SAB, Mpuma partner on socio-economic growth

Nelspruit - Mpumalanga has entered into a public private partnership with South African Breweries (SAB) with the aim of addressing critical socio-economic needs in the province.

The agreement will further entrench SAB's commitment to investing in communities and promoting social upliftment.

The partnership was announced by Premier David Mabuza at an official ceremony with SAB managing director Mauricio Leyva.

The public/private partnership will see both Mpumalanga snd SAB co-operating on areas that seek to assist the province with its current socio- economic challenges such as poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Speaking at a signing ceremony, Mabuza commented that there would be a clear focus on areas of water supply, enterprise development and on programmes dedicated to educating communities about the harm of alcohol abuse.

He said: "We're beginning to see public private partnership making great impact in the lives of the people.

"The most exciting development in this co-operation is education and water and education will always remain the future of this country."

"Water is life...it's essential in the lives of human beings. We would never see any development without water."

The partnership between the Mpumalanga province and SAB will be in place for an initial five years.

Details of the various projects falling under the partnership are expected to include programmes dealing with regulatory affairs, rural development, human capital development as well as research and development.