MBOMBELA – Despite the premier’s assurance that the municipal war rooms will not cost the province any additional money in 2016/17, Treasury appears to have other plans.
According to the head of the department, Ms Bede Nkamba’s briefing notes about the 2016/17 provincial budgets which were distributed to MPLs, Operation Vuka Sisebente will get an additional allocation in the financial year starting on April 1.
- Read more: Mpumalanga Premier: No money for war rooms
The provincial treasury has reprioritised three per cent of each department’s allocation to fund a number of priority projects. According to the HOD, establishing a command centre for Vuka Sisebente is one such a priority.
The so-called war rooms will be run from the Office of the Premier, but following his State of the Province Address in February, Mr David Mabuza said no additional funds were needed, as it was meant to merely bring all stakeholders together to better address service delivery.
The allocation was not mentioned in the official budget speech delivered by finance MEC Mr Sikhumbuzo Eric Kholwane two weeks ago.
His spokesman Mr Letshela Jonas explained that the MEC provided overarching budget priorities whose details should be provided in the policy and budget speeches by the provincial departments at a later stage.
Yet, there appears not to be consensus on what will be happening with the agricultural hubs either. These are to supply the International Fresh Produce Market.
According to the MEC’s budget speech, R65 million is allocated for this market and agri hubs. But according to the briefing notes, the hubs have been halted for the year.
Their function has also been shifted from the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (Dardlea), for implementation by the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA).
Yet, according to Mabuza, in his oral answers to the legislature following the MEC’s speech last week, these hubs will remain with Dardlea.
Mr Bosman Grobler, DA MPL and the opposition’s spokesman on Dardlea, said the confusion was about the hubs, being halted, and their non-implementation shifting to MEGA.
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“Once functional, the proposed agri hubs will supply the International Fresh Produce Market with produce grown in and around Mpumalanga. The premier said the hubs would remain with Dardlea and that money has been made available to start them up.”
“The premier is clearly in denial about MEGA’s performance and track record. Despite the appointment of Mr Xola Sithole as CEO, MEGA continues to struggle to deliver on its mandate.
“The DA will engage the MEC to seek clarity on who the implementing agent for the hubs will be and whether their construction has been put on hold.” Jonas said, “We will endeavour to respond to the questions soon” but he did not.
