By Kopano Dibakwane
The Victor Khanye Local Municipality in Delmas is set to benefit from two brand-new public facilities costing above R17 million, courtesy of the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.
Premier Mandla Ndlovu officially handed over an ECD(Early Childhood Development) centre and a community hall to the local municipality on Thursday, 13 March 2025. The ceremony was held at Botleng Township (Extension 6).
According to the Provincial Government spokesperson, George Mthethwa, the handover was part of the week-long TLP(Taking the Legislature to the People) programme held in the area. He also said that a total of 71 job opportunities were created during the construction of the two facilities, ranging from general workers, skilled labourers, and subcontractors.
“ The childcare centre will help the children to access early childhood development, whilst the community centre will serve as a multipurpose centre,” said Mthethwa.
In his keynote address, Premier Ndlovu said parents have a responsibility to ensure that children are taught life skills from an early age.
“ This ECD will assist our children to have a good relationship with teachers and other children in the future. I’m over the moon with joy that today I’m here in your area to hand over this state-of-the-art community hall and ECD. We met with the community and they pleaded for a school, scholar transport, roads, clinic, amongst other things. We agreed that you’ll get a school, the scholar transport will be resolved, we’ll open a
clinic, and fix the roads,” said Ndlovu.
In addition, Ndlovu said the handover of the two facilities signals the commitment by government to provide services to improve the lives of the people of Mpumalanga.
“ I’m pleading with the community to take care of these facilities. Our children must not loiter the streets, they must get an opportunity to learn. Our children must make use of the hall and ECD facilities. They must prepare their future from these two facilities,” said Ndlovu.
The Premier was accompanied by Mpumalanga MEC for COGHSTA(Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs), Speed Mashilo, as well as the Executive Mayor of Victor Khanye Local Municipality, Vusi Bhuda, Director-General in the Office of the Premier, Maggie Skhosana, amongst other senior government offcials.
