Mpumalanga premier allocates R388m for flood damage repairs
More details on budget for repairs is expected to be tabled in the upcoming State of the Province Address.
It was just two weeks before the State of the Province Address (Sopa), when the Mpumalanga premier, Mandla Ndlovu, announced the reprioritisation of R388m to repair damage caused by the January floods.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Government allocated R288m, while a further R100m came from the national Departments of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, with each contributing R50m. The total budget for flood repairs is estimated to exceed R3.5b, as Ndlovu stated in January.
Ndlovu made the announcement on February 18 during day two of the Debate of the 2026 State of the Nation Address. His remarks offered residents a glimpse of what to expect at the Sopa, scheduled for March 5 at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature.
He highlighted the expansion of the Ubuhlebuzile e-Learning Programme.
“Sixty thousand tablets were distributed to Grade 12 learners at a cost of R312m in 2025. For 2026, we will be distributing 70 000 tablets to Grade 10 learners, which they will use for the next three years. The tablets come with a three-year warranty. We are also working to provide reliable internet access in our schools, enabling learners to fully utilise the devices. Our children will be able to compete both locally and globally,” he said.
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Ndlovu is expected to outline plans for government infrastructure projects, including the Mpumalanga Parliamentary Village, Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market, Mkhondo Boarding School, Nkomazi Special Economic Zone, New Mapulaneng Hospital, Nkosi City, and the Blyde River Skywalk.
He noted that Middelburg District Hospital is fully functional, but still awaits an official opening by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as mentioned last March.
Additionally, Ndlovu will detail initiatives to create jobs for young people.
In his 2025 Sopa, he told residents that the province aims to drive economic growth over the next five years, targeting 300 000 sustainable work opportunities.
