Economic Development Annual Report

Annual Report 2023/2024 Mpumalanga: Department of Economic Development and Tourism - Vote 6

5. CODE OF CONDUCT The department has a Code of Conduct for the public service as stipulated in the Public Service Regulations of 2016, as amended. The Code of Conduct serves as a guideline to employees as to what is expected of them from an ethical point of view, both in their individual conduct and in their relationship with others. Compliance with the Code is expected to enhance professionalism and help to ensure confidence in the Public Service. During the period under review, there were instances where employees did not adhere to the Code of Conduct and disciplinary measures were instituted against the employees in line with the disciplinary code and procedure in the public service 6. HEALTH SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES The Department appointed Occupational Health and Safety committee in terms of Section 19 of the OHS Act 85 of 1993 as amended. The chairperson of the committee is the Acting Chief Director: Corporate Services and is the responsible OHS compliance officer. The committee conducts meetings on a quarterly basis to discuss progress on the implementation of mitigating measures for the identified hazards and risks in all DEDT offices. The Department managed to address most of the identified risks and hazards as captured in both the OHS contravention notices issued by the Department of Employment and Labour and the risk report. In addition, OHS matters are monitored on quarterly basis as part governance and compliance matters. 7. PORTFOLIO COMMITTEES

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MATTER RAISED BY PORTFOLIO

HOW THE DEPARTMENT ADDRESSED THE MATTERS What is outstanding for the Petro-Chemical Centre of Competence to be realised, is the finalisation of the legal requirements stipulated in section 53 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002, which is under the control of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. We will, however, continue to engage the Department with a view of addressing this bottleneck as a matter of urgency. With regards to the envisaged Forestry Industrial Technology Park, the additional studies that were supposed to be conducted to finalise the work on the statutory requirements remain outstanding due to regrettable delays in concluding contracts. We commit to work harder and finalise these studies during the current financial year.

01 June 2023

The department must expedite the process of the completion of both the Petro chemical Industrial Technology Park and the Forestry Industrial Technology Park, as well as provide the revised completion date as soon as the statutory requirements are finalised. Furthermore, an updated progress report must be submitted to the Committee on or before 29 September 2023.

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