Limpopo Province reports progress to the citizens

By: Emmaculate Cindi

Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha delivered the 2018 State of the Provincial Address at the Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane on Friday the 23rd February 2018.

This year marks the centenary of the birth of the first democratically elected President of South African, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, who was a prominent leader of the African National Congress Women’s League and the United Democratic Front.

During his address in 2017, the Premier reported that the number of children who were enrolled in Grade R in the public school system was 123 356 and in 2018 that number has increased to 127 000. The number of grade R classes in the public schools has also increased from 2 325 to 2441.

Education

The Department of Education is currently training 26 041 Early Childhood Development practitioners at NQF level 4 while 200 more practitioners will be enrolled at NQF level 6 in a three year programme at the University of North West.

In the 2017/18 Financial Year, 190 educators and 53 Curriculum Advisors were trained through the Continuous Professional Teacher Development Programme. An additional 540 educators will be trained in numeracy and mathematics teaching strategies, commercial subjects and content delivery. In 2017, 255 schools were provided with scholar transport and the number will increase to 380 in 2018 targeting learners that travel 5km and more to reach their schools. The matric results have also improved from 62.6% in 2016 to 65.6 in 2017, which is and increase of 3.2%

Communities of Eldorado, Rooiberg and Ramokgopa were provided with brand new libraries and four others are in their final construction phase in four respective villages. These libraries are well equipped with ICT infrastructure to enhance the reading and learning experience.

Starting from March 2018, 62 storm damaged schools will be renovated with an estimated value of R730 million “ we will build on the work we have done both last year and in the previous years, our work will include the building of new classrooms, new schools and the refurbishment and maintenance of existing infrastructure” the Premier announced.

Infrastructure

All road projects from the 2017/18 financial year lagging behind will be completed in the next financial year.

Housing

Seven hundred new houses were built in the current financial year and over 300 houses which had structural faults where rectified. One thousand seven hundred sites were allocated to those who can afford to build their own houses and the number is expected to increase to 2 841 by the end of March 2018.

Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG)

There has been an increase on the number of municipalities that spent over 50% their budget by December 2017. “Our view is that there is a strong relationship between adequate MIG spending and proper planning. By this time last year, only 9 municipalities had spent over the 50% threshold. Today, the number of municipalities that managed to spend more than 50% has increased from 9 to 13” said the Premier

South Africa is a water scarce country and Premier Mathabatha urged the people of Limpopo including the agricultural and mining sectors to review their water consumption because the dams that are supplying the province are below the 60% mark.

Mining

According to Statistics South African Labor Force Survey, the number of employed people has increased in six of the nine provinces between quarter 2 of 2017 and Quarter 3 of 2017. Limpopo recorded the largest employment gains with 62 000 new jobs created.

Sadly in Quarter 4 of 2017 Limpopo recorded a significant job loss and was the second biggest loser with 35 000 jobs lost. This is attributable to a decline in mining and trade industry. The Premier welcomed the decision by President Ramaphosa to review the Mining Charter, which was already litigated against by various stakeholders in 2017. The mining industry contributes 28% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is almost 15 000 of the overall number of jobs lost in the fourth quarter of 2017.

“To usher investment into the provincial economy, the province will strengthen partnership with the mining houses and organised labour in advancing a thriving economy by leading a provincial delegation to the Republic of Namibia to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding with four Namibian Regions” said Premier Mathabatha.

Mathabatha has announced that the National Cabinet had positively considered and approved application of Musina- Makhado as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). “Since then a lot of work has gone into making the idea of an SEZ in Musina- Makhado a living entity which will boost the economy and create jobs. An amount of 147 million has been set aside to support the roll out of basic infrastructure in the receiving SEZ municipalities of Musina and Makhado”

Tourism

Limpopo remains a leading province in the country with regards to domestic tourism. The numbers have increased from 5.6 million in 2015 to 8.3 million in 2016, representing an an increase of 2.7 million. The Annual Marula festival played a significant role in the provincial tourism sector and in 2017 alone, the province had an increase of over R45 million injected into the provincial economy.

Health

In 2017, Premier Mathabatha reported that 77 healthcare facilities were meeting the Ideal Clinic Status and to date, the number has increased to 115 and 56 of those operate on a 24 hour basis. The 2018 financial year will also see the completion of new clinics in four villages, a completion of Thabazimbi Hospital Mortuary and the Out-Patient Departments at Matlala, Philadelphia and Dr. CN Phatudi Hospitals will also be completed.

Administration

Following SOPA 2017, Premier Mathabatha announced that the much-anticipated Limpopo Youth Development Strategy has been developed following months of consultation with various youth formations across the province. The province has appointed all the Heads of Departments (HODs) in the provincial administration and intensified training of good governance and leadership for all HODs and Members of Executive Council (MECs).