the national executive, community and the country at
large.
Appointments
The following people were appointed to serve a three year term on the
Council of the Mpumalanga Heritage Resources Agency (MHRA)
Mr John Ramokolo
Mr Mdumo Mnisi
Mrs Marlies Liebenberg
Ms Nomvula Motloung
Mr Steven Ngubane
Mrs Busisiwe Khubheka
Prof. Roger Fisher
Mr Themba Makhweyane
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
16 April 2009
