POLICY & BUDGET SPEECH - 2015/2016 Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature SPEAKER Hon. BT Shongwe
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Hon. BT Shongwe:
SPEAKER
Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature
POLICY & BUDGET SPEECH
2015/2016
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”
2
Deputy Speaker of the 5th Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, Honourable BD
Dube;
Premier of the Mpumalanga Province, Honourable DD Mabuza;
Mozambique Consul for Mpumalanga and Limpopo, Mrs E Tondo;
Honourable Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the Mpumalanga Provincial
Legislature, Mr JM Mkhatshwa;
Honourable Members of the Mpumalanga Executive Council;
Honourable Members of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature;
Chairperson of SALGA Mpumalanga, Councillor M Nkosi;
Distinguished Executive Mayors, Speakers, and Councillors of District and Local
Municipalities across the Mpumalanga Province;
Chairperson of the Mpumalanga Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, Kgoshi
ML Mokoena;
Deputy Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders; Inkhosi S Ngomane
Inkosi EM Shongwe of Matsamo Tribal Authority
Auditor-General South Africa, Mr TK Makwetu
Public Service Commissioner for the Mpumalanga Province, Mr DS Mkhwanazi;
Acting Secretary to the Legislature, Mr JB Silinda
Director-General of the Mpumalanga Government, Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize;
Heads of Departments, Parastals and Chapter 9 Institutions;
Provincial Secretary of the ANC, Mr SL Ndinisa and all ANC leaders from the
Province and Regions present here today;
Leaders of Political Parties represented in the Legislature DA, EFF BRA
Leaders from business, sports, religious and all other sectors,
Our special guests Ms Sibongile Agnes Sindane, Ms Lebogang Mohlala, and Ms
Shirley Bothma.
Representatives of the different media houses in our Province
Ladies and Gentlemen
Esteemed guests;
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/2016
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Good Afternoon
Introduction
Deputy Speaker
It is an honour for me to present here today the 2nd Policy and Budget Speech of
the 5th Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature.
The year 2015 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter which is
celebrated by the people of South Africa.
In recognising the Freedom Charter the African National Congress has during
its 103rd anniversary declared this year as the year of the Freedom Charter and
Unity in Action to advance Economic Freedom.
We are a generation, which is a living testament of the successes and achievements
made in the realization of what was adopted at the historic Congress of the
people in Kliptown in 1955.
We also commemorate 21 years of Freedom as a united nation built on the
foundation and the values enshrined in the Freedom Charter and as a people
in pursuit of the long-term vision of creating a non-racial, non sexist and a
prosperous South Africa.
The Freedom Charter, which remains the blue print of our journey for freedom
was correctly defined by former President of the ANC and Nobel laureate Inkosi
Albert Luthuli in his book entitled “Let my people go” when he said “the Freedom
Charter is a practical and relevant document which gives a flesh and blood
meaning, in the South African setting to such words as democracy, freedom and
liberty”.
We are in pursuit of building an activist legislature within the context of the
Freedom Charter and the Developmental state.
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”
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The strategy and tactics of the African National Congress as adopted in Mangaung
2012 gives us a theoretical guidance on our road towards building an activist
legislature when it characterize a developmental state by asserting the following
attributes
The 1st attribute of a developmental state put emphasis on a people-centred and
people-driven change; a sustained development based on high growth levels,
restructuring of the economy and socio-economic inclusion.
The second attribute of our developmental state should be its capacity to lead in
the definition of a common national agenda and in mobilising our society to take
part in the implementation of programs towards a developmental state.
Therefore, a developmental state should have effective systems of interaction
with all social partners, and exercise leadership informed by its popular mandate.
These are the factors that underpin our constitutional mandate of law making,
oversight and public involvement.
Over the past twenty one years, we have continuously developed programs to
transform the legislative sector of South Africa which is a true voice of the people
from an ivory tower to a real peoples centred and peoples driven institution
which is activist in character and progressive in its vision.
The Freedom Charter’s opening clause declared that the “People shall govern”.
Today we are here in this August house as direct representatives of the people,
elected democratically to shoulder the aspirations of millions of diverse racial,
gender and political voters of our Province. Before 1994, this house would have
never been so beautiful with such diversity.
President Zuma in the 2015 ANC January 8 statement correctly observed that
we now have a peoples` Parliament and peoples legislatures wherein ordinary
South Africans now have unprecedented access to legislatures and their
representatives.
He goes on to remind us that “Our law-making is through consultative processes
and often includes public hearings and that, there are instances where legislatures
hold hearings in far-flung towns and villages so that they make sure that even
the most remote voices are heard”.
Today, through our public hearings, the Taking Legislature to the People,
programme, our site visits and constituency work, the people of this Province
have an opportunity to actively shape the cause of history and thereby determine
their own destiny.
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/2016
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We are inspired by the pledge made by the 1st President of the democratic
Republic of South Africa; Dr Nelson Mandela on the 10th of May 1994 when he
said “we pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage
of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender, and other discrimination.”
Honourable Members
Section 12(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides
guarantees for freedom and security of the person and amongst others state
that:
“Everyone has a right to freedom and security of the person, which includes the
right to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources,
not to be tortured in any way and not to be treated or punished in a cruel,
inhuman or degrading way”
Over the past two months South Africa has made international headlines for
wrong reasons due to the inhumane atrocities meted to foreign nationals by
some rogue elements of our society.
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”
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We wish to condemn with full contempt these criminal acts masqueraded in
the form of Xenophobia. It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure
that when South Africa appears on the news headlines, let it be because of our
contribution towards growth, development and peace in our beloved continent
Africa, our Motherland.
We wish to commend the interventions made by the ANC led government to
ensure that these acts are brought to an end.
We therefore call on all our elected members to embark on programmes to
engage their constituencies on peaceful coexistence of people regardless of their
country of origin, religion and culture.
We equally voice our appreciation to the people of Mpumalanga Province who
has in the midst of these treacherous acts refused to be part of those who
harmed our brothers and Sisters from other African countries.
Indeed, we are Africa and we love all Africans.
In affirmation of our interrelatedness the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature in
partnership with our counterparts from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Swaziland
celebrated Africa Day on the 30th of May 2015 under the theme “We are Africa;
Say No to Xenophobia”.
Overview of the Policy and Budget Speech 2015/16
Honourable Members
The 2015/16 budget is driven by the following principles:
Revised Key Strategic Priorities of the Legislature 2015-2020
Reduction of non-Critical expenditure
Enhanced Oversight and Public participation
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/2016
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Investment in human capital development
Support to Members and Committees
The Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature has adopted revised Key Strategic
Priorities which include:
Holding the executive accountable in respect of the five government
priorities over the next five (5) years
Improving public involvement, especially that of the poor, marginalised
and disadvantaged members of the public in the legislative processes for
next five (5) years
Entrenching the effectiveness of legislation for the people of the province
for next five (5) years
Improving the capacity of the Legislature to conduct its oversight and public
participation functions through strengthened internal business processes
over the next five (5) years
Improving the integrity and image of the Mpumalanga government through
effective oversight of corporate and financial governance by Promoting the
implementation of the nation-building programme of government and the
Legislature to improve social cohesion in the province for next five (5)
years
And Strengthening participation in inter-parliamentary bodies for improving
participatory democracy and co-operation in the next five (5) years
Public Participation, Involvement, and Petitions
Honourable Members
The Legislature has during its strategic planning process taken a decision to
enhance public participation and involvement by ensuring that elected Members
of the Legislature, supported by the administration hold more of their activities
within the various communities to ensure maximum outreach and visibility to
the public
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”8
In pursuit of the ideals of the Freedom Charter which says “The people shall
govern” the Legislature shall continue to maintain closer relations with the citizens
of the Mpumalanga Province through our public participation and involvement
programmes.
In this regard we will increase the allocation to all the Legislature Committees
to R5.6 Million and in particular the Select Committee on Public Petition and
Members’ Legislative Proposals is receiving R1.7 Million.
Public participation and involvement continues to be the best tool of deepening
democracy and active citizenry, where the will of the people reigns supreme. It
is through this platform that the people of Mpumalanga contribute in shaping the
direction of the country.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature has over the past twelve months held
seven Sectoral Parliaments, in which various sectors of our society like the youth,
women, the disabled, the elderly and workers were provided with a platform to
use the Legislature to table issues affecting them on a daily basis.
This has so far proven to be yielding positive results. It is therefore based on
this advancement that more resources, including budget and personnel should
be channelled into public participation and involvement by the Legislature.
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/20169
Deputy Speaker,
As public representatives we must bridge the social gap between ourselves and
the communities in the Province. Key to our responsibilities in this regard is
seamless community work and helping communities to resolve their service
delivery challenges confronting them on daily basis.
As we ponder and reflect on the future role of the Legislature, it is important
that we prevent a void between ourselves as public representatives and the
electorate
We must therefore make an honest assessment as to why people resort to
violent public protests if our presence is still felt in our communities? Why
people continue to destroy public infrastructure like schools and clinics when we
have Parliamentary Constituency Offices in our communities.
These are the questions we must seek to answer as we table this budget in order
to bridge the social gap between ourselves as public representatives and the
public.
We must also strengthen the capacity of these Parliamentary Constituency
Offices in helping the masses to raise their issues and also ensuring that their
problems are attended to by relevant institutions.
Deputy Speaker,
It is worth reporting to this august house that not all is doom and gloom; the
Legislature petitions process continues to be a useful tool that the people of
Mpumalanga are using to raise their complaints in a more responsible and co-
ordinated way, as opposed to violent and destructive means.
Our public participation, involvement and petitions process has since become
the centre of bench-marking by other provincial legislatures and the National
Council of Provinces; this is evident through the recent visit by other Legislatures
to the Province to learn best practices.
Our efforts of taking the legislature to the people have proven to be a popular
vehicle of public accountability to ensure that the public knows what the
government is doing on their behalf as it is contextualised in the freedom Charter
that the people shall govern.
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”10
Owing to our increased outreach to the public through our petitions clinics and
committee work, we have in the past financial year received a high number of
petitions.
The Legislature had tirelessly attended to each one of them, giving them the
necessary attention they required. I am therefore proud to report that the
Legislature has successfully processed and finalised 172 petitions in the last
financial year.
This justifies our increased resource allocation to the Select Committee on Public
Participation and members Legislative Proposals.
In the past financial year our petitions process have among others ensured that
relief is brought to a child headed house hold of seven minors at Msogwaba Trust
who are now receiving a foster care grant and food parcels from the department
of Social Development.
Our sincere appreciation goes to Ms Sibongile Agnes Sindane for taking the
initiative and bringing the matter to the attention of the Legislature.
It is my pleasure to recognise Ms Sindane who is our one of our guests here
today. Kwangatsi naletinye takhamuti tingafundza kuye tisukume tisibikele lapho
kudzingeka khona lusito. Siyabonga kakhulu Sesi Agnes ngekunakekela letinye
takhamuti.
This country needs more citizens to be concerned about the wellbeing of others;
it is only through such actions that we can achieve a caring society. We must
therefore work hard to inspire the spirit of caring and sharing amongst our
citizens.
Also present in our midst is Ms Shirley Bothma from Kabhokweni who was
assisted in furthering her studies after raising her plight with the Legislature.
Let me also acknowledge another petitioner in our midst Ms Lebogang Mohlala
who have also been assisted by the legislature through the Petitions process,
indeed we have a good story to tell.
In the current Financial Year the Legislature intends to further process 200
petitions. I am certain that this goal will be achieved due to the increased
resources that we have allocated to both the relevant select committee and the
administrative Unit.
The 2015/16 Policy and budget speech is also delivered in the context of the
forthcoming 2016 local government elections. In this regard, we will embark on
a massive public education exercise as our direct intervention to the reduced
voter turnout.
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/201611
The voter education programme driven by honourable members of this august
house prior the 2011 and 2014 elections has proven to be fruitful as it helped
in increasing voter turnout in the province. I therefore wish to invite all political
parties to participate in this programme.
In order to build active citizenship through robust civic education, the Legislature
will work with IEC and SALGA to mobilize new voters to apply for new Identity
documents and to register as voters prior the forthcoming elections.
It has been reported that about 29 000 Identity Documents plus the newly
launched Smart ID’s remain uncollected at Home Affairs in Mpumalanga Province
alone. It is therefore important that our public participation structures should
lead the campaigns for collections of all unclaimed Identity Documents.
Honourable members
The Legislature will during this term continuously increase its resource allocation
to public education activities to build an active, responsible and accountable
society as espoused in the National Development Plan of South Africa.
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”12
Our actions and programmes must give the voters assurance that we continue
to listen to their pleas and are addressing their plight. Our efforts should be to
build a stronger relationship with the electorate, understand their challenges
and celebrate our progress with them.
Oversight
The National Development Plan of South Africa outlines that active citizenry
is essential for democracy to flourish and calls on citizens to continue to hold
government, business and all leaders in society accountable for their actions.
Oversight and public accountability are essential aspects of democratic governance
it accords public representatives an opportunity to measure the extent to which
the executive branch of the state is able to deliver on the mandate conferred by
the voter.
In order to intensify oversight and public accountability and as part of the
South African Legislative Sector; we have developed the Mpumalanga Provincial
Legislature Oversight Model (MPLOM) in line with the broader Sector Oversight
Model (SOM).
This model requires a shift in our approach to oversight work for instance it requires
us to enter into a service delivery contract with all the provincial departments
and provincial public entities based on their approved Annual Performance Plans.
Our committees will continue to monitor progress that departments are making.
All the provincial departments must continue to table to the legislature their
quarterly reports and do it consistently to enable our committees to make
informed assessment of the progress the government is making.
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/201613
Law Making
In the past financial year the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature was able to
pass two pieces of legislation i.e. the Mpumalanga Appropriation Bill, 2014 and
the Mpumalanga Adjustment Appropriation Bill, 2014.
It is important for this august house and the people of Mpumalanga to know that
the Honourable Premier of the Mpumalanga Province Mr DD Mabuza gave assent
to the Ingoma Act, 2011 which became effective on the 1st of September 2014.
The Legislature will work in partnership with the Mpumalanga House of Traditional
Leaders to ensure that members of the Public are familiar with the Ingoma Act
of 2011 and equally educate the public on other laws especially those affecting
the weak and vulnerable to ensure that they are conversant with the guarantees
and rights accorded to them by the legislation.
Research and Knowledge Management
Honourable Members
Over the past twelve months we have enhanced committee support by ensuring
that our research unit has a full complement of research personnel in line with
our organisational structure. We will continue to do more in this regard.
It is our firm belief that a properly resourced research unit shall go a long way
in enriching our oversight work and committee work in particular.
In order to enhance our knowledge management capacity we have in the previous
financial year successfully rolled out capacity building programme on knowledge
management (Members, Management and staff within the Parliamentary
Operations Division)
Furthermore, we have conducted a knowledge management audit to determine
the organisational knowledge available, its management, tools, techniques,
systems and processes.
In this regard, we will implement the recommendations of the Knowledge
Management Audit by: Developing our own Knowledge Management strategy,
policy, procedure manual and putting in place the Knowledge Management system
to ensure that we become the leader in the sector on knowledge management.
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”14
Human Capital Management
Honourable Members
The adoption of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature Oversight Model
(MPLOM) compels us to review our human resource allocation with the purpose
of strengthening and realigning our human capital and continuously strengthen
it through capacity building to ensure that it remains relevant to the strategic
priorities of the Legislature.
The Mpumalanga Provincial legislature has in the past financial year adopted
its five year strategic plan which compelled us to review our organisational
structure. This was necessary to ensure that our structure supports our strategy.
As part of our organisational structure review; we will reconfigure the structure
of personnel supporting committees, this includes appointment of personnel
with expertise on content relevant to particular budget votes both in terms of
skills and knowledge.
In our quest to build a People Centred, African World Class Legislature, we will
also revise our resource allocation to research work over the next twelve months
with a view of gradually increasing it to ensure that the legislature becomes a
centre of excellence.
The changes that we have adopted do not affect the Programme structure but
they are mainly based on reconfiguration of sub programmes and restructuring
particular functions.
Deputy Speaker
The Legislative Sector will continue to roll out the capacity building programme
for administration and members. In this regard and we have already enrolled 12
honourable members of the 5th Legislature for the Certificate in Governance and
Public Leadership with the Wits School of Governance.
The Orientation to this programme will take place on the 10th of June 2015 in
Gauteng Province.
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/201615
We further congratulate the group of seven members (Including four former
Members) and yours truly who have completed the Post Graduate Diploma in
Governance and Public Leadership.
In our endeavour to create champions out of our personnel, we will continue to
roll out capacity building programmes for our staff and members. This is one
of our mechanisms to show our confidence in the capacity and potential of our
staff. In this regard we have allocated R1, 4 million to the capacity building
programme of personnel.
Disaster Recovery Site
I wish to report to this august house that the Legislature has set up a disaster
recovery site at Nkangala District and we are now ready to resume our operations
at the offsite within 24 hours in an event of a disaster.
Financial Management
Honourable Members
The Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act was
assented to by the President of the Republic of South Africa on the 1st of September
2014 and its effective date was subsequently proclaimed as the 1st of April 2015.
This legislation ushers in new standards and practises of financial management
and accounting within the sector.
In the previous financial year, I reported to this august house on the 5th August
2014 that the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature proactively complied with
the requirements of the Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial
Legislatures Act by migrating from the modified cash basis of financial reporting
to the accrual basis. We also achieved an unqualified audit opinion in the year
of migration.
I must say that this area of work still requires further development to ensure that
our systems and processes are entrenched to support this reporting framework
and compliance with the set standards.
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”16
We will therefore continue with the training of personnel, mentoring and support
as an integral part of systems reconfiguration.
Over the next 12 months we will continue to enhance our compliance with the
GRAP standard on assets. We will also during this Financial Year embark on
intense Policy Review Process to ensure that all our Policies are in line with the
Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act.
Audit Committee
Honourable Members
One of the drivers of a clean audit opinion is the institutionalisation of
adequate controls and measures to mitigate risks. The Legislature will continue
to support all governance structures including the Audit Committee, Risk
Management Committee and the IT Governance Committee and respond to their
recommendations as part of processes towards improving internal controls.
I am also pleased to report to this august house that at the end of the of the
term of Office of the previous Audit Committee on the 30th of September 2014
the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature has appointed a new Audit Committee
composed by the following committee members:
Mr Desmond Golding Chairperson
Ms Gaylene Denier (Chairperson of the Risk Management Committee)
Ms Anna Badimo (Chairperson of the ICT Governance Committee)
Mr KM Ramukumba (Member of the Audit Committee)
Ms A Hoosain (Member of the Audit Committee)
And Dr H Jooste (Member of the Audit Committee)
Furthermore, Ms Gaylene Denier was appointed as Chairperson of the Risk
Management Sub Committee whilst Ms Anna Badimo was appointed as the
Chairperson of the IT Governance Sub Committee.
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/201617
We congratulate them on their appointment and hereby assure them of them
that they will receive maximum support from the Presiding Officers of the
Legislature. We equally wish to convey our sincere gratitude to all the previous
members of the Audit Committee and wish them all the best as they pursue their
future endeavours.
It is important to recognise that the oversight responsibility tasked to the Audit
Committee require support from internal audit. The institution has therefore
embarked on a review of the effectiveness and the value-add of the internal
audit function in its current co-sourcing arrangement.
Our assessment has indicated that there is greater value proposition in shifting
from the co sourced internal audit model to a completely internalised audit
function. This exercise will however be phased in with greater prudence within
the MTEF period.
In this regard, the legislature will soon recruit and appoint internal auditors. We
have also procured an audit software that will assist in the shared assurance
model to be used by the institution henceforth.
Reduction of Non Critical Expenditure
In response to the national call for containment of expenditure; the Mpumalanga
Provincial Legislature during its Strategic Planning Session 2014 resolved to
embark on major reduction of non-critical expenditure.
Over the past twelve months we have adopted measures to ensure reduction
of costs incurred on travelling and accommodation which includes reduction of
costs for middle man.
In the current financial Year, the magnitude of our events including the next
Official Opening of the Legislature and State of the Province Address must be
reduced.
This will also apply to the costs of the Taking the Legislature to the People and
all the 7 Sectoral Parliaments hosted by the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature.
Our expenditure on catering for all meetings and events must be reduced by
10% in the current financial year, a further 12% in the Financial Year 2016/17
and ultimately downscaled to a 15% decline in the outer year of our MTEF period.
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”18
Elimination of middlemen costs
As part of our efforts to reduce non-critical expenditure, the Mpumalanga
Provincial Legislature has put in place a Travel Desk which will be responsible for
direct sourcing of travel, accommodation and vehicle rental services from the
national providers thus eliminating the middle men costs.
Legacy projects
In order to build a caring society and to ensure that social cohesion becomes a
reality in our country, the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature has continued to
roll out Legacy projects in partnership with the private sector.
We have rolled out legacy projects to assist members of the Community; this
we have done in partnership with our business partners (sponsors) to mention
a few:
Distribution of Sanitary Towels for Girls to selected schools in Ehlanzeni
Gert Sibande and Nkangala Districts
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/201619
We have also hosted the Sports Heroes Walk Against AIDS where our
business partners donated funds to Non-Governmental Organisations
Supporting HIV/AIDS related programmes among others: Yandisa Impilo
Home Based Care from Emalahleni R50 000, Philisa Drop in Centre at
Govan Mbeki R50 000, Phumelela Aftercare at MsukaLigwa R100 000
We have also through this partnership With Sports Heroes Walk Against
Aids and Discovery donated amounts of R75 000 to Siyachubeka Home-
based Care in Albert Luthuli and R50 000 to in Mkhondo respectively
Surely, we are trying to achieve the best with the little that we have at our
disposal. We will continue to roll out more projects beyond the current financial
year.
In this regard we wish to thank all our business partners for supporting us in
different ways especially on the roll out of our legacy projects.
Maintaining the Decorum of the House
Honourable Members
We will continue to raise this matter to you as elected public representatives
until the order we desire prevails in this august house.
We will do so because we have noted with concern the continuing and sometimes
deliberate efforts by some of us who deliberately sought to undermine the
decorum of the house and the rules governing our conduct.
The deliberate effort to undermine the authority of the presiding officer inside
and outside the chamber is becoming a common practice. The heckling of each
other and making derogatory statements can only help to collectively tarnish the
image of this august house.
Our collective responsibility is to put the interest and expectations of the people
above our interest. Our noble and dignified conduct in this house is the only
source of assurance to the voters that indeed democracy is at work.
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”20
Surely, the voters did vote us into this august house to turn it into a circus or
playground.
Conclusion
Honourable Members
Allow me to request this house to appropriate the amount of R294.9 million to
the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature for the following programmes:-
Programme 1
Administration which includes compensation of employees, goods and services
and capital assets: R128.291 million
Programme 2
Parliamentary Business which includes statutory obligations for MPLs and
Transfers to Political Parties: R166.662 million
This represents an increase from R273.488 million in the year 2014/15 to
R294.953 million in the 2015/16 financial year.
This increase is attributed to the R12.6 million allocations for the Enhancement
of Democracy Fund to all political parties and 3% increment on budget baseline.
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/201621
Honourable Members
This Policy and Budget speech is presented in the context of declining economic
resources of the country and the province and the need to create a balance
between our oversight work and competing priorities of government.
Our approach to contain expenditure is aimed at creating a window of opportunity
for us to restructure our programmes henceforth to ensure that we increase
human capital allocation to ensure that we deliver on our constitutional mandate
of law making, oversight and public involvement.
Words of Gratitude
Honourable Members
The Book of 1st Peter Chapter 5 Verses 1-3 commands us as follows:
1. To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s
sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of
God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must,
but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest
gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being
examples to the flock.
Honourable Members
Let us continue to do the work assigned on us as elected public representatives
and serve the flock of God that elected us not because we must but because of
our will and desire to serve and to ensure that the lives of our people change for
the better.
That is the essence of our liberation struggle, this struggle continues. It must
never cease until all our people enjoy the freedoms and liberties prescribed in
the freedom charter.
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”22
Allow me to thank you, Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip, and all Presiding Officers
and all Members of the Legislature, for your guidance and support.
I am especially grateful to the African National Congress under the leadership of
Hon DD Mabuza for continued guidance and support. Our greatest regards goes
to our business partners for supporting our legacy projects.
I wish to thank the Acting Secretary to the Legislature, Mr JB Silinda of the
Legislature, the broader management and staff of the legislature for their
unlimited support and cooperation.
My words of gratitude and appreciation are extended to the support staff in the
office of the Speaker for their unwavering dedication and commitment.
Our thanks and gratitude is also extended to my family especially my only
daughter and grand daughter for the support they have given to me as I continue
to serve the people of Mpumalanga.
Honourable Deputy Speaker and Members of the Legislature
I hereby table the Policy and Budget speech for the financial year 2015/16, and
I hereby request the house to appropriate the amount as proposed.
Siyaqhuba, we are indeed moving the Mpumalanga province forward
through intensified oversight.
Khanimambo,
Bondia,
Muito obrigado
Thank You Very Much
God Bless You
God Bless Africa
Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE POLICY AND BUDGET SPEECH 2015/201623
NOTES
“Together Moving Mpumalanga Province Forward”Mandate: Law-making, Oversight,
Public
Participation & Involvement
www.mpuleg.gov.zaYou can also read
