CLOSE to R27 billion in foreign direct investment had been secured, but the people of Gauteng demand basic services.
On Monday, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Hendrick Lesufi, announced his much awaited State of the Province, at the packed Nasrec, just a walk away from Soweto.
He said over R27bn has been secured and water shortage that continues to plague residents is being attended to.
The Premier said investments opportunities have been identified as follows:
• R7-billion waste-to-energy projects
• Efforts to protect 700 jobs affected by Nissan’s restructuring
• A R1.9-billion investment by Heineken International to boost jobs
• R4-billion secured for Lanseria Smart City’s Cradle Film Studios project, expected to create 15,000 jobs in film production, amongst others.
On the burning issue of water, he pointed out they will allocate R760m toward water infrastructure in the City.
On explosion at Rand Water plant, he said authorities went into “emergency mode” to stabilise supply, that saw water shortages in most areas.
“A new reservoir and tower in Brixton is expected to come online this weekend, with an emergency pumping station to follow. A permanent solution a 5km pipeline is scheduled for completion by year-end,” promised Lesufi.
The Premier also identified crime, unemployment, illegal mining and infrastructure as challenges that continue to trouble his province and will attend to it as a priority.
Gauteng province is home to roughly 16 million people and counting, according to Stats SA. On that Lesufi said 5.24 million of them are employed, adding that the province accounted for about 70% of all new jobs created nationally over the past year.
On crime, he cited achievements:
- 392 alleged crime kingpins identified last year
- 101 arrested
- 26 suspects killed in shootouts with police
- 11 cash-in-transit kingpins arrested
He attributed these actions to a 7.8% drop in property crime, an 11% decline in murders and an 8% decrease in sexual offences.
On housing, he said nearly 7,000 units had been built this financial year, alongside the release of 3,600 serviced stands. The 2026 target is 8,644 new homes.
500 young people will form part of a planned 2,500-strong workforce who will be deployed to repair broken taps, fix public toilets and repaint neglected public spaces.
Today, new units will be unveiled in Benoni- Ekurhuleni, says the Premier.
On the ambitious high speed rail link between Gauteng and Limpopo, the Premier said that 30 companies have expressed interest in financing the project, alongside a new concessionaire model for the Gautrain, that will also expand to the likes of Soweto and other areas.
On future projections, he said a new steel plant in Lesedi, the ambitious Gauteng Dry Port projected to create 50,000 jobs, a film studio at the Lanseria Smart City site, and multiple Special Economic Zones valued at over R35 billion, are in the pipeline.
As expected, opposition parties came out with guns blazing such as Ayanda Allie of Build One South Africa (BOSA), who slammed the address.
“Why is his crime-fighting plans, including the introduction of three helicopters, installation of nearly 20,000 CCTV cameras, and recruitment of 10,000 unemployed youth to fight crime, seems to be far-fetched?” she asked.
“He’s cunning, he’s very shrewd, and he can be very economical with the truth, which is quite misleading,” the firebrand Allie said.
Thabang Nkani (MKP) described the speech as “an old story reworked with new topics.”
If potholes, electricity issues, cleaning of Jhb CBD and water challenges are attended to (not showering in a hotel) who knows what might happen with hugely anticipated Local Elections…?
Image (Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, recorded at Nasrec, Soweto, pre- SOPA on Monday afternoon, alongside GPL Speaker Morakane Mosupyoe).
