By Samona Naidu
Thokoza – Gauteng Premier David Makhura has announced that the provincial government will focus on boosting Gauteng’s economy and employment over the next five years.
“Gauteng is a province of endless opportunities and yet many people are still trapped in poverty, unemployment and inequality and are excluded from the mainstream economy. Many still live in townships far away from economic opportunities,” said the Premier.
He was delivering his first State of the Province Address in Thokoza on Friday.
“We are trailing behind other city-regions in the world with regard to investing in skills, research, innovation and economic infrastructure that enables us to build a smart and green economy. All these structural problems have to be addressed,” he said.
The Premier highlighted that over the next five years, the province would focus on revitalising and mainstreaming township economies through creating and stimulating township enterprises; boosting key sectors like the automotive and construction industry among others, that contribute to creating decent employment; working with research institutions to promote innovation and fast-track the development of new industries and lastly to focus on the re-industrialisation of the Gauteng economy through strategic infrastructure development.
According to Premier Makhura, township entrepreneurs are capable of producing many services, such as food for the school nutrition programmes, clothes for school and police uniforms, as well as furniture for government offices.
“This is to bring millions of township residents into the mainstream of the economy.”
He said a summit will be convened with township entrepreneurs and SMMEs in the next 200 hundred days – or around 6 months - to develop a detailed Programme of Action.
The Premier added that sectors such as finance, automotive, manufacturing, ICT, tourism, pharmaceuticals, creative industries, construction and real estate can all contribute greatly to job creation initiatives in the country.
“The massive rollout of public transport infrastructure across the province shall be utilized to revitalize and modernise old industries that will locally manufacture or assemble buses, trains and locomotives.”
To further boost employment and economic inclusion, the Premier highlighted that the provincial government and municipalities will procure 75 percent of all goods and services from local producers, especially SMMEs, township enterprises and black-owned, women and youth enterprises.
“Gauteng will look different over the next five to 15 years,” he said.
Premier Makhura also outlined the new Tshepo 500 000 programme which will be rolled out in March next year. The programme will boost entrepreneurship skills to 500 000 young women and people with disability over the next five years.
The programme will draw unemployed graduates and unemployable youth, women and people with disability into massive skills development and entrepreneurship training programmes that are linked to township renewal and revitalization.
Transforming the spatial landscape
The provincial government will also aim to tackle spatial planning and development.
“To this day, black workers spend almost 70 percent of their income on transport commuting from home to work, and have no quality time with families as they have to get up very early to travel to work with unreliable, unaffordable and inefficient public transport.”
“We … will take radical steps to transform the spatial configuration and landscape of Gauteng province through better and coordinated land use management and spatial development.”
Premier Makhura said he was committed to the renewal of townships, especially the 25 year old townships and old informal settlements that have been neglected in the province.
“We cannot revitalise the township economy if the social and economic infrastructure is decaying and the look and feel of these working class residential areas is neglected.”
To further speed up handing over existing housing projects that are complete and to make sure that all houses are allocated to its legitimate owners, the province has introduced the use of biometric technology.
“In addition, municipalities and national government will ensure that all township roads and streets are tarred, the bucket system is eradicated and all hostels are turned into family units. Better and integrated urban planning and development is the best way to manage rapid urbanization,” said the Premier.
Premier Makhura said the township of Thokoza was strategically chosen for his State of the Province Address in honour of struggle hero Sam Ntuli. Ntuli played a decisive role during the struggle for freedom and democracy in the country and province.
“Comrade Sam Ntuli was a gallant freedom fighter and outstanding community leader who played a central role in the struggle against apartheid tyranny in the East Rand.”
Premier Makhura earlier officially declared the gravesite of the late Ntuli a provincial heritage site. – SAnews.gov.za
