- With a heart full of gratitude, we welcome you to this media
briefing. Thank you for honouring the invitation at such
short notice. - Today we are going to make few announcements with
regards to changes within the Mpumalanga Provincial
Government. - I would like to confirm that a decision has been taken to
terminate the employment contract of the Head of
Department (HOD) for Culture, Sports and Recreation, Mr
Godfrey Ntombela, with immediate effect. - This has not been an easy decision. It comes after a
thorough process of engagement, assessments, and
consideration of all the facts at hand. - The role of an HOD is to provide leadership and
management for a department, ensuring that it achieves set
goals and align them with the overall objectives. - This role encompasses strategic planning, team
management, resource allocation and fostering a
productive and efficient working environment. - They are expected to respect the core values of our
institutions, which are honesty, integrity, loyalty,
accountability and transparency. - Mr Ntombela’s employment contract was extended by my
predecessor, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane from the 1
st of
March 2024 to the 28th of September 2024 in terms of
section 12(2) of the Public Service Act, 1994, read with
paragraph 15.1 of Chapter 8 of the Senior Management
Service Handbook (“SMS handbook”). - On assumption of my duties as the Premier of the
Mpumalanga Provincial Government, I also extended Mr
Ntombela’s contract of employment for another period of
five months, effectively from the 28th of September 2024 to
28 February 2025 of which Mr Ntombela rejected, citing that
the previous Premier, Ms RM Mtshweni-Tsipane had
extended his contract of employment from 1 March 2024 to
28 February 2027.
- This claim has been vehemently refuted by former
Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane. She states that she never
extended Mr Ntombela’s employment of contract beyond
September 2024. - It has also come to my attention that a fraudulent activity
has been committed, where former Premier’s electronic
signature was used in the purported extension. - There is an alleged payment of R80 000 that was
exchanged for the misuse of the former Premier’s
electronic signature. This matter is viewed in a very serious
light. As a result we have consulted the Acting Provincial
Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant-General, Dr Zeph
Mkhwanazi.
CHANGES TO THE PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - As the Executive Authority, I have a duty to act in the best
interest of good governance, efficient service delivery, and
public trust. - We have made several assessments in all our
departments and realised that we need to make certain
changes aimed at strengthening the work of government to
address service delivery and a number of challenges
confronting the province. - Challenges that would hinder us reaching our targets that
we had set for this administration. - I therefore wish to announce the following changes in
the Executive Council:
▪ Ms Lindi Lettie Masina is the new MEC for the
Department of Education:
The following are the immediate tasks for the
department:
- Target of 90% pass rate for the Matric class of 2025.
- Promote participation and performance of our
learners in Maths and Science. - Holistic implementation of the eLearning strategy by
providing technological aids such as tablets, starting
from Grade 10 from the 2026 academic year. - Ensure teaching and learning time on task,
commences on the 1st day of reopening of the 3rd
term. - Prepare for the successful administration of Grade
12 trial exams and ultimately year-end exams for the
class of 2025. - LTSM provisioning on the first day of the 2026
academic year, across all grades. - Working together with Teachers, SMTs, SGBs,
Parents and communities, to ensure that Education is
everybody’s business. - Strengthen working relationships with Teacher
Unions, Public sector unions in general, to support
effective and qualitative teaching and learning.
▪ Ms Jester Sidell is the new MEC for the
Department of Economic Development and
Tourism.
The following are the immediate tasks for the department:
- Mining Indaba and Investment Summit.
- Finalise the feasibility studies of the Mariepskop
Mountain Cable Car and the Hazyview Water
Wave. - Operationalization of the Nkomazi SEZ.
- Review the Economic Blue Print of the Province.
- Support Tourism Development and product
offerings in the various nature reserves. - SMME Development and Support.
- Industrial Revitalization.
- Finalization of the Petro-Chemical and Forestry
Industrial parks. - Support Economic Infrastructure projects.
- Conduct feasibility study on the 4th Casino
licence. - Establish training and incubation programmes to
enhance skills development.
▪ Ms Khethiwe Moeketsi is the new MEC for
Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and
Environmental Affairs.
The following are the immediate tasks for the department:
- Ensure the successful operation of the Mpumalanga
International Food Market. - Maximise primary production by ensuring that small
holder, subsistence and commercial farmers are
supported through access to land, infrastructure,
inputs, finance and extension services. - Prioritization of Agro-processing which is adding
value to the primary produce, thereby creating
employment and growing rural enterprises across the
province. - This means supporting Agri-hubs, co-operatives and
entrepreneurs to turn raw produce into high value
goods.
▪ Ms Nompumelelo Hlophe is the new MEC for
Social Development.
The following are the immediate tasks for the department:
- Improved coverage of social assistance (social
grants). - Placement of children in alternative care (foster care,
adoption and admission to CYCCs). - Construction of government owned residential facility
to provide care and protection for the elderly. - Establishment and operationalisation of the
Khuseleka One stop Centre to provide protection to
victims of GBV and Femicide and Human Trafficking. - Reduce prevalence of substance abuse.
- Increased support to Non-Profit Organisations.
- The rest of the positions will remain the same.
- I therefore wish to extend my appreciation to all outgoing
MECs for their services rendered to the people of
Mpumalanga. - Furthermore I wish to take this opportunity and
congratulate the newly appointed members, and wish them
well in their new responsibilities. - I believe that these changes will help us towards the
achievement of the apex priorities of inclusive growth and
job creation, reduction of poverty and tackling the high cost
of living, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental
state, as we strive to improve the lives of the people of
Mpumalanga.