MBOMBELA – The Mpumalanga Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) held a strategic planning meeting on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Mbombela to discuss its goals for the 2024 to 2029 period. The aim was to ensure that the department’s plans align with the vision of the 7th Administration and national goals.
The meeting was led by MEC Speedy Mashilo and attended by senior management and department officials. Mashilo highlighted the department’s key priorities: job growth, reducing poverty and living costs, and building a capable and ethical government. He emphasized that the merger of CoGHSTA should bring tangible improvements to people’s lives, rather than just a structural change.
“This merger must not be a mere structural alignment but a transformation that directly benefits communities,” Mashilo said.
He stressed the need for municipalities to improve their audit results, for traditional leaders to receive the support they need while remaining accountable, and for public service to be professional and ethical.
The planning session reinforced CoGHSTA’s commitment to creating positive change, encouraging responsible governance, and providing sustainable living for the people of Mpumalanga. The department is determined to turn these plans into actionable results that will benefit the community.
CoGHSTA has set ambitious goals for the next five years (2024-2029), including providing 25,000 serviced plots of land and purchasing five well-located properties to help build sustainable communities. Additionally, the department plans to construct 11,827 low-cost homes and 100 Community Residential Units (CRUs) to make affordable housing accessible.
CoGHSTA also aims to establish 10 social and economic facilities, such as community halls and early childhood development centres, to improve the quality of life for residents.
To promote homeownership, the department plans to register 10,000 title deeds, enabling beneficiaries to gain full ownership of their properties.
Furthermore, CoGHSTA has set a target of ensuring that 1,421,721 households have access to basic water services, which is essential for dignified living conditions.
Mashilo urged municipalities to improve their audit results: “We must ensure that municipalities improve their audit outcomes, and that traditional leaders receive the necessary support while remaining accountable,” he said.
IMG_4345: Speedy Mashilo – MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) says municipalities need to improve their audit results and ensure traditional leaders receive the necessary support.
