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Date : 27/04/2003
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Title: Mahlangu: Mpumalanga Freedom Day celebrations


REMARKS BY PREMIER OF MPUMALANGA, NJ MAHLANGU, AT THE NINTH FREEDOM CELEBRATIONS, Senotlelo Open Grounds, Valbank, Siyabuswa, 27 April 2003

Programme Director
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

We are gathered here to mark and celebrate a historic day in the life of our nation. Indeed 27 April has a profound significance to all peace-loving people of this country and province.

And to declare to all that as we enter our tenth freedom year, infused with our new patriotism, the tide has turned and that we shall build a people's contract for a better South Africa. 27 April 1994 is a day that marks the crossing of the divide from a past of conflict, hatred and division to the possibility of peace, love and unity; from apartheid to democracy; from a history of oppression to a future of freedom.

We chose to celebrate this day in a region and with people who have helped shape our nation with all the pain and suffering; with all the courage and heroism that have marked our country's path to democracy. We think here of those selfless patriots and freedom fighters, Comrades OR Tambo, Chris Hani, Joe Slovo, Lilian Ngoyi and many others.

Amongst the sons and daughters of this province are many who helped open the way for our freedom. Let us dip our banners for those gallant heroes and heroines like Gert Sibande, Sol Mkhize, Nokuthula Simelane, Sthuli Hleze, Portia Shabangu, Elmon Mathonsi, Victor Khayiyana, Philip Radebe, Fawcett Mathebe, Lele Mohlala and many others.

They may not have lived to see April 27, 1994, but they too must have rejoiced when we made that simple but profound statement that the time had come for the people to govern. Today our hearts as South Africans beat as one as we renew our common loyalty and our commitment to the future of our country and our province.

The coming of the new democratically elected government in 1994 ushered in an era in which the ANC-led government was able to begin building the foundations of a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society. Together with the people the ANC-led government has worked since 1994 to improve the quality of life of the people.

We have indeed been able to start building towards a better life where our people have affordable houses, clinics, and hospitals that provide good quality care for all. Programme Director, we have, since 1999, paid social grants to 11,559,567 beneficiaries at a cost of more than R 11-billion.

On Old Age pensions we spent R 3-billion and on War veteran pensions we spent R 5-million. You will be pleased to know that we spent R 1-billion disability grants and on Foster care we spent R 53-m. On Care Dependency we spent R 50-m and on maintenance grants we spent R 15-m and on Child support grants we spent R 619m.We gave financial assistance to 106 organisations at the value of R 22 -m.

Last year, we spent more than R 22-million upgrading hospitals or building new Community Health centres in our three districts and cross-border districts in the province. In the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, we built two Health Centres at Burgersfort and Kabokweni at a cost of R 5m.

We upgraded wards at the Rob Ferreira hospital in Nelspruit at a cost of R 400 000. We are planning to revitalise Rob Ferreira and Themba hospitals at a cost of R 11,765m. And the construction of two clinics at Bhu-ga and Buffelspruit at a cost of R 8,7m.

In the Gert Sibande District Municipality we have erected a clinic at Perdekop at the cost of R 2,3m, the Amsterdam Health Centre that is at 35% complete at a budget of R 4m. At the Ermelo hospital, we built four doctor's flats and upgraded the hospital at a cost of R 2m.

Work has started on the new Piet Retief hospital at a cost of R 68,875m and is expected to be complete in July 2004. We plan to build clinics at KaNgema, Silindile and Iswepe at a cost of R 8,761m. And to upgrade the Embhuleni hospital at a cost of R 6, 794m.

In the Nkangala District we have built four clinics at the cost of R 7,7m in Lifiso, Verena, Nokaneng and Seabe. We also built the Mmamethlake and Moloto Health Centres at a cost of R7, 481m.

We plan to upgrade the Witbank hospital Phase I at a cost of R 38,741m. And to build and rehabilitate the KwaMhlanga and Mmamethlake at a cost of R 8,199m. We also aim to build a clinic at Moutse West at a cost of R 3m.

In the Ehlanzeni district we have built 402 classrooms, 24 special rooms, 32 administration blocks, 619 toilets, done 125 renovations, supplied 16 schools with water and fenced 21 schools at a cost of R 81,900m.

In the present financial year, we expect to build 202 classrooms, 4 special rooms, 8 administration blocks, 216 toilets, and do renovations at 44 schools, supply 33 schools with water, supply electricity to 25 schools and fence 12 schools at a cost of R 56,633m.

We appointed 2147 educators as from January 2000 to date.

In the Gert Sibande District Municipality we have built 439 classrooms, 39 special rooms, 30 administration blocks, 487 toilets, done 112 renovations, supplied 11 schools with water, supply electricity to 3 schools and fenced 13 schools at a cost of R81, 900m.

In the present financial year we hope to build 186 classrooms, 7 special rooms, 8 administration blocks, 186 toilets, and do renovations at 6 schools, supply 10 schools with water, supply electricity to 4 schools and fence 7 schools at a cost of R56, 633m.

We appointed 3467 educators from 2000 to date.

Similarly in the Nkangala District Municipality we appointed 2380 educators from January 2000 to date.

We built 247 classrooms, 2 special rooms, 20 administration blocks, 218 toilets, done 38 renovations, supplied 1 schools with water, supply electricity to 1 schools and fenced 22 schools at a cost of R81, 900m.

In the present financial year we intend building 186 classrooms, 7 special rooms, 8 administration blocks, 186 toilets, and do renovations at 6 schools, supply 10 schools with water, supply electricity to 4 schools and fence 7 schools at a cost of R56, 633m.

We have brought water closer to the people by drilling number of boreholes in a lot of areas. We have spent well over R581-million to deal with water shortage in the province. We are already supplying 6 000 litters of free basic water to each household in many areas.

In the current financial year we allocated R449, 9 million to improve roads in the province. This money went towards the building of four bridges at Malekutu, another one at Mooiplaas and the Bundu Inn Bridge.

An additional amount of approximately R25 million will be used to fast track the White River-Hazyview Road and a portion of the Middelburg-Bethal Road. The Middelburg-Bethal Road is expected to be completed by the end of this year, while the White River-Hazyview Road is expected to be completed soon.

Both projects are progressing according to schedule.

The upgrading of the Moloto Road is on schedule. We will proceed with the two remaining phases of this project in the next financial year and the year thereafter.

We have also started with the construction of cr

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