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Mpumalanga Provincial Government continues to better the lives of the poor as the world celebrates International Poverty Eradication today, 17October 2001.

The Department of Social Services has so far spent about R29 million on 264 poverty alleviation projects across the province. 56 more projects will be funded.

Income generating initiatives, amongst them are the following:

Vegetables Production
Poultry Farming
Goat and Cattle Farming
Baking and Cooking
Various Sewing Projects

More than 50% of the projects are sustainable.

Mpumelelo Poultry Project was finance during the previous financial year at about R130 000. The project is benefiting 15 people who are each getting about R400 per month. The project is at the moment operating with 8 boilers and it is supplying local hawkers in the Lowveld.

56 more projects will be funded in the current financial year at about R9,7 million. The allocation is over a three-year period. The National Business Plan focuses on the following five key objectives:

1. Food Clusters
2. Support Institutional Structures for HIV/Aids
3. Youth Skills Development Pilot Areas and Urban Generation
4. Women Production Initiative Linked to tourism
5. Dual Purpose Centre for the Aged involved in craft production
6. The objective seeks to integrate persons with disabilities to the mainstream projects. There should be a 2% representation of the disabled in all projects implemented under each objective.

The government has forged partnership with the Department of Labour to train people on technical skills

Contact person: Mohau Ramodibe at 082 771 9950 or (013) 766 3003

Issued by Social Services, Mpumalanga

17 October 2001