The Provincial Executive Council met last week to consider reports on major projects in the region.
On the proposed partnership between the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative and the provincial government, the cabinet received a report on the state of affairs of the initiative and reaffirmed the re-establishment of the partnership between the Section 21 company and provincial government.
Cabinet approved in principle the proposed partnership, but stressed that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) should be developed and signed between the provincial government and the MCLI.
The MCLI was established in 2003 and comprises infrastructure investors, service providers and stakeholders of Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.
The focus is on the promotion and further development of the Maputo Development Corridor as the region’s primary logistics transportation route. The MCLI is able to facilitate all stakeholders across all three national borders.
It seeks to remove barriers along the corridor, to inform the market of development along it and to market the strategic benefits and opportunities of using it, thereby making it the first choice for the region’s importers and exporters alike.
The executive council was further briefed by a Nelspruit-based property developer, HL Hall and Sons Properties on the integrated human settlement project that will result in a huge development between Nelspruit and White River.
Cabinet supported and accepted a planned multi-billion rand multiple integrated human settlement development proposal by the Department of Human Settlements in partnership with HL Hall and Sons.
It will include a vast housing project comprising 828 middle-income and 352 low-cost houses, residential apartments, student accommodation, and parliamentary village.
This massive project includes other economic projects such as Mpumalanga International Convention Centre and an upmarket hotel. Both government and the company committed themselves to availing prime land to the provincial government for this development.
The executive council appreciated the benefits that come with the project, which include jobs that will be created during the construction, the multiple projects and the bulk infrastructure, upgrade and rehabilitation of the existing road networks, as well as construction of new access roads.
The parliamentary village will cater for members of the provincial legislature and some senior officials. On the other hand, the Mpumalanga Convention Centre will comprise a main amphitheatre, meeting rooms, halls and a clinic and could host international events. The accommodation will cater for students of the University of Mpumalanga.
The strategic project arises as a quest by both government and HL Hall and Sons to seek to maximise the economic and development potential around the new University of Mpumalanga precinct soon to be established.
Cabinet gave the company and the department 14 working days to finalise the MoU which will specify the areas of cooperation in implementing the development.
It further advised the company to dedicate more land to include schools and clinics. Mbombela Municipality will be part of the MoU as some of the infrastructure would be its responsibility to maintain.
The MoU will assist by institutionalising the responsibilities of the work in bringing about this envisaged development.
Cabinet appreciated the gesture by the private sector to work with the government in bringing about this development.
On the architectural designs, operational funding model and ownership model of the Lowveld Food Technology Centre, during its May 2013 meeting, the executive council discussed the progress report on the centre and highlighted that it should be presented with the designs and the funding model, before it is established by the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
Although the executive council supported the establishment of the centre, it however expressed dissatisfaction about it being a non-profit entity.
The envisaged innovative entity will be based in Nelspruit and will be different from the rest of the stations in the country in the sense that it will include an incubator programme.
On the report on the provincial disaster threat analysis and resource capacity, in May this year, the executive council tasked the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to conduct an assessment of its resource capacity in managing disasters in the province.
The decision was informed by a historical trend for Mpumalanga to be disposed to certain types of disasters such as strong winds, storms, veld and forest fires, lightning and snow and other adverse weather conditions.
The executive council approved the strategy and an integrated youth development plan as proposed by the Department of Education through the Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust.
The overall goals of the strategy are to reduce youth illiteracy and improve the standard of living, to realise a capable skill-driven economy and the development of human resources, to increase life expectancy and the levels of productivity and the alleviation of youth unemployment, poverty and inequalities.
Cabinet stressed that youth unemployment was a serious challenge and it demanded a report at the end of the second quarter on the progress of implementing the strategy.
Concerning the 2013 Grade 12 Examination Report, cabinet expressed satisfaction that preparations for the final grade 12 matriculation examinations were in place.
The preliminary examinations are running smoothly. All schools managed to complete curriculum in time, especially in the Nkangala Region where some male learners who did not attend classes due to traditional circumcision , were assisted by the department of education’s catch-up plan.
This year, the province targets to attain a 80 per cent pass rate compared with 70 per cent last year.
