Mpumalanga Premier should use SOPA to demonstrate that residents come first

Image: courtesy of FF Plus

With his State of the Province Address (SOPA) on 5 March, Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu should demonstrate that residents' concerns come first, and not the ANC's interests.

The challenges communities face daily can no longer be ignored. These include residents' safety and security, the province's economic stability and the people’s future.

Pressing issues that warrant urgent attention are:

•                  Foot-and-mouth disease: The outbreak has already caused major losses for farmers and threatens the agricultural sector – a cornerstone of food security and job creation. The Premier should detail the plans that are in place to curb the disease and protect farmers.

•                  Incompetent municipalities: Numerous municipalities are failing to provide basic service delivery. Maladministration and incompetence violate residents' constitutional right to basic services, while exacerbating poverty and unemployment. The Premier should explain how accountability will be enforced.

•                  Taxi violence: Ongoing violence in the taxi industry leaves communities unsafe and hampers economic activity. An integrated strategy to restore order is urgently needed. 

•                  Flood recovery: Recent floods caused extensive damage, but residents are still waiting for practical recovery plans. The Premier should outline how the province will repair the damage and what measures will be put in place to better manage future disasters. 

•                  Water rights and food security: Water is a strategic resource that determines the province’s food supply and economic stability. The Premier should ensure that water rights are safeguarded and that farmers receive the support needed for sustainable agriculture. 

•                  Corruption in Education: The Hawks have uncovered corruption in the Department of Education – a serious indictment of the provincial government. The Premier should directly address this problem, because the educational system's integrity determines the future of young people and the province's development.

The SOPA is a golden opportunity for the Premier to demonstrate that the community's concerns are taken to heart and that concrete solutions are implemented.

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) will keep the pressure on until the Premier and his administration take decisive steps to get Mpumalanga back on the right track towards stability and progress.