HIGHVELD – Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, premier for the Mpumalanga, vowed that her administration is committed to fight corruption and maladministration.
Delivering the state of the province address recently, Ms Mtshweni-Tsipane said communities have raised issues of wrongdoing in some of the municipalities.
She said the provincial government has instituted investigations in terms of section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act in Dr JS Moroka, Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme and Govan Mbeki local municipalities.
She said once these investigations have been completed and submitted to the Executive Council for consideration, the province will make sure that the recommendations are fully implemented.
“Some of the major challenges that hamper development in the province, include continued urban sprawl caused by rapid urbanisation in the province’s fastest growing towns like eMalahleni, Steve Tshwete, Govan Mbeki, the City of Mbombela, Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge, Thaba Chweu and Victor Khanye local municipalities.
“In response to urban sprawl, we will introduce processes that make it mandatory for departmental plans at all spheres of government to align all proposed sector programmes to the relevant Municipal Spatial Development 41 Frameworks (MSDF) and the Provincial Spatial Development Framework (PSDF).
“Working with our partners like Sasol in Govan Mbeki Municipality, we are confident that we will finally succeed in resolving these challenges.
Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane said seven housing development and renewal projects have been prioritised in the Mbombela Municipality, Nkomazi Municipality, Mkhondo Local Municipality, Govan Mbeki Municipality, and Steve Tshwete Municipality.
These projects are aimed at, among others, providing subsidised housing, social housing, and integrated human settlements.
The Secunda West Integrated Human Settlement project in Govan Mbeki Municipality will yield about 9 000 housing opportunities.
She said the provincial government will continue to exercise oversight over local government in line with the provisions of the Constitution.
“Our priority is in ensuring that the people of Mpumalanga are afforded access to basic services.”
Ms Mtshweni-Tsipane acknowledged that unemployment is still a big challenge in the province. Mpumalanga’s unemployment rate was the third highest among the nine provinces at the end of 2019 fourth quarter, standing at 33.6 per cent.
She said the government is working around the clock to address this issue.
