Mpumalanga premier Mandla Ndlovu with Speaker Lindi Masina
By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
The Premier of Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu, detailed his will, and that of the Provincial Government, to prioritise effective monitoring and evaluation which plays a critical role in contributing to the achievement of the OTP(Office of The Premier) objectives.
Premier Ndlovu was delivering the policy and budget speech vote 1 at the Legislature, in Mbombela, on 8 August.
He said the Premier’s Office coordinates the monitoring of the provision of basic services by municipalities such as water, sanitation, electricity and infrastructure to ensure that the socio-economic rights of citizens of the province are realised.
According to Ndlovu, an amount of R40 million is budgeted to procure Service Delivery Monitoring Tool(SDMT), in order to equip the office with a proper monitoring and evaluation system.
“ I am happy that the goals we set for ourselves in the 2023/24 financial year, we have successfully achieved the evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of three important programmes namely; Building boarding schools programme targeting children of farm dwellers and farm workers, the Fortune 40 Agriculture intervention programme targeting young people who want to venture into farming, the Household Initiative for Sustainable Livelihoods Intervention programme to see whether it offers a more coherent and integrated approach to poverty,”
Ndlovu said 8 interventions will be evaluated in this current financial year of 2024/25 such as; the Integrated Municipal Support Programme, Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme at the COGHSTA, Primary Health Care Facilities Governance Structure, Implementation of the Tourism Development Programme focusing on KwaMdala and Mkhondo Nature Reserves at the DEDET, Implementation and effectiveness of the Transversal Suppliers Contracts, the Sakh’abakhi Contractors Programme, Oversight Programme on Policing and Tourism Safety Monitoring programme at DCSSL,Phezukomnotho Mlimi at the DARDLEA, and the Premier’s Youth Development Fund at the Office of the Premier.
The Premier also outlined the progress and plans of the Mpumalanga Provincial AIDS Council(MPAC), which included assisting all municipalities to develop their Multi-Sectoral District and Local Implementation Plans for HIV,TB and STIs aligned to the 2023-28 PIP for HIV, TB and STIs.
ESTABLISHMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS
“We will contribute to establish new partnerships meant to support socio-economic development initiatives in line with the Provincial priorities. We will strengthen the existing partnerships with provinces, private institutions and developmental agencies in Africa, BRICS member countries and the rest of the world”
“ I accordingly request the House to approve the amount of R456 092 000.00(Four Hundred and Fifty-Six Million and Ninety-Two Thousand Rand) for the 2024/25 financial year,” said Ndlovu.
He said the budget will be allocated as follows;
Administration-(R145 712 000.00)
Institutional Development-(R98 876 000.00)
Policy and Governance-(R212 314 000.00)
Other areas of consideration tabled by the Premier include;
Institutionalising Long-term Planning, The Establishment of the Mpumalanga Research Institute, Just Energy Transition and Green Economy Development, Premier’s Youth Development Fund which will be allocated an amount of R100 million to empower young women and youth with disabilities, Tackling Gender Based Violence and Femicide(GBVF), Mainstreaming Services for Persons with Disabilities, Rationalising of Mpumalanga State Owned Entities, Strengthening Coordination of Military Services Veterans, Strengthening the Coordination and Delivery of Infrastructure, Government Communication, Fighting Fraud and Corruption, Improving Audit Outcomes
