Premier Stan Mathabatha has urged provincial government senior officials and political heads to master the art of doing more with less as he reckoned that this was the only viable alternative at their disposal.
He was responding to the State of the Province Address (Sopa) debate in the Legislative chamber last Thursday. This after opposition parties accused him of seemingly being more confused day after day and out of touch with the reality of the average citizen as it was claimed that the Sopa painted a picture of a province that was moving in the right direction whereas the truth, according to them, was that Limpopo was faced by serious challenges. Mathabatha said the time for luxuries was over and that wastage wouldn’t be tolerated any further. He added that the unfavourable economic outlook calls on civil servants to redouble their efforts and work together in implementing the measures outlined during the Sopa. These measures include the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the proposed Tubatse SEZ, revitalisation of the industrial parks, agricultural and several mining initiatives, Mathabatha explained.
“We are agreeing with the sentiments from the House that we need to move with the necessary speed to ensure the implementation of these major catalytic projects. I have instructed the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Thabo Mokone to ensure that he unblocks whatever impediments, including the finalisation of environmental impact assessments on the Musina-Makhado SEZ. We want to see all the investment commitment to that project being turned into tangible and implementable projects,” Mathabatha stated.
During the debate it was claimed that the provincial government had not acted on allegations of corruption in the public service with reference being the sale of a piece of land in Tubatse. In 2017, a report submitted to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) by the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) highlighted that the land was valued at R8,14 million but the department purchased the land with R116,5 million. Mathabatha responded by saying “With regard to the Tubatse matter, following the findings of the Auditor-General we instituted a forensic investigation into the allegations. The investigation exonerated all the officials who were implicated in the matter. No one was found to have committed any fraud or corruption in relation to the transaction. The report found that the land acquisition process was facilitated by the Housing Development Agency and no fault could be attributed to the officials. I have accordingly directed the MEC for Coghsta, Basikopo Makamu to make the report public within two weeks.”
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
