Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha Mathabatha has outlined various investment opportunities earmarked for the province with the aim of creating jobs.
Mathabatha says the stimulation of the local economy will take precedence in this financial year, citing large-scale projects, including the rollout of broadband and developments in the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone.
Mathabatha also focused on the Municipal Infrastructure Budget spending as a key factor in promoting service delivery. He also promised to hold individuals implicated in the Special Investigative Report accountable.
He was delivering the State of the Province Address at Lebowakgomo.
Job creation
Mathabatha says the provincial government is moving fast to implement plans to create jobs in the next financial year. He says the province will pay special attention to manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.
He says an economic recovery plan for the province is estimated at R170 billion.
“We believe that this approach will go a long way in stimulating the local economy and creating jobs for our people, stimulating the economy is high in the agenda of this government. Our socio-economic recovery plan is anchored on the industrialisation of this province through mega projects in the manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture sectors, an intervention by this economic recovery plan is projected around R170 billion .”
Mathabatha also spoke about various projects earmarked towards the creation of jobs, including the rollout of broadband and investment commitments by large mining companies.
“Through an investment value of R12 billion, Sefateng Chrome Mine is rolling out underground mining infrastructure in Sekhukhune, the project is anticipated to create 350 construction jobs and 600 permanent jobs during full production. I am also happy to announce that Ivanoe Mine has lived up to its commitment, today the company has already spent R7 billion.”
Fight against coronavirus
Regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, R3.5 billion has been set aside.
“One of the major investments we have had to make as a provincial government is setting aside R3.5 billion to mitigate against the impact of COVID-19 on the economy.”
Dealing with corruption
Mathabatha says the province remains steadfast in its fight against corruption and inefficiency. Mathabatha says the province will continue to act against maladministration. He was referring to the recent report published by the Special Investigative Unit.
“We are committing to the full implementation of the recommendation made in the SIU Report. In this regard, we will work with the National Prosecuting Authority to support all envisaged prosecutions of wrongdoers.”
The provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance Jacques Smalle wants the premier to make the SIU Report implicating several of his departments, made public.
“What we would like to see is to support but make that report public, avail those reports to the Members of the Legislature.”
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader in the Limpopo Legislature, Jossey Buthane, has accused Premier Stan Mathabatha of giving lip service in the fight against corruption.
“That’s why I even stood up, I was trying to remind him that when you are talking about corruption at least tell the people of Limpopo how many are behind bars because of your commitment to clean government because he is slow like that, he came with a pillow here. He could not read between the lines. Since 2013 to date he can’t point to a person to say, because of our efforts to clean government, this is what we have done, this is how much we have recovered from these people.”
