Job creation
Job creation, crime prevention, access to education and primary health care services are among the pertinent issues that the 7th administration will address. This is the commitment made by the Mpumalanga Premier, Mr Mandla Ndlovu when he addressed the opening of the legislature in Mbombela, recently.
Research studies rate Mpumalanga’s unemployment at 46.7 percent (Stats SA 2022).
The Premier’s assertion is that fundamental measures will be implemented to create job opportunities, thus reducing the high levels of joblessness in the province.
“To ensure that Mpumalanga contributes in this focus on the primary sector of the economy, we are going to establish a mining school. We will revive our agricultural schools starting with the one in Marapyane. We are going to do our best to industrialise the economy of Mpumalanga. And where possible, leverage on the factories which are now unused in the former homelands,” he explained. The Premier’s announcement about the Province’s target to create a total of 215 692 work opportunities, during the next five years, is a bolt step and a determination to reduce unemployment. This will be achieved through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). “The EPWP remains the backbone of creating employment in the Province. Hundreds of thousands of our people have benefitted through this programme since it was established,” he announced.
Crime prevention
The province is not sparred from crime activities that are a threat to the citizens. This is exacerbated by cases of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), in which women and children are killed. The growing number of children who are kidnapped and murdered in various areas, created an alarm of crime to be confronted.
However, Mr Ndlovu expressed optimism about measures to contain the problem, following the arrest of the perpetrators. As the Provincial Government steps up measures to combat the scourge, Premier Ndlovu outlined the recruitment of crime prevention wardens, to eliminate the problem. According to the Premier, 1200 crime wardens will be recruited and deployed across 90 police stations in the province, with effect from September 2024. “These wardens will be trained and placed in crime hot spot areas all over the province. They will work together with the SAPS,” he emphasised, further urging communities to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
Improve access to health care
Mpumalanga is ranked among the provinces which recorded the reduction of the mortality rate. This suggests an increase of the life expectancy of the citizens. The Premier’s assertion that the province will fast track the construction and maintenance of health facilities, provides evidence about the 7th administration’s determination to sustain this achievement by investing more into primary health care services.
To sustain this, Premier Ndlovu said that the New Middleburg hospital will be completed and operationalised. Similarly, the Mmametlhake hospital will also be fully operationalised. He added that the construction of Mapulaneng hospital will continue, and that the planning and designs of the Linah Malatjie Tertiary hospital, will be finalised. The expansion of the Oncology Unit at the Rob Ferreira hospital will be implemented.
Access to education
In a province that boasts a population of 5.1 million (2022 Stats SA) the Premier announced a plan to hand over six (6) completed schools soon. The schools are Magogeni Primary, Mpumelelo Primary, New Klarinet PS, Mbatini Primary, New Doornkop, and Msholozi Primary. He further emphasised the need to build more schools in areas with the fastest growing population, to improve access to education as a key ingredient for human development in the province.
Economic levers
The Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market is designed to be one of the economic game changers. It signals an imminent revolution of Mpumalanga’s economy, through the export of agricultural goods, targeting the international markets. According to Premier Ndlovu, the market is designed to provide a trading platform for local, national, and international export for farmers to grow their businesses. He indicated that the ‘province has secured a market operator to manage and transform the trading of fresh fruits and vegetables for black farmers, targeting markets created by the Africa Free Trade area and the growing BRICS platform and the Middle East’.
