PREMIER CHUPU STANLEY MATHABATHA DELIVERS LIMPOPO STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS
On 23 February education featured prominently in the state of the province address delivered by Limpopo ANC provincial Chairperson and Premier, Chupu Stanley Mathabatha at the packed Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane, Limpopo.
LEARNING AND GROWING
Premier Mathabatha drew resounding applause when he said the government should be commended for the recent announcement of free higher education for poor households and emphasised that the fight against the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality required an accessible education system.
“This announcement demonstrates, yet again, the commitment of the ANC-led government to live up to the dictates of the Freedom Charter that the doors of learning and culture must be opened to all,” Mathabatha said.
Early childhood education plays a crucial role in the overall, holistic development of learners. An indicator of the importance the province places on early childhood learning, is the maintainence of 211 Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities across the province at a value of R20 million. Last year, 123 356 children were enrolled in Grade R in public schools in Limpopo. Today, the number of children enjoying access to Grade R in public schools has increased to 127 000.
More than 26 000 ECD practitioners are being trained at NQF level 4 and 200 will be enrolled for NQF level 6 in a three-year programme at the North West University. Training to enhance maths, science and technology skills of teachers and curriculum advisors are continuing.
As part of broadening teacher development programmes, Mathabatha stated that they managed to train over 190 educators through the Continuous Professional Teacher Development Programme.
“We have also trained 53 curriculum advisors in maths, science and technology through the Continuous Professional Development Centres. An additional 1 141 educators were trained in numeracy and mathematics, teaching strategies and content delivery.”
Looking forward, in the 2018/19 financial year the province will provide special training to 540 educators in mathematics, science and commercial subjects. This will be supplemented by the training of 85 curriculum advisors in those subjects. A further 2 175 educators in
content and methodology in mathematics, numeracy and languages will be capacitated.
Mathabatha said this focussed investment in the education of children, and the specific attention they are giving to them, is beginning to bear fruits.
“In the past two years, we came to this august house with heavy hearts to report about the sharp decline in our Grade 12 pass rate. We also made commitments that we would turn the situation around with the view to improve our Grade 12 results. Our collective efforts have indeed brought an improvement in our matric results. Early this year, we announced an increase from 62.6% in 2016 to 65.6% in 2017 – which amounts to an advancement of 3.2%.”
A confident Mathabatha called for cooperation, saying that “if we all put our hands on deck, we can build on this improvement towards our main target of an 80% pass rate. We must all, therefore, as educators, learners and parents alike be involved.”
CARING FOR LEARNERS
One of the long standing challenges for children from marginalised communities has been the proximity of learning centres.
“Our commitment to provide transport for those learners whose nearest schools are 5 kilometres or more, away from their homes is unwavering. In 2017 alone, we provided scholar transport to 255 schools across the province. This year we are increasing the number of schools which will benefit from scholar transport to 380.”
The School Nutrition Programme also plays an important role in ensuring the improvement of learner attendance and contributing towards effective learning and this year approximately 3 800 schools will benefit from the provisioning of meals as per the Nutrition Programme.
To ensure delivery, more than 10 500 food handlers are being contracted, supplemented by an additional 145 school-based monitors.
With regard to school infrastructure, starting from March 2018, Mathabatha stated that they will be renovating 62 storm-damaged schools. The combined estimated value for this project is R730- million. This work will include the building of new classrooms, new schools and the refurbishment and maintenance of existing infrastructure. There will also be a focus on the connection of potable water and decent sanitation facilities to more schools.
“This year, we will connect 134 schools with drinking water and decent sanitation facilities. We will build 400 new classrooms, 100 specialist rooms, 9 new schools and 50 Grade R classrooms; and also renovate 100 schools.”
It is said that a reading nation is a winning nation. It is for this reason, Mathabatha said, that they have invested their efforts and resources towards providing communities with access to library services.
“We have provided the communities of Eldorado, Rooiberg and Ramokgopa with brand new libraries and are currently in the process of finalising the construction of libraries for Phokwane, Maphalle, Zamani and Mahlabathini villages. The good news is that over 90% of our libraries are well equipped with ICT infrastructure to enhance the reading and learning experience.”
In the next financial year, Mathabatha said the construction of new libraries at Mavalani, Seleteng, Runnymede and Dumela villages will commence and seven more libraries will be equipped with ICT connection.
HEALTH FOCUS
Turning his focus to the health system, Mathabatha said that the government is committed to providing a quality healthcare service that is accessible, comprehensive, integrated, affordable and sustainable.
Like the rest of the country, Limpopo is faced with an enormous burden of disease and the province’s objective is to continue on the path of reducing communicable diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis, and wage a relentless fight against lifestyle noncommunicable diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
“This time last year, we reported that 77 of our healthcare facilities were meeting the Ideal Clinic status. Today, this number has increased to 115. Even more pleasing is the fact that 56 of our primary healthcare facilities operate on 24 hour basis. I am also happy to report that almost 270 of our public health facilities have access to broadband connectivity.”
For the year under review, the government has completed neo-natal infrastructure projects at Tshilidzini, Pietersburg, Mokopane, Nkhensani and Elim Hospitals.
With regard to health infrastructure, Mathabatha said they had set aside an amount of approximately R250 million to improve healthcare infrastructure across the province. These projects will include alternative backup systems at 38 clinics, 4 new laundry facilities, a clinic, and EMS facilities.
“In this financial year, we shall complete new clinics at Sekuruwe, Sterkspruit, Pienaarsrivier, Schoongezicht and Mamushi, as well as the Thabazimbi Hospital mortuary and the Out-Patient Departments at Matlala, Philadelphia and Dr. CN Phatudi Hospitals.”
Mathabatha said the fight against HIV and related opportunistic infections is on course: “We have managed to bring down the maternal HIV vertical transmission from 1.2% last year to 0.96% this year. The good news is that the number of our patients who remain on Anti-Retroviral Treatment has increased from 305 421 in 2016/17 to 315 098 in 2017/18.”
Going forward, Mathabatha said they will be strengthening the HIV testing and TB screening programmes. However, he called on citizens to continue with the practice of the ABC message of abstaining, being faithful and condomising.
THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME AND CORRUPTION
Limpopo is working hard when it comes to the fight against crime.
“Our province dominated the SAPS National Excellence Awards. On this score, I wish to take this opportunity to salute those men and women in blue who represented us well in these awards. We salute those officers who always go beyond the call of duty to make our province a true home of safety, peace and tranquillity.”
Mathabatha received support from opposing legislature benches when he issued instructions to provincial departments, SOEs and municipalities to ensure that all outstanding investigations related to corruption and maladministration are concluded without any further delay. He said consequence management should be implemented without fear or favour.
CLEAN AUDITS
HODs for all provincial departments were appointed in 2017.
Mathabatha commended the Treasury and the Limpopo Gambling Board for receiving clean audit opinions and urged all departments and municipalities to strive towards achieving same.
Premier Mathabatha lauded the work of the Limpopo Anti-Corruption Forum:
“In this regard, we commit ourselves to strengthen the Limpopo Anti-corruption Forum to coordinate our efforts against corruption.”
JOB CREATION
In terms of job creation, during the 2017/18 financial year, Limpopo placed over 2 300 young people in internship and learnership programmes. This, says Mathabatha, has helped to equip them with the necessary experience required by the job market.
A significant number of these interns have since been absorbed permanently by both the government and the private sector.
Through the support of the Construction SETA (CetaSETA), the government has invested R17 million to train
420 young people in artisanship. In partnership with the Manufacturing and Engineering SETA (MerSETA), Mathabatha said they are currently recruiting 170 young people. This programme has received R19.9 million in funding.
In the face of a tough international and national economic climate, Mathabatha says the provincial economy remains resilient. According to Statistics South Africa’s Labour Force Survey, the number of employed persons increased in six of the nine provinces between Quarter 2: 2017 and Quarter 3: 2017. Limpopo recorded the largest employment gains with 62 000 new jobs being created. During this same period, Limpopo reduced unemployment by 1.7%. This upward growth momentum was unfortunately not maintained in Quarter 4 of 2017, when there was a major decline in the mining and trade sectors. According to StatsSA, Limpopo’s unemployment rate currently stands at 19.6%.
“We commit ourselves to work harder to recapture the lost jobs and create even more other jobs for our people. We will do this by ensuring that the agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and the construction sectors contribute optimally to the provincial GDP.”
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
In respect of developing the rural areas of Limpopo the Premier announced that the national Cabinet had approved Musina-Makhado as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which will boost the economy and create jobs.
“We are in the process of finalising the appointment of the SEZ Board. This will be followed by the recruitment and appointment of technical staff to support and implement the SEZ projects. Currently, an amount of R147 million has been set aside to support the roll-out of basic infrastructure in the municipalities of Musina and Makhado. We are basically at the tail-end of our planning phase of this mega initiative.”
Mathabatha called on the receiving municipalities to enhance their capacity around water infrastructure, energy and town planning.
“In the light of this development, the two municipalities should start investing in the development of appropriate skills, particularly amongst the local youths,” Mathabatha said
He said the tourism sector continues to play a significant role in the growth and development of the provincial economy. Limpopo remains a leading province in the country with regard to domestic tourism, increasing from 5.6 million in 2015 to 8.3 million in 2016.
This represents a massive increase of 2.7 million.
MOVING SOUTH AFRICA FORWARD
At the close of the SOPA, the future was looking bright for Limpopo province, working together to move South Africa forward.