The R588.9-million budget tabled in the provincial legislature by Public Works MEC Thaba Mufamadi will include an expenditure of 201.6-million on administration, while R387.2-million will be allocated to public works projects.

He pointed out that poverty eradication and the alleviation of unemployment would be important priorities, and that the case for human resource development could not be overemphasised.

The total number of registered engineers in the country had declined from 15 530 in 1998 to 14 900 in 2004. In Africa, an estimated 500 to 800 engineers would be retiring annually from 2009 onwards. This would exceed the numbers of those who were currently graduating. To make matters worse, a very large percentage of engineers continued to emigrate, so the department was ready to support national initiatives towards human resource development.

“In an attempt to address the skills shortage, the department has awarded 20 bursaries to prospective employees in the fields of architecture, quantity surveying, mechanical engineering and project management”, the MEC added.

Furthermore, the Department had facilitated learnerships programmes in skills development with an intake of 47 learners in the field of air conditioning and refrigeration. The department partnered with local businesses to ensure successful implementation of these learnerships.

In line with the national programme of eradicating the situation of learners under trees and in shacks, the department of public works managed to construct 423 schools at a cost of R411-million.

The province’s Hospital Revitalization Programme, entailing the building of wards, theatres, transport control offices, workshops, administration offices, X-Ray departments, laboratories and other health support facilities, would be an on-going process at the Nkhensani, New Jane-Furse, Lebowakgomo and Dilokong hospitals. So far, R 87-million had been spent on this programme.

Furthermore, 33 clinics were being upgraded at a total budget of R128-million, and two health centres (R20-million) were under construction, while 36 clinics were being electrified at a total cost of R9-million. In respect of the Department of Agriculture, six veteri-nary clinics were upgraded at Sibasa, Mara, Bela Bbela, Ellisras, Praktiseer and Towamba at a cost of R9-million.

“We are also busy with the construction of the Sekhukhune satellite traffic station, and the upgrading of the Limpopo Traffic College for the Department of Roads and Transport at a cost of R7-million”, the MEC continued.

In line with its commitment towards procurement reform and empowerment, the department had awarded a total of 771 contracts to the value of R861-million. Of these, no fewer than 446 were awarded to women and 441 to youthful contractors, while two valued at altogether R1-million went to people with disabilities

A recent audit report had indicated that short term amounts of R14,1-million, R15-million and R9,9-million would be required to upgrade the Thohoyandou, Lebowakgomo and Giyani government complexes respectively.

The MEC emphasized that the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) would be the cornerstone of all programmes aimed at eradicating poverty and fighting unemployment.