It is time to take action. That is the gist of the FF Plus's response to the State of the Province Address (SOPA) by Mpumalanga Premier, Refilwe Maria Mshweni-Tsipane.
Premier Mshweni-Tsipane mentioned all the pressing problems, like land, health, education, an inclusive economy, gender-based violence, skills development, unemployment and crime targeting tourists.
The FF Plus wants to point out to Premier Mshweni-Tsipane that uplifting the province requires much more than just the words of her SOPA as thorough introspection and action are needed to change the situation in the province.
The Premier must disclose the results of the skills audits that were conducted in local and provincial departments. It will provide an indication of how vacancies in Mpumalanga were filled and to what extent appointments and nepotism occurred during cadre deployment.
She must drastically reduce the number of municipal and provincial administrative staff members and re-evaluate their salaries with the aim of reducing the inflated salaries of overmanned positions.
The ANC must stop using the provincial and local government structures as an employment agency.
Mpumalanga needs more job opportunities in the private sector. It will stimulate economic growth and job creation.
Land and agriculture offer a shining example of how government resources are going to waste, because if the hundreds of hectares that the government purchased since 1996 were correctly utilised then unemployment among the youth could be drastically reduced. It, however, does not happen in Mpumalanga.
Mpumalanga needs competent young farmers of all races.
The provincial government's constant interference in education is a waste of money, which could have been used elsewhere to benefit the economy.
A government is supposed to manage the public service effectively so that it allows the private sector to flourish and, thus, reduce unemployment.
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