By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane delivered his Opening of the Provincial Legislature Address from Ntabankulu in rural Eastern Cape on Thursday, 1 August 2024.
So far, the cost of the event, which required extensive travel, has not been divulged, but the ANC’s official opposition in the province, the DA, has vowed to find out the total cost. The provincial economy is currently in recession.
While full budget details for the event are not known, the travelling costs alone are bound to be staggering. Ntabankulu is about 500km from East London, 700km from Gqeberha and 379km from Bhisho, where the Eastern Cape legislature is located.
It is understood that MPLs are paid R6 per km travelled and that both MPLs and legislature staff receive stipends of close to R1,000 for being out of town. Most MPLs left for the sitting on Wednesday as they have to stay in towns around Ntabankulu like Mount Fletcher.
The decision to host the event in Ntabankulu comes as the province finds itself in deep crisis. Unemployment has increased from 37.4% in 2019 to 42% and expanded unemployment currently stands at 49%.
For the 2023 Sopa, portable toilets had to be found in a hurry after extended water outages hit Bhisho.
Mabuyane’s Sopa in February 2024 was disrupted by the EFF, which protested against the premier’s “electioneering”.
The Ntabankulu Municipality has made significant developmental progress since 2011 but service delivery statistics remain low. According to the 2011 Census, only 2.7% of people had piped water. The 2022 Census shows this number has increased to 28.8%. Weekly refuse removal has increased from 4% to 19.6%, and residents with access to flush toilets from 2.2% to 19.6%.
Delivering his state of the province address in Ntabankulu on Thursday, he said over the next five years, SANRAL will be investing R50-billion in road construction projects.
“In Buffalo City we are building roads worth R2.3bn which include the completed construction of the Breidbach interchange. In Nelson Mandela Bay we are building roads worth R1.3bn,” he added.
The Premier said road constructions projects were underway in several municipalities including district municipalities.
In a wide-ranging speech of 46 pages, the Premier looked back at the work of the 6th administration which he also led, saying that the groundwork as been laid for the current government to move forward.
Mabuyane said he has invited all political parties in the Legislature to work to together to serve the people of the province.
He said the Eastern Cape government had also made a commitment to working with all the Minister in the Government of National Unity to speed up development.
Looking at the road ahead, the Premier said he has expectations that the business community will partner with government to create jobs, develop local industries, and contribute to community development.
Mabuyane said he wants traditional leaders, civil society, and labour organisations, to play crucial roles in fostering social cohesion, while citizens should embrace the opportunities presented to them.
“In return, you can expect a government that works better for and with you. You can expect a government that delivers impactful services and that is highly visible in our communities.
“Lastly, you can expect a government that has discipline in getting things done. I have directed MECs and senior government officials to spend most of their time in our communities resolving the challenges of our people,” the Premier said.
Mabuyane said the grand plan for accelerated Growth and Development of the Eastern Cape in the next five years remains the Provincial Development Plan, or Vision 2030, with an additional six growth areas identified in the areas of agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, and tourism among others.
On the energy front, he said Bhisho was “heightening building sustainable” energy infrastructure in the province, saying without a reliable supply of electricity, there will be no future economic growth in this province.
“Eskom has done well to keep the lights on for more than 4 months now. We are lobbying Eskom for the development of the Eastern Cape electricity transmission grid.
“This will unlock 547 megawatts of additional electricity generation projects in our province with an investment value of R13.7 billion, and the creation
of over 2000 jobs.”