VIDEO: Mabuza delivers Mpumalanga SOPA 2016
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza delivered his State of the Province Address on Friday saying the province, and South Africa, was faced with dire economic conditions.
Mabuza said it was government's responsibility to take action to improve citizens' lives.
"It is the leadership of this province that must take our people out of fear of an uncertain future and into the light of a united, prosperous country," he said.
The premier said the province would continue to prioritise job creation and economic development and that infrastructure would play a significant role.
"Over R4 billion has been set aside by our provincial government to deliver on socio-economic infrastructure such as roads, schools, health facilities and other critical social development infrastructure," he said.
Most of Mabuza's address focussed on the local economy. Despite the unemployment number improving slightly, economic growth remained slow.
Mabuza told the Provincial Legislature that government was prioritising employment and economic development.
Meanwhile, member of the provincial legislature belonging to the EFF were asked to leave the legislature when they disrupted proceedings ahead of Mabuza's address.
The Speaker told EFF MPLs that the sitting was for SOPA and that she would not allow them to raise on a point of order.
Outside the legislature, EFF Provincial Organiser Cyril Chuene said they were still awaiting answers to their oral questions.
"There were oral questions we put to him [Mabuza] to answer, because he was not there he could not answer until Parliament went to recess," Chuene said.
Mabuza took a leave of absence in 2015 with reports that he was ill.
Chuene said the business of 2015 had to be concluded before they could start with the business of 2016.
EFF Provincial Secretary Alfred Skhosana spokes to JacarandaFM News
Outside the legislature police had to separate EFF and ANC supporters.
Reporting by Slindelo Masikane
Edited by Suné du Toit