Sopa ‘19 focuses on jobs

An urgent need to create jobs and boost projects was stressed by Premier Stan Mathabatha when he delivered the first State of the Province Address (Sopa) of the sixth Legislature in Lebowakgomo on Friday.
He indicated that they have taken a deliberate decision to place young people at the center of economic development programme, adding that it was for this reason that they will be using the might of state procurement to benefit enterprises owned by youth. According to Mathabatha, the Executive Council have thus taken a decision that 20% of state procurement should go to youth-owned enterprises while another 20% benefits women-owned companies and 7% will go to businesses owned by people living with disabilities. He deliberated that during the 2019/20 financial year, they will appoint 238 young people who are currently on traffic learnership as full-time traffic officials. He went on to highlight that they have set aside an amount of R43 million for the refurbishment of Limpopo Traffic College to increase the college’s capacity to train more young people.
Special Economic Zones (SEZ)
He said the Musina-Makhado SEZ project was initially targeting to create at least 21 000 jobs but the number is set to be revised upwards. He added that in an effort to get the construction work started at this SEZ he have since directed the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Thabo Mokone to fast-track the finalisation of the environmental impact assessment and the adoption of the internal master plan by October. On revitalisation of industrial parks, Mathabatha emphasised that they have set aside a budget of R150 million for the revival of the Shayandima, Nkowa-Nkowa and Seshego Industrial Parks. He said this will go a long way towards transforming the local economy and creating the much needed jobs.
Infrastructure
An amount of R10 million has been budgeted to kick-start the long-overdue provincial theatre, he added. According to Mathabatha the provincial government is currently constructing a total of 114 kilometres of road network at a cost of R1 064 billion in various parts of the province and a further R3 billion has been set aside over the next medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) period for upgrading of roads from gravel to tar as well as maintenance of existing road infrastructure.
School infrastructure
It was learnt that the provincial government will during the course of this financial year upgrade 67 schools at a tune of R1,24 billion. He said they will commence with the construction of 123 school infrastructure projects at an amount of R1,62 billion and the projects are expected to be completed in the current MTEF period. A total of R900 million has been budgeted for the construction of four special schools namely Asiphumelele Special School in Sekhu­khune, Rivoni School for the Blind in Vhembe, Pfunanani Special School in Mopani and Mhinga Special School in Vhembe, Mathabatha remarked and added that they will also spend an amount of R192 million to address the backlog of school sanitation infrastructure in 100 schools across the province.
Health, libraries and low cost housing
The development of healthcare infrastructure is also receiving the necessary attention, he stated and reiterated that plans were underway to revitalise Maphutha Malatjie and Letaba hospitals in the next financial year at a cost of R526 million. One of the massive infrastructure projects currently being implemented in partnership with the national Department of Health is construction of the Limpopo Academic Hospital, Mathabatha explained. He further said the multi-phased project would commence in the current financial year at a cost of R3,9 billion allocated by the Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni.
“We will be fast-tracking the delivery of low-cost housing to our people. During this financial year we will complete a total of 3 921 housing units at an amount of R348 million. We will construct 6 535 more houses at an amount of R762 million in this financial year. We have set aside an amount of R90 million for the construction of new libraries in Seleteng, Dumela, Mavalani and Runnymede villages,” Mathabatha explained.
Agriculture
He emphasised that the poultry industry remains one of the largest contributors to the agricultural sector in the country and provides direct employment for over 54 000 people and indirect employment to a further 58 000 people. Mathabatha added that it was for this reason that they are going to operationalise the Lebowakgomo Chicken Abattoir. This facility with a capacity of processing over 120 000 chickens per day is envisaged to generate about 250 direct jobs on the first day of operation, he said. He went on to reveal that the provincial government would in the current financial year give infrastructure support to 577 farmers in the areas of poultry, livestock and vegetable farming.

Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za