Here is how this year’s address stacks up against last year’s.
Infrastructure
2014: The ANC-led government planned to spend R18,5 billion on infrastructure over the next five years.
Government will be scaling up its provision of roads, clinics, integrated schooling systems, houses,electricity, and the provision of water and sanitation.
2015: Socio-economic infrastructure such as roads, hospitals and schools continues to be prioritised.
In 2015/16 R2 billion will be set aside to develop and upgrade these.
Fresh Produce Market
2014: Government will be pursuing the establishment of an International Fresh Produce Market.
2015: The acquisition and registration of land for the Fresh Produce Market has been concluded. All the necessary statutory compliance matters have been finalised.
Agriculture
2014: Government will be providing comprehensive support to farmers for targeted commodities and prioritising land reform farms and state land that is lying fallow to increase production. Investment will increase in agricultural infrastructure to support small holder farmer development.
2015: Agriculture remains important to drive growth and job creation. Declining output and employment in this sector are concerning. Something drastic must be done to improve the performance of the sector. Together with national partners, the province has embarked on a Comprehensive Rural Development Programme in the poorest municipalities to address the development backlogs.
Job training
2014: The Artisan Training Centre built by Hydra Arc will play a significant role in training out-of-school youths. A total number of 5 000 young people are targeted to be trained over the next five years.
2015: The Mpumalanga Fortune-40 Young Farmers Incubator is to be established, whereby 20 youth-owned SMMEs and 20 youth-owned cooperatives will be recruited into an incubator programme with the private sector to mentor future commercial farmers. The programme is expected to create 200 direct jobs, and 100 jobs will be added each year for the next three years.
Integrated human settlements
2014: After three pilot projects the province is ready to create well-managed Integrated Sustainable Human Settlements.
This includes ensuring that economic growth and social development are in balance with the carrying capacity of the settlement’s natural systems.
2015: In the coming financial year the creation of an additional nine new integrated sustainable human settlements will commence.
These include Tekwane North, Tekwane South and Hillview in Mbombela, Umjindi and Malalane, Elandslaagte in Middelburg and Naauwpoort in eMalahleni, Wesselton in Msukaligwa, Zondagfontein and Evander in Govan Mbeki Municipality.
Water and Sanitation
2014: The supply of Bulk Water Infrastructure and the acceleration of reticulation in all municipalities will be prioritised with sanitation occupying the highest spot on the priority list.
2015: Province invested R2,7 billion in programmes for water and sanitation in the current financial year. In the coming financial year starting in April, an amount in excess of R1,8 billion will be set aside to achieve universal access to water.
Crime
2014: Social crime prevention programmes have yielded results in terms of decreasing the incidence of contact crimes such as attempted murder, assault and robbery.
Yet the scourge of sexual crimes persists and had in fact increased in the past year.
2015: Integrated crime prevention programmes are making some progress and recent figures show that sexual crimes in the province have decreased by 7,4 per cent while a 5,6 per cent decrease was maintained in contact crimes.
Broadband connectivity
2014: Strategic economic infrastructure like investing in broadband infrastructure is to be propritised to support development and service delivery.
2015: The focus will be on the expansion of broadband infrastructure to connect schools, hospitals, libraries, and government offices to high speed broadband. Underserviced areas will be targeted to ensure ICT support for economic growth and service delivery.
- Read more on the opposition parties views here.
- See the premier’s power generation plans here.
- Click here to see the dignitaries on the red carpet.
