MBOMBELA – The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) is establishing an infrastructure fund to source private-sector investments for infrastructure projects in the province.
This was one of the announcements made by Mpumalanga premier Mr David Mabuza in his State of the Province Address (Sopa) on Friday. He addressed the press on his Sopa yesterday morning, along with his cabinet.
He said the current socio-economic context is one of the most challenging the province has faced and that continued dependence on the fiscal resources to address infrastructure backlogs will take over 50 years at the current pace when matched by the current available fiscal resources.
“We need to think differently and inventively to find new ways of raising the capital required to fund our infrastructure programme.”
Mabuza said potential partners in China, Italy and Russia are ready to inject capital to tackle some of these infrastructure delivery priorities. These include a further three new hospitals in Middelburg, Mapuleneng and Bethal.
The premier said he was happy that the provincial Department of Health had turned a corner. He reported “some significant advances towards the stabilisation and professionalisation of the provincial health department”.
Rob Ferreira, Themba, Impungwe and Standerton hospitals have been fully refurbished while upgrades at Sabie Hospital stood at 95 per cent. Over the next three years R470 million will be invested in the upgrading and construction of primary health-care facilities.
Yet challenges remain. Along with education the department has been excepted from the moratorium placed on making new appointments, a move Mabuza insists will continue to save the province money.
Health MEC Mr Gillion Mashego conceded that they were faced with challenges, but “when we look at the overall implementation, we are turning a corner”.
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According to acting director general (DG), Mr Thulani Mdakanae it is in line with their broad approach for industrialisation in Mpumalanga.
It is to house existing and new enterprises and a wood SMME incubator and South African Forestry Companies Limited as well as Sappi are likely to get on board.
Mabuza also announced that additional funds will be made available this coming financial year to start construction on the fresh-produce market.
Finance MEC Mr Sikhumbuzo Eric Kholwane indicated that this would be approximately R50 million.
He is to deliver his budget proposal for 2016/17 on Tuesday next week.
