Response to the 2023 State of the Province Address debate delivered by Limpopo Premier Mr. Chupu Stanley Mathabatha on the occasion of the Legislature sitting held at Lebowakgomo.
Speaker of the Legislature, Honourable Rosemary Molapo;
Deputy Speaker, Honourable Tshitereke Matibe;
Honourable Members of the Legislature, our MPLs;
Members of the Executive Council;
Chiefwhip of the Ruling African National Congress;
Leaders of the opposition political parties;
The Director General and all HODs of Departments;
Friends from the Media;
Distinguished Guests;
The People of Limpopo:
Let me take the opportunity to thank the Legislature for allowing us the opportunity to respond to the debate on the 2023 State of the Province Address held last week.
We appreciate the feedback from the debate that ensued in the house. What is more pleasing is the convergence of views on the work we have done as the provincial administration. There has been an acknowledgement of our continued effort to put up a better and accountable administration for Limpopo.
Honourable Speaker,
The Honourable Members of this house agree with us that during the current financial year, like a phoenix we rose, and as we enter the next financial year, like a baobab tree, we are like a well-oiled machine and we rejuvenate.
You recognised the length we have gone to keep the administration afloat, you encouraged us to continue working towards a developmental, ethical and accountable state.
They embrace our stabilised and stable administration as we look forward to the twilight of our term.
In fact, members were at pains to express that we should never drop the ball. That through their comments we were alerted of the dire need to remain true to our word, to let our plans speak to a responsive government, to continuously put at the forefront the developmental agenda for our province.
You cited our achievements of improved audit opinions in the previous financial years as an indication of a balanced and well-run administration. We thank honourable members for being critical of the work we do as well as supporting us in the process through the oversight role you play.
Madam Speaker,
I would be amiss if I don’t highlight some of the matters raised during the SOPA debate, that require clarification. In the same spirit, I need to hasten by stating that I shall not dwell on the totality of the issues raised. However, I will focus my attention on the salient points that, if left unclarified, may create an impression that we have not been diligent in our work. The rest of the responses will be ably provided by various MECs who shall go into detail during their budget debates.
Madam Speaker,
On the matter regarding unemployment statistics in the province, let me respond to the distortion of facts by one honourable member.
We were specific in our reference to Quarter 3 of 2022 report which indicated that, Limpopo had recorded a decrease of 5,3 per cent unemployment rate, a decline from 36.4 per cent down to 31 per cent. Yes, the expanded unemployment rate, with its specific challenges would reflect a different figure. However, what we reported during SOPA is confirmed by the latest labour force survey released on Tuesday this week. The report shows that South Africa's unemployment rate is now at 32,7 per cent in the fourth quarter, a decrease of 0,2 per cent
However, I wish to state that while we welcome the decrease as recorded, I have to reiterate my concerns around youth unemployment. That is why I repeat my clarion call to the private sector, to assist government in fighting this challenge.
Madam Speaker,
Another matter I would hasten to highlight is the importance of economic development through the special economic zones.
Our concern is how some honourable members of this august house have not understood the economic imperatives of industrialisation to create jobs and fight the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
These are the two most important catalytic projects because once they get off the ground, they will create more sustainable jobs and ensure development of the economy of our province. There is no ambiguity in our presentation since last year, neither is there stagnation as some members of this house would want us to believe.
What we have here, Madam Speaker, are two economic game changers that members of this house should support without any political point-scoring. Worth noting is that already jobs are being created as we speak. These are long term projects that members should be patient with whilst they continue to do oversight work to ensure their sustainability and success.
Honourable Members,
Another important and constructive point raised by Honourable Smalle, is around the need to establish a unit in LEDET to cut red tape bureaucracy against investment.
Fortunately, this is in line with what President Matamela Ramaphosa pronounced during the 2022 State of the Nation Address. The President has subsequently appointed Mr Sipho Nkosi to head the Presidential Red Tape Reduction Team, that will advise him in this regard. I have already secured a meeting with Mr Nkosi and his team, to come discuss the role of the provincial government with regard to ways and means for the red tape reduction. This will open even better avenues for us to attract further investment in the province without contrains of red tape bureaucracy.
Already, our One-Stop Centre has been created to do some of these job that would assist investors in gaining access to our province and do business with ease.
Honourable Members,
When we raised R209 billion during our investment conferences, it was for a short to long term investment, it was never meant to be a project to be concluded within a year. We expect that the impact of this will be felt within a decade.
What is pleasing, and what we reported on in detail, is that already more than R50 billion worth of the pledges, has already been implemented.
This is to show that the investment conferences went beyond talk shows, and instead came up with workable socio-economic development plans and programmes. What a milestone achievement worth celebrating.
Madam Speaker,
On the other hand, we went at length to explain how we have improved our infrastructure spend in various areas like roads, schools, and sanitation facilities.
Regarding the much-awaited academic hospital, we are pleased to report again that finally, we are at an implementation stage. To date a contractor has been appointed and in my latest engagement with the Minister, he confirmed that construction will start next month.
Madam Speaker,
Please allow me to explain the importance of the academic hospital as it appears to be too complex for some members to comprehend. This is a massive change in the health landscape in our province. It is far higher in health offerings than the hospitals we already have in the province.
More importantly is that the academic hospital will alleviate the burden of having to travel regularly to other provinces for medical treatment. Training on specialised skills will be done here at home. It will also allow opportunities for our children to do practical work here as well.
It is expected that the project will generate 1,220 part-time jobs during the construction phase and create 2,461 full-time equivalent jobs in Polokwane once the hospital is fully operational.
With regard to the matter raised regarding operations of our clinics for 24 hours, I must hasten to indicate that our plans were disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic. However, the MEC for Health will give more details about this programme in her Budget Vote later this month.
Madam Speaker,
Fourth Industrial Revolution is undoubtedly the future. It is against this background that as Limpopo, we embrace the 4IR and it's implementation has already started.
This is evidenced by the launching of CT scans and Mammogram machines in St. Ritas hospital Sekhukhune. Those machines ordinarily are operated by qualified Radiologist which are very scares but through technology the radiologist can utilise that equipment irrespective of where they are in the world.
In addition, our e-Learning program for basic education is also part of 4IR. Actually, our observation points to the fact that majority of MPLs and speakers in this debate uses technology for their convenience, but it is worrying that most members of the opposition still utilise papers despite COVID-19 having forced us to move radically to technology.
Honourable Members,
We have noted inputs that were made on our strategies on dealing with the energy crisis. Whilst this function is not primarily ours, we are taking advantage of the place, availability of natural resources to find alternative ways of supplying energy.
This is the reason why the provincial energy strategy, anchored on the just energy transition, is of utmost importance. We shall place due care in the process that will lead to infrastructure placement within hospitals, clinics and schools. We shall ensure that their implementation is all above board, that funds are directed to the required areas to bring services to the people.
Madam Speaker,
It is worth noting that, we are the first to admit that underspending should not be part of our culture.
That is the reason why during SOPA, it was us who announced the implementation of the turnaround strategies in places like human settlements. Our strategies and their application should allow us an opportunity to improve our spending as the new financial year begins.
Honourable Members,
I said during the State of the Province Address last week that we shall continue to fight the pandemic of gender-based violence and femicide.
It is for this reason that the Provincial Prayer Day as announced during SOPA is planned for next month. Honourable Members are all requested to grace the occasion and add their voices in the fight against abuse and killing of women and children.
We will also use the prayer session to pray for safety on our roads. To this end, we are working together with the civil society based organisations, led by the South African Council of Churches in Limpopo and the provincial House of Traditional Leaders.
Honourable Speaker,
As I have indicated in the beginning, much of what was raised in this house will be subject of the various MECs’ Budget Votes.
We take this opportunity to thank this august house once more for continuously guiding us through their oversight role. Our achievements would amount to nothing without your work honourable members. When you call us to various sessions to account for what we do as the executive, it builds further capacity to strengthen our administration. Thank you and continue to provide leadership at the level you are doing now.
Thank you!
Thobela!
