Residents expectations on SOPA
Young people indicated that they want decent jobs as some said they are tired of the Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP).
BARBERTON – Tomorrow all eyes will be Premier David Mabuza as he will be delivering the State of the Province Address(SOPA).This will be the last address before the elections taking place on May 7.
Mpumalanga News interacted with different community members in this area to check what their expectations on the SOPA are and we found out that they were very high.
A majority of residents want the speeding up of RDP housing delivery because there have been many in their area that were left incomplete and many are still homeless.
A resident, Ms Martha Shongwe said: “We have been waiting for almost a year for our RDP houses to be completed, but nothing is happening. We want Mabuza to come up with a new strategy that will speed-up the process. We are tired of waiting and his project called Kancane-Kancane is not doing justice to people of this town. He is always focusing in other municipalities such as Bushbuckridge ,while there are people here in Barberton who don’t have decent shelter.”
Young people indicated that they want decent jobs as some said they are tired of the Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP). They complained that it is not sustainable and decent jobs.
Speaking to Elizabeth Mnisi (23), she said: “As young people, we need decent jobs. they are always boasting that they have created job opportunities, but those jobs only last for six months or so. Internships are not decent jobs because after that period, you go back home.It’s reported that to ensure wider public access to this major event, the Legislature has secured satellite broadcast venues in the three districts which is Umjindi community hall, Waterval Boven community hall and Secunda’s Sasol Club in Embalenhle.”
