Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane
By Kopano Dibakwane
Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane is expected to deliver the State of the Province Address(SOPA) in the Provincial Legislature on Friday 1 March 2024.
Spokesperson in the OTP (Office of the Premier), George Mthethwa, said that SOPA is an annual report that highlights the performance of the Provincial Government, based on stated plans and objectives for the period under review.
“ The 2024 SOPA marks the last stretch of the 6th administration and paves the way for the next administration, post elections to be held on the 29th May 2024. An outcome of socio-economic studies undertaken by reputable research institutions such as Stats SA(Statistics South Africa), preceded the SOPA.
“ These studies suggest that Mpumalanga population has increased to five point one(5.1) million by 2022, the province’s contribution to the GDP nationally is R1 155 billion, 48 000 people were employed in various sectors by the end of Quarter 3 in 2023 in a province where the official expanded unemployment rate is at 35.5% and that the province is endowed with investment opportunities in the energy sector amid plans by the Provincial Government to reduce carbon emissions by 26% by the year 2025,” said Mthethwa.
In addition, Mthethwa said that SOPA will provide a way forward in response to the implications of the studies conducted by Stats SA, which furthermore depict a growth in the number of households with access to basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity.
Mtshweni-Tsipane urged Mpumalanga citizens to use SOPA as an opportunity to participate in the development initiatives of the province.
“ Mpumalanga is on a developmental path and SOPA is key to elaborate the extent of the path,” said Mtshweni-Tsipane.
Mthethwa said that the SOPA will be shared with residents of Mpumalanga through media platforms such as YouTube channel and Facebook pages of the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and the Mpumalanga Legislature, Ligwalagwala FM, Rise FM and community radio stations.
