COSATU Mpumalanga’s Expectations on the State of the Province Address (SOPA)

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Mpumalanga notes the upcoming State of the Province Address (SOPA) to be delivered by the Premier of Mpumalanga. This address comes at a critical time when workers and communities across our province are facing deep socio-economic hardships.

As the voice of workers, COSATU Mpumalanga expects SOPA to move beyond rhetoric and provide clear, time-bound and implementable interventions to address the many crises confronting our province and country.

1. The Unemployment Crisis

Mpumalanga continues to experience extremely high levels of unemployment, particularly among young people and women. Many graduates remain without work, while thousands of workers face retrenchments in key sectors.

We expect SOPA to outline:

  • Concrete job creation programmes linked to infrastructure development.
  • Clear plans to absorb unemployed youth into public service, learnerships and artisan development programmes.
  • Support for industrialisation and beneficiation to grow sustainable local industries.

Government must prioritise decent work and end exploitative labour practices, including labour broking and outsourcing in the public sector.

2. Collapsing Infrastructure and Service Delivery

Communities across Mpumalanga are confronted with:

  • Water shortages and failing sanitation systems.
  • Pothole-ridden roads and deteriorating public infrastructure.
  • Unreliable electricity supply.
  • Poor refuse removal and municipal mismanagement.

SOPA must provide a recovery plan for dysfunctional municipalities, including consequence management for corruption, financial mismanagement and irregular expenditure. Workers and communities cannot continue to suffer due to poor governance.

3. The Health Crisis

Public healthcare facilities remain under severe strain:

  • Chronic shortages of staff.
  • Lack of medication and medical equipment.
  • Long queues and deteriorating infrastructure.

COSATU Mpumalanga expects government to:

  • Fill all critical vacancies in hospitals and clinics.
  • Improve working conditions for healthcare workers.
  • Accelerate preparations for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).

Healthcare is a constitutional right, not a privilege.

4. Education Challenges

Many schools in rural and township areas still face:

  • Infrastructure backlogs.
  • Scholar transport challenges.
  • Overcrowded classrooms.
  • Safety concerns.

We expect government to prioritise:

  • The eradication of pit toilets.
  • Payment of scholar transport service providers.
  • Appointment of additional educators and support staff.
  • School safety programmes to combat crime and drug abuse.

5. Crime, Corruption and Gender-Based Violence

Communities in Mpumalanga are living under constant fear due to:

  • High levels of violent crime.
  • Gender-based violence and femicide.
  • Corruption within state institutions.

SOPA must outline decisive steps to strengthen law enforcement, improve prosecution rates and ensure accountability for corruption. Corruption steals from the poor and undermines service delivery.

6. Economic Inequality and Cost of Living

Workers are struggling with:

  • Rising food prices.
  • High transport costs.
  • Escalating electricity tariffs.
  • Household debt.

Government must expand social protection, support struggling households, and ensure that public funds are directed towards pro-poor programmes rather than wasteful expenditure.

7. Just Energy Transition

As Mpumalanga remains heavily dependent on coal, government must ensure that the energy transition does not lead to mass job losses. Workers in affected sectors must be retrained, reskilled and absorbed into alternative industries.

A Just Transition must protect workers and communities, not sacrifice them.

COSATU Mpumalanga calls on the provincial government to use SOPA as a turning point. Our people are tired of promises without implementation. We demand measurable targets, transparent reporting and meaningful consultation with labour and communities.

The time for speeches has passed. The time for action is now.

Issued by COSATU Mpumalanga
Thabo Mokoena (Provincial Secretary)
Mobile: 073 750 2041