The executive mayor of Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), Cllr Falaza Mdaka, delivered his state-of-the-province address at the show grounds in Louis Trichardt on Friday evening. The focus of his address was good governance and accountability to the people.

Mdaka started off by quoting Nwalimu Nyerere, admonishing leaders to look after their people and telling them that if they don’t, they are traitors. He continued by condemning the recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners, highlighting that "our destiny is inseparably linked with that of our fellow Africans across [our] mother continent Africa. We have a historic duty and responsibility to ensure this umbilical chord and bond that our founding fathers nurtured and built". He stressed that the development of the local economy can only be achieved through cooperation with "all Africans in the SADC region". He emphasized that only criminals stand to gain from denigrating the country and the continent.

The key priorities that need to be addressed are the following:

* Acceleration of economic growth;

* Increased infrastructure critical to the achievement of economic and social goals;

* Declaration of war on poverty by developing a comprehensive anti-poverty strategy;

* Employment intervention in the second economy through special programmes;

* Improvement of civic services;

* Implementation of special crime combat and security initiatives; and

* Other Apex priorities.

Mdaka stressed that the region has great potential in terms of tourism and forestry. Development around the Nandoni Dam has the greatest potential for growing the district economy. The other potential catalysts for economic growth are mining and agriculture.

In terms of monetary grants to the Makhado Municipality, the following projects will be affected:

* The Kutama-Sinthumule Water Supply Project will receive R48 million for this financial year;

* The sewage treatment plant will receive R10 million to be upgraded;

* An amount of R21 million has been allocated to address the sanitation backlog in the municipality;

* The electricity supply in town will be given a R10 million boost;

* The Tshino-Vuwani road will be upgraded to the tune of R15 million;

* The Madombidzha Air Force Base road will be upgraded for R10 million;

* The Mavhunga road will also be upgraded and will cost R10 million.

Mdaka concluded by stressing that the VDM remains "committed to the mission of local government which is to be accountable and a community-driven municipality in addressing poverty and unemployment through sustainable socio-economic development and service delivery".