Pretoria - Gauteng Premier David Makhura on Friday responded to the State of the Province debate after some opposition parties in the Gauteng Legislature labelled his speech as disappointing and containing nothing new.
During his SOPA speech on Monday, Premier Makhura announced that in line with the province’s 10-pillar programme of radical transformation, mordernisation and re-industrialisation, billions of rands will be injected into several initiatives around all major regions in the province.
He outlined ambitious plans to build new cities and invest in infrastructure, including public transport and housing.
Addressing the legislature, the Premier said they have mobilised support and won over key sectors of the province’s population, including civil society and the private sector, to embrace the 10-pillar programme.
“We will practically realise our vision to turn Gauteng into a globally competitive and seamlessly integrated city region that is socially cohesive and economically inclusive; a leading economy characterised by smart, innovation-driven, knowledge-based and sustainable industries; a city region with an accountable, responsive, transparent and clean government and an active citizenry,” he said.
Turning to e-tolls, the Premier reaffirmed that the provincial government is working with national government to address the negative social impact of e-tolls on the low and middle income groups in the province, as well as to simplify the payment system in line with the user pay principle.
This was affirmed by the Minister of Finance Nhlanla Nene during his Budget Speech on 25 February 2015.
Responding to the provincial commitment to root out corruption, Premier Makhura told the house that their plan is solid and unprecedented in scale and substance.
He announced that he will soon appoint an Integrity Management and Anti-Corruption Champions in all departments, including in the Office of the Premier.
The Premier said there is also a plan to ensure hostels are fully integrated into the township economy.
The plan, according to Premier Makhura, will to deal with and resolve the current impasse regarding unoccupied and unallocated hostels that have been converted into family units. – SAnews.gov.za
