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With the likelihood of Mpumalanga Premier, David Mabuza, delivering his final State of the Province Address (SOPA) tomorrow, we can expect him to shy away from addressing the true state of Mpumalanga.

In true mafia-style, we expect Premier Mabuza to portray an image of unity, trust amongst the people and an efficient synchronization of the provincial government.

Premier Mabuza’s leadership has been characterized by an autocratic approach to all government endeavours, ensuring that he remains at the top of a state-funded pyramid, designed to feed him and his cronies at the expense of the people of Mpumalanga.

In his SOPA, we expect him to make no mention of the failure of Mpumalanga’s Integrated Human Settlements Master Plan. On paper, this plan is exactly what is needed to move the province forward by creating housing opportunities that grant the people access to quality education, healthcare and jobs. Under Mabuza’s leadership, this plan has become nothing more than a blueprint for large-scale corruption.

We do not expect Premier Mabuza to acknowledge the fact that healthcare in Mpumalanga has collapsed because despite all hospitals in the Ehlanzeni region underperforming, the Premier continues to portray Health MEC, Gillion Mashego as a saviour.

Across the province, healthcare facilities are suffering from severe staff shortages and a lack of infrastructure and maintenance. Instead of firing MEC Mashego, Premier Mabuza will tell the people of Mpumalanga that they will be alright.

Mpumalanga’s municipalities are failing to generate revenue, to pay accounts such as Eskom and Rand Water and they are just not delivering services to the people. We expect Premier Mabuza not to acknowledge this or the numerous damning reports from the Auditor-General. Instead, Mabuza will sweep the state of Mpumalanga’s municipalities under his trusted “unity” carpet.

We expect Premier Mabuza not to acknowledge that basic education in the province is not working. That classrooms are overcrowded, teachers are overworked, and learners are expected to use unsafe and unhygienic sanitation facilities. Premier Mabuza will not have a detailed plan on how to improve education in Mpumalanga because both Mabuza and Education MEC, Reginah Mhaule have allowed the South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) to be the custodian of all matters relating to education. Mabuza’s government has failed Mpumalanga’s learners but Mabuza will focus on his own future.

As a beneficiary of his network of patronage, we do not expect Premier Mabuza to mention why Mpumalanga’s economy has remained stagnant throughout his tenure. The provincial unemployment rate has averaged 41% over the last five years. While this has crippled the province’s workforce, it has only made the business of tenderpreneurship more lucrative.

We do not expect Premier Mabuza to acknowledge that his mafia-inspired leadership has failed the people of Mpumalanga because this is exactly what the ANC has rewarded him for. This shows that it is the ANC itself that is corrupt at its core and not just individuals within the ANC.

Only under a DA-led government will the people of Mpumalanga be freed from corruption, hopelessness and joblessness. The province needs Total Change, where the people come first, services are delivered and jobs are created.

Issued by DA