Executive Council Media Statement

The Executive Council yesterday [11 November 2015] held  
a special meeting to approve the proposed adjustment  
budget for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.

Proposed Adjustment for Mpumalanga Province

1. The proposed adjustment budget will be tabled at the  
   legislature on 20 November 2015.
2. The Executive Council further noted the proposed  
   additions to the provincial fiscal framework and grants  
   approval for the 2015/16 draft adjustment budgets.
3. Drought Disaster Assessment Report
4. The Executive Council considered the provincial state of  
   disaster report presented by the provincial Department  
   of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and  
   approved the plan of action and a subsequent request  
   for national intervention.
5. The South African Weather Services has indicated  
   below normal rainfall in the past 12 months and  
   predicted a below normal rainfall pattern for the  
   country in the next 18-24 months.
6. Reports indicate that 14 municipalities are already  
   severely affected by the drought conditions and that  
   the trends are indicative of a protracted dry season  
   well into 2016.
7. Consequently a number of households in Municipalities  
   such as Chief Albert Luthuli, Msukaligwa, Mkhondo, Dr  
   J.S. Moroka, Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme, Thembisile Hani,  
   Dipaleseng, Govan Mbeki, Lekwa and to a lesser extent,  
   Emakhazeni, Thaba Chweu, Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge  
   and Umjindi shall experience severe water shortages  
   for domestic consumption in the near future;
8. The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development,  
   Land and Environmental Affairs has already reported  
   negative impact due to high temperatures and low  
   rainfall, with the loss of grazing and livestock;
9. Adding to above is also the spreading of secondary  
   diseases and the difficulty in sustaining livestock and  
   crop production that is expected to have adverse effect  
   on food security in the province.  
   Director-General’s contract not renewed
10. The Executive Council appreciated the good work  
    done by the former provincial administration Director-  
    General Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize in the past three years  
    of her term.
11. Dr Mkhize’s three-year contract was due to end on  
    30 November 2015, it was however ended on Tuesday,  
    10 November 2015, after a mutual agreement between  
    her and the employer.
12. The Executive Council has commended Dr Mkhize  
    for uniting the provincial administration including  
    the municipalities and wished her well on her future  
    endeavours.

13. Meanwhile, the Deputy Director-General for Macro  
    Policy and Planning in the Office of the Premier Mr  
    Thulani Mdakane has been appointed the Acting  
    Director-General.

    Premier expected to return on Tuesday

14. The Executive Council expressed some excitement on  
    the good news that the Honourable Premier Mr David  
    Mabuza is expected to return back to work on Tuesday,  
    17 November 2015, provided his doctors are fully  
    satisfied with his condition.
15. Appointments  
     

• Mr Musandiwa Justice Mudau – appointed Chief  
  Financial Officer [Department of Education]

ENDS…

Issued by Mpumalanga Provincial Government  
Enquiries:  
Zibonele Mncwango  
(013) 766 - 2453  
079 491 0163  
zmncwango@mpg.gov.za