Mpumalanga Sopa: Promises made but concrete plans missing

Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu emphasised job creation, infrastructure recovery and youth development as key priorities during his State of the Province Address (Sopa) on Thursday.

Speaking at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, Ndlovu said creating employment opportunities remains government’s ‘utmost priority.’

According to the premier, about 28 700 jobs were created in the province in 2025, bringing the total number of employed residents to about 1.28 million.

He said the provincial government aims to create around 60 000 jobs annually through economic development programmes.

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Mpumalanga’s unemployment rate currently stands at 32.3%, reflecting a slight improvement compared with previous years when the rate exceeded 34%.

Ndlovu also highlighted a memorandum of understanding between government and the University of Mpumalanga, which he said could support large-scale job creation initiatives in future.

A significant portion of his speech focused on the impact of recent floods across the province.
Ndlovu said flood-related damage is currently estimated at about R6b, although assessments are still ongoing as repair work continues.

The provincial government has set aside funding to repair damaged infrastructure, particularly roads, while also working with the national Department of Agriculture to support affected farmers.

“Government is also preparing for the upcoming winter fire season, which typically peaks between June and July,” he said during the press briefing.

Water supply challenges in several municipalities were also addressed.

Ndlovu said the province plans to increase investment in water infrastructure and is working with national entities on major water projects, including upgrades linked to Loskop Dam. However, he pointed to illegal water connections as a major contributor to supply problems, particularly in Bushbuckridge, saying these connections reduce water pressure in the system.