49 GRADUATE IN LEARNERSHIP

The Greater Tzaneen Municipality in partnership with LGSETA and Mopani District Municipality held a graduation ceremony today at Nkowankowa Community Hall. The graduation was for students who successfully completed a learnership programme in Generic management disaster risk (Nqf level 4) and Local Economic Development ( NQF level 6) . Nkhensani Baloyi from Nkowankowa received her LED certificate and thanked LGSETA and Greater Tzaneen Municipality for the opportunity to study, she said "I believe that with the skills acquired I'll find a job that will help me to provide for my family Leah Mokgalaotse an Admin Officer in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality said"I joined the municipality without any disaster management course and knowledge but today I received a qualification in disaster management and this is a great Honour". The learnership programmes were funded by LGSETA, and VPK business venture was appointed to facilitate the programme. 29 graduates received their certificates in Generic management disaster risk NQ Level 4 and 20 youth received their National certificates in Local economic development NQ level 6.
The one year learnership programmes started in 2017 and ended in December 2018.
Brian Mashala the Skills Development Practitioner in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality said "The aim of this programme is to afford an opportunity to unemployed youth to acquire a qualifications".
Margaret Marakalala the Provincial Manager of LGSETA congratulated the graduates and thanked all the stakeholders who cooperated until the end of the programme. "Go out there and use the skills obtained for the development of our country"

SECOND ANNUAL TOUR DE LIMPOPO COMING TO TZANEEN

Starting in Bela Bela on Wednesday 15 May 2019, the Tour de Limpopo is a four-day stage race which heads to the capital city Polokwane where they stay for the night, before heading to Tzaneen where they stay for two nights before returning to Polokwane on 18 May 2019 to finish the tour at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. It is the second consecutive international road cycling stage race to be hosted in Limpopo. The fully catered is a UCI AfricaTour
2.2 stage race for professional cycling teams.
The Tour de Limpopo sets a new precedent in stage racing. One that will develop and leave a legacy of continued and sustained cycling development, investment into community SMMEs as service providers to the event, and to showcase Limpopo Province as a premier Adventure Tourism destination with so much to enjoy.

MULATI ROAD UPGRADE FINALLY UNDERWAY

Mulati is a community of almost 2000 people living in 701 households, this is according to Statistics South Africa household survey. The vehicle population in Mulati is way below average and public transport ratio is one mini-bus per 900 people. According to sources, only two mini-bus taxis operate in Mulati. These taxis transport residents to and from the village to the R529 or Letsitele. 

“The people of Mulati literally struggle” this according to Josta Banyini, the ward councilor of Ward 25, which Mulati falls under along with Sedan, Mafarana, Ntsako, and Bonn Village. Banyini says whenever it rains the road there is slippery and unusable. “It is the only road into the village, and when it rains everything stops, you cannot go to the clinic, you cannot go to the library and there is no school” Said Banyini

In 2018, the GTM approved a budget for the upgrading of the road from gravel to interlocked bricks paving. The project is estimated to cost R37.2 million over a three year period. “This is a multi-year project funded by the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).” Said John Matlala, the Project Management Unit Manager in the GTM. Matlala said the Mulati project entails the paving of a 5.8 km road with two lanes. “Each lane will be 3.6m wide and there will be a 600mm shoulder on each side,” said Matlala.

Alfred Ramaano, a resident of Mulati said that the road will improve access to the three schools in the area. 
He said access to Jack Mashamba Primary, Mlunghisi Primary and Scotch Maboko High School will improve. The Mulati Library will also become more accessible to local communities. 

Matlala said that the scope of work also includes all road signs, markings, and roadside furniture. Matlala added that adjoining roads will be given access and surface bellmouths. 

In January 2019, the municipality handed over the road to a contractor, who has already started with preparations which include site establishment and hiring of labourers.

By Neville Ndlala