LIMPOPO premier and ANC provincial chairperson Cassel Mathale has urged government officials - including MECs and directors - to declare their business interests when they join the government.

LIMPOPO premier and ANC provincial chairperson Cassel Mathale has urged government officials - including MECs and directors - to declare their business interests when they join the government.

Mathale said those who did not declare their interests would "be in trouble with the government".

Mathale was speaking at the weekend during a visit to Muyexe village in Giyani. The area was declared one of the poorest in the country by President Jacob Zuma.

Muyexe was labelled a "forgotten area", totally without water, electricity, roads and bridges, houses and recreational facilities.

Mathale was accompanied by his cabinet and senior department officials to have one-on-one talks with villagers about service delivery. His visit follows that of Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge two months ago, when he outlined phase two of the extended public works programme that will hopefully create jobs for rural citizens.

Accredited business people will soon be appointed for the rollout of phase two.

Mathale took advantage of his visit to warn his cabinet and others working for the government to declare their interests or "face trouble". Limpopo has been branded the worst province in terms of corruption, with many civil servants doing business with the government without declaring their interests.