State of the Province Address by Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, Gauteng Legislature, Johannesburg

21 Feb 2011

Madam Speaker
Deputy Speaker
Members of the Executive Council
Honourable leaders of political pParties
Mayors
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Councillors
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished guests
The people of Gauteng 

We are sixteen years into our democracy and since then we have been given the mandate to drive the agenda for the total emancipation of our people. The first term of government was based on the manifesto whose theme was "Proud of our past and confident of our future'. In the second term of office in 1999 the mandate was based on the theme of "A Better Life For All". Once more after the landslide victory during the election of 2004, "The peoples contract to create work and fight poverty" became our clarion call. Our people continued to show confidence in the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) in 2009 by casting their votes in support of the rallying Manifesto call of "Working together we can do more".

It is on the basis of these calls that the mandate to transform our society remains unchanged. In line with our current five year mandate, the year 2011 is the year of job creation, through visible delivery, effective implementation of our plans as well as being solution orientated.

The realisation of job creation is dependent on having short, medium and long term solutions for a better Gauteng. It is on this basis that the work we do is geared towards achieving our long term goal of a Globally Competitive City Region.

We now have a base document for the development of the kind of Gauteng we envisage between now and 2055. It is the path that all of us must walk, embrace and help to shape so that Gauteng can be in the league of the best Globally Competitive City Regions of the world. Through Vision 2055 we envisage to propel the growth and development of Gauteng to new and greater heights.

Gauteng remains the most critical location of the economic life of South Africa. We remain the beacon of hope for multitudes of people from different strata of our society. The profound effect Gauteng has is not only limited to South Africa but permeates the lives of the African people and the world. We, therefore, cannot afford to be mediocre in our thoughts, plans and operations because we hold the promise of a better world.

To effectively address the inequalities of the past and the present realities of poverty, Vision 2055 requires a paradigm shift away from only focusing on the short-term but rather linking short-term planning to our medium and long-term development. Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to claim their stake in the Vision so that it becomes a people's Vision, driven and owned by all. It is with this in mind that we will release the Gauteng Vision 2055 base document for broad public participation, input and consultation.

Our view has been, and still is today, that our global competitiveness should be based on internal co-operation within Gauteng, between different spheres of government, the private sector, as well as civil society. In essence, our leadership role in matters of development is dependent on our ability to plan within a long term horizon, accommodative of diverse views and with due consideration of alternative solutions. This Vision has to guide all of us as to how we can create a Gauteng that is:

• Livable;
• Equitable;
• Accessible'
• Sustainable;
• Prosperous and competitive.

Vision 2055 finds expression in our short and medium-term plans. The major instruments to help us achieve our Vision include, amongst others:

·Long term infrastructure planning and provision;

• Our Spatial Development Framework;
• The creation of sustainable, well-located and compact human settlements and addressing the apartheid city structure;
• Globalisation as well as the global competitiveness of our industries;
• Management of our natural resources, including the impact of global warming and climate change;
• Renewable energy sources and environmental management;
• Our linkages and entrenchment in the African continent.

Vision 2055 will also assist us in identifying the character of the ideal Gauteng resident that we aspire for. We will strive to remain a leading Province in being the economic hub of South Africa, the gateway to Africa, the struggle heritage and the melting pot of diverse cultures.

We have since established the Gauteng Planning Commission to co-ordinate and drive the realisation of Vision 2055. Key to the functioning of the Planning Commission will be the setting up of the Gauteng Advisory Council by the end of March 2011 to provide a platform to facilitate consultation, strategic advice and sectoral expertise from key sectors of our society.

Honourable Members and the residents of Gauteng

It is of paramount importance that we continue with the right things we have been doing and periodically review and address our challenges. It is only when we do the right things that we can build a proud, united and self-respecting nation. Our actions today should be such that they not only benefit the present but also honour the past and benefit future generations. Those who marched and were imprisoned, exiled and assassinated sacrificed so that South Africa could be free. These are, amongst others, heroines of the 1956 Women's March, the heroes of the Sharpeville Anti-Pass Campaign, the brave Young Lions of the June 1976 uprising, as well as those who negotiated tirelessly for a peaceful settlement culminating in the signing of our world renowned Constitution under the leadership of President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

It is through such selflessness of those who came before us that as the current generation of leaders and people, we embrace and defend our hard won freedom, including our national symbols representing our unity in diversity.

Any self-respecting nation will hold its national symbols in high-esteem; and ours cannot be an exception to this universal norm.

The time is now for all of us to show unfettered patriotism by educating ourselves and those who are out to make profit and market themselves that we should show respect, pride and love for our national symbols.

It is disconcerting that at this stage of our democracy, we still have people who want to take us back by arrogantly displaying those symbols we fought to change or continue to show disrespect for all that represents the new nation. We need to help such people, rehabilitate them and make them understand the value of a united nation.

It is in this context that we empathise with the act of highly-conscientised patriots such as radio personality, Mr Bob Kgomotso Mabena, who expressed disgust at those who insult our national symbols.

Nation-building and developing a national identity is fundamental in our young democracy. We need to invest resources in building our heritage for future generations.

We reiterate our commitment to the establishment of a desk in government that will focus specifically on matters of veterans of our struggle. In this regard, departments within the Gauteng pprovince are being engaged to identify services that we must provide to meet the needs of veterans, in line with national processes.

We will put in place a Heritage Legislative Framework that will guide the protection, preservation and promotion of heritage in the Province. We will also develop a monument to celebrate the life of OR Tambo in partnership with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. A Women's Monument in Tshwane will be developed in conjunction with the national Department of Arts and Culture.

Honourable Members

As Gauteng, we were humbled by the support and patriotism displayed by our people during the hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Once again we proved to the world that we have the capacity and ability to organise and host events of international stature. We earned our mantle of being a Gateway to Africa and the Home of Champions.

We also hosted the 2010 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women's Championship, which was a success. This was, again, made possible by the ever-supportive people of Gauteng and South Africa in general.

Moreover, Gauteng broke new ground by hosting the first rugby game held in Soweto at Orlando Stadium. Our people, both Black and White, were united in support of the championship.

Recently, Gauteng hosted the South African Open Tennis Championship at Montecasino in Johannesburg, where one of our own, Mr Kevin Anderson, lifted the coveted trophy. In his absence, we are honoured today to have amongst us the CEO of SA Tennis, Mr Ian Smith as our special guest.

In keeping with the spirit of Gauteng being the Home of Champions and the leader in hosting major sporting events, we have made a commitment to host the finals of the Vodacom Challenge in July 2011. This will give us an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the FIFA 2010 World Cup legacy in style.

Through sport we have been able to unite the nation and build common national pride and identity. Let us continue to show unity and respect for one another in and outside of the sporting arena.

Madam Speaker

The popular mandate given to us by the masses has not changed. But as a government which constantly seeks to improve the lives and conditions of its people; it is our responsibility to think and plan ahead. This will not only enhance our capacity to work for meaningful change; but will help us to remain a leading Province in all critical areas of development. We are determined to stay in the lead because it all starts here and nowhere else. We are the Cradle of Humankind, the Gateway to Africa and the economic hub of our country and a province of rich history and diversity.

In pursuit of the mandate as expressed in our strategic priorities for 2009-2014 presented to this House, we have made considerable progress.

We have made effective interventions in our efforts to improve the quality of learning and teaching across the schooling system. However, in the previous year we went through difficult and challenging times. The country was engulfed by massive public sector strikes which adversely impacted on learning and teaching in our schools. Despite this, the class of 2010 was able to make us proud. One such story of hard work and hope is that of Skhumbuzo Selby Nkutha, who achieved six distinctions. Today, Skhumbuzo is one of the deserving recipients of R40,000 funding per learner for university and R15,000 per learner for FET colleges, which is part of the R58 million bursary scheme offered by the Gauteng Provincial Government. All of the recipients are proud products of no-fee schools.

For the first time in the history of Gauteng, we are proud to occupy the number one spot in the matric results in the country. We achieved a 6,8% increase in the matric pass rate, which rose from 71,8% in 2009 to 78.6% in 2010.

Over the past few years sporadic disruption of schooling has compromised education in the greater Soweto region. The education of the African Child can no longer be compromised and the Provincial Government plans to host the Soweto Education Summit in March 2011. This Summit will contribute to mobilising and organising civil society towards our outcome of quality education for all. With Soweto's rich history, we cannot allow it to lag behind in terms of the culture of learning and teaching. The Education of the African child must be everybody's business and concern.

In 2011, our intervention programs will continue to target learners in Grades 10-12, focusing on subjects such as Geography, History and Business Studies, where performance was poor. With the involvement and support of parents, educators and learners, we are on track to achieve our goal of an 80% pass rate by 2014.

We have expanded access to Early Childhood Development and Grade R, with 448 ECD sites across the province and the training of ECD practitioners. A total of 442 Grade R classrooms were delivered to sites across Gauteng in 2010. It is through investment at this level that we can begin to prepare and produce dynamic Matriculants of the future.

We successfully expanded the School Nutrition Programme to all no-fee paying secondary schools. The total number of primary and secondary school learners that benefited from the nutrition programme during 2010 was 795 785.

We have taken important steps in improving public health care. In response to calls from our communities, 21 Community Health Centres now provide a 24-hour service and have reduced waiting times. We now have fast queues for chronic and old-age patients and dedicated queue marshals. The availability of essential medicines has improved, with dedicated vehicles to assist with emergency medication deliveries to the health institutions.

We have taken school health services to 1431 public schools, with a focus on Grade R, 1 and 7.

We are all too aware of the devastating impact that the death of even one baby, a child or mother has on a family. The reduction of maternal and infant mortality has been a top priority and is at the heart of our work to improve public health services.

Preliminary figures indicate that the maternal mortality rate has decreased from 154 to 139 deaths per 100,000 from 2009 to 2010.

Among our key interventions to reduce infant and child mortality is to protect children against diseases that can be prevented through vaccination. Our immunisation programme has proven to be effective.

The availability of neo-natal ICU beds is crucial in reducing infant mortality. Steps have been taken to improve the neo-natal wards at Charlotte Maxeke, Dr George Mukhari and Natalspruit hospitals with additional neo-natal ICU beds and dedicated nurses.

We have made good progress in fulfilling our commitment to deal effectively with HIV and AIDS and TB. By the end of 2010 we were providing over 357,000 people with anti-retroviral treatment against our target of 400,000 by the end of the financial year.

Madam Speaker and Honourable Members,

I wish to thank all those, including members of the public who came as volunteers and private companies, especially Mediclinic, Life Hospital group and Netcare, who came to our aid during the public sector strike last year. Their support and interventions helped save the lives of many of our patients, including about 80 innocent babies who were left unattended at the Natalspruit Hospital. Above all, a special thanks goes to Netcare for donating 30 incubators to Charlotte Maxeke and Natalspruit hospitals.

All of us, in particular the state and labour, must draw lessons out of this last public service strike so that we improve the manner in which we engage to find solutions, without exposing our people to danger and risk.

Honourable Members

Visible policing in the province has improved and joint operations continue under the command of the South African Police Services. The leadership role played by SAPS under the new Provincial Commissioner, Mzandile Petros, has demonstrated that through integrated plans and sharing of resources between the SAPS, Metro Police and the private security sector; we can combat crime more effectively.

We have strengthened the partnership in crime prevention and have begun to build on the legacy of the World Cup where the criminal justice system was swift and effective. Specialised courts and sectoral policing continue to yield good results.

Madam Speaker

We are on course in implementing the Gauteng Employment Growth and Development Strategy, through which we will contribute to job creation.

With regard to the development of vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities contributing towards food security, we have worked with development finance bodies to help emerging farmers access finance. Technical and advisory support has been given to 131 farmers to help them become viable entrepreneurs.

As part of food security we have provided materials and equipment for the development of 977 gardens in areas such as Randfontein, Germiston and Tshwane.

Under the programme of human settlements, spatial development and land management, we have delivered 665,000 housing units in the Province since 1994. So far this financial year, we have delivered over 42,500 housing opportunities, yielding over 51,000 jobs. Gauteng remains a leading province in the development of sustainable human settlements, albeit with minimal resources at our disposal and the high cost of land development in our Province.

Through the Alexandra Renewal Programme, the Province, together with the City of Johannesburg, has invested more than R2 billion in infrastructure development. We have concluded 18 projects, delivering 7,500 housing units, 4 schools and new roads.

The rehabilitation of the banks of the Jukskei River and the recreation parks are ongoing. A state-of-the-art police station was built in partnership with Vodacom, as well as the Pan African Development Mall.

As part of the Evaton Urban Renewal we are building new houses and upgrading old ones. The Mafatsane Thusong Service Centre has been completed. Work in Evaton will continue with the installation of solar powered street lighting, the development of the commercial precinct, the eradication of the dehumanising bucket system and improved waste management services.

Efforts to ensure energy efficiency by rolling out solar geysers have seen Ekurhuleni installing 500 Solar Water Heaters out of 1 000 units targeted for this financial year. They have also signed an agreement to install 300,000 units in collaboration with the Central Energy Fund. The City of Tshwane in partnership with Eskom has also committed to install close to 16,000 units by the end of April 2011.

In support of the development of a responsive, accountable and efficient local government system, we have provided training in scarce skills for 1 500 municipal officials. We have worked with municipalities on municipal debt recovery management. We share the concerns raised by the affected households on billing issues in the City of Johannesburg and, through joint efforts and monitoring, we will find a lasting solution that is in the best interests of the City and the residents.

Madam Speaker

I will now outline our movement towards 2014 and Vision 2055.

The mandate that we derived from the people of Gauteng remains unchanged. Our approach is outcomes-based and performance-driven. The outcomes we announced last year in this House remain the objectives that we seek to achieve. In his State of the Nation Address, the President enjoined us to make this year the year of job creation through infrastructure development, agriculture, mining and beneficiation, manufacturing, the green economy and tourism as well as an effective and reliable public service.

The Provincial Government is a major contributor to job creation, employing in excess of 180 000 people. We have agreed that all our funded vacant posts must be filled within six months.

Our efforts to create jobs are taking place against the backdrop of the devastating global and domestic recession that resulted in significant job losses in Gauteng and the world over.

In improving the efficiency of the economy and capacity to create jobs, we will pay attention to the freight logistics sector. We will establish three freight logistics hubs in Rosslyn, the West Rand and at the OR Tambo International Airport. Our plan is to continue to transform the Gauteng economy into a diversified and modern economy. We will emphasise the implementation of our industrial policy, including in the sectors of metals and minerals beneficiation; clothing and textiles; leather and footware; tooling and foundries; business process outsourcing; transport; capital equipment; tourism; the green economy and alternative energy.

By investing in economic and social infrastructure, we will create jobs while improving the development of the Gauteng City Region and our communities. Our new infrastructure programme will create at least 130,000 jobs this year through the construction and maintenance of education and health infrastructure.

We will deliver four new schools during 2011 for the 2012 school year and will initiate plans for the building of 13 new schools to be delivered in the 2012/13 financial year. A total of 30 schools will be renovated.

Through the Expanded Public Works Programme - the EPWP - we will create over 175,000 work opportunities of 100 days each as well as over 88,000 full-time equivalents, targeting one individual per poor household. The Community Works Programme will generate at least 6 000 jobs in six sites in Metsweding, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, with 40% of the jobs reserved for young people.

The Youth Employability Programme will target over 2 000 post-matric learners, providing support, training and placement in both private and public sector jobs. The National Youth Service will equip some 4 000 young people with skills to help them gain entry into the workplace. The Accelerated Artisan Training Programme will be expanded to accommodate 500 artisans and we will train 100 young people in the tooling industry in collaboration with the FET colleges of KwaThema and Eldorado Park.

We will pay attention to improving women's access to job opportunities. By the end of the current financial year, over 34,000 women will have benefited from the Expanded Public Works Programme. In addition, over 200 women's co-operatives continue to benefit from job opportunities in the agricultural sector, the production and supply of linen as well as supply of school uniforms.

Our roads construction and maintenance programme will create over 5 000 jobs. The programme includes the expansion of the R55 between Tshwane and Midrand and the K15 in Johannesburg. As part of marking the rich history of Sharpeville, we will upgrade Sefatsa Street and develop Road 2 Extension and Road 9.

Key infrastructure projects that will be driven in partnership with the private sector include the William Nicol (K46) extension between Fourways and N14, Pinehaven Interchange (P126) and Adcock Road (K15 phase 3), as well as the renovation of Sebokeng, Kalafong, Jubilee, Yusuf Dadoo and OR Tambo memorial hospitals.

Furthermore, we will create 200 jobs through the development of the Driver Licence Training Centre in Kliptown, as well as the construction of taxi ranks in Bophelong and Zandspruit.

Last year, we initiated the Maize Triangle project to stimulate growth in the agriculture sector and promote food production and agribusinesses. While the project has started in the Sedibeng area, Metsweding and the West Rand will be the immediate areas where the roll-out will take place.

Our agriculture programmes, which include the Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme, agri-businesses and farm mechanisation, will produce 1 880 direct and indirect jobs. We are pleased with the performance of Gauteng's Rural Youth Service Corps, which this year had an intake of over 1 000 young people. This is the largest in the country, even though only 4% of our Province is rural.

A large proportion of health sector goods are imported. We will seek to promote local production of pharmaceutical and medical goods and services. We will work with companies which have shown interest in the sector as well as use Gauteng as a gateway to Africa.

We are proud to announce that the OR Tambo Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) has been approved and that finally a certificate has been issued by the Department of Trade and Industry. This development will generate diverse economic activities which will include amongst others a jewellery precinct as part of mineral beneficiation.

We also plan to expand the Gauteng Tooling Initiative, in partnership with the tool, die and mould industry. A benchmarking exercise has been conducted for tool rooms. We are now conducting a match-making exercise to link our export-ready toolmakers with overseas clients.

We will create an estimated 15,000 jobs by positioning Gauteng as a premier tourist destination, with a focus on tourism in Culture and Heritage, Nature-based and Adventure, Business, Wellness and Medical as well as the Sport sector. We will also market Gauteng as a destination for major events to attract both domestic and foreign visitors.

Key tourism activities will include the Pale Ya Rona Carnival in Soweto in September 2011. This year will see the growth of the Carnival into a successful international event. We will also market our key tourism destinations such as the Constitution Hill, the Cradle of Humankind, the Dinokeng game reserve and the Vaal Waterways.

We will continue to tap the job creation potential of the creative industries with a focus on craft, music, performing arts, visual arts, fashion and film.

We will identify untapped talent in partnership with local radio stations, individual artists and cultural organisations so as to develop and promote local music - especially Kwaito, Jazz, Hip Hop and House. Emerging artists will be supported with access to professional development, facilities and markets.

As the country's economic hub, Gauteng must play a leading role in the development of the green economy. We will in the next six months finalise our Green Economy Plan which will promote light industries to manufacture green products and the waste sector, including buy-back centres for waste recycling. This is part of a larger programme aimed at ensuring that we Reduce, Re-use and Recycle our waste as well as sorting waste at source. Working in partnership with the private sector, we will ensure that waste removal and management creates job opportunities within a regularised environment.

We will continue to interact with renewable energy experts on gas, solar power and biomass projects. We are working towards creating capacity for the big public hospitals to generate their own energy supply sourced from recycling of medical waste using new technology. This will help reduce reliance on coal to generate steam. We will pursue energy saving measures and the use of renewable energy in our public institutions such as schools, clinics and other government buildings.

We will expand our co-operatives programme to give more people access to sustainable livelihoods and address poverty and inequality. We will help co-operatives access finance and support them in becoming viable and sustainable. Procurement of locally produced goods, including goods produced by co-operatives will be promoted.

Through the small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) development programme we will support 3000 small businesses.

Township business programmes will be enhanced to support the informal business sector by creating automotive repair hubs, enterprise hubs with car washes, hair salons and internet cafes, as well as light industrial hubs focusing on metalwork, carpentry and others. The programme will be implemented in six townships - Munsieville, Kagiso, Katlehong, Thokoza, Sharpeville and Sebokeng - linked to our inner city regeneration programmes in Krugersdorp, Germiston and Vereeniging.

In line with our Vision 2055, we will develop a 25-year transport master plan which integrates different modes of transport in Gauteng, including the Gautrain. The Gautrain will be fully operational as of the 1^st of July 2011. We believe this project will lend a lot of expertise, knowledge and experience to other major infrastructure projects, including the proposed speed train between Johannesburg and Ethekwini.

Over the past few years, we successfully implemented the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Plan, which has drastically transformed the state of our highways in the province.

We have observed with serious concern the announcement on the implementation of the tolling strategy which has been made in isolation from a comprehensive, viable, public transport plan and with a lack of consultation, in particular with the Gauteng Provincial Government. As government, we are not opposed to the idea of tolling as a cost recovery mechanism. However, we are concerned at the manner it is to be implemented, including the pricing and its impact on the economy of our Province. In the light of these developments, we are looking forward to a meeting that has been agreed upon between the Minister of Transport and the Gauteng Provincial Government on the 22^nd of February to explore alternative options in the best interests of commuters and the state. We support the need for public consultation and the need for an affordable, reliable and safe public transport system, including the use of tolling as a cost recovery mechanism.

We have also noted with concern the cost inefficiencies in the construction of our roads. We will soon announce initiatives to ensure that we optimise value for money, quality and better maintenance of our road network.

Madam Speaker

Working together with the private sector we will continue to invest in 14 mixed housing development projects in all regions of the Province. This will yield over 150,000 housing opportunities. These are multi-year projects which are at different stages of development through which 15,000 jobs will be created in next financial year. These projects are located in the following areas:

• Cosmo City accommodating the Zandspruit communities and neighbouring informal settlements, including middle income and bonded houses;
• Lufhereng, which accommodates the relocation of Doornkop, Protea South and Soweto;
• Chief Mogale for informal settlements, as well as backyard dwellers and those who applied for housing many years ago from Kagiso;
• Chief Albert Luthuli, which accommodates Daveyton and surrounding informal settlements;
• Legae Phase Two, that accommodate informal settlements in the South and housing beneficiaries from Soweto; and
• Clayville, that will accommodate Winnie Mandela, Tembisa and Strydom Land for Madelakufa and other parts of Tembisa.

In Bekkersdal, we aim to relocate 15,000 people who live on dolomitic land. To this end the construction of 1000 houses has begun in Mohlakeng Ext 11. We have acquired additional land in Simunye Ext 2 for development and will in the next financial year, build more houses on a portion of land in Westonaria South.

In the formal part of Bekkersdal, we have handed over to the municipality completed infrastructure projects.

Winterveldt is one of our regeneration projects. This is a seven to ten year programme. The initiative is a joint project with the City of Tshwane and will provide 36,000 housing units as well as roads, storm water drainage, sewer systems, electricity, commercial and other social amenities.

Based on good practice which has emanated from the City of Johannesburg's development of Soweto, we have produced a Master Plan for Tembisa, which we will initiate this year. The plan includes a housing development, road construction, storm water drainage, beautification and development of commercial and public precincts. The Tembisa project will be linked to the development of the OR Tambo IDZ.

The relocation of Madelakufa to "Strydom Land" is part of the Tembisa renewal project. This project will produce 1 416 serviced stands and the construction of the first 500 houses will start in April 2011.

In view of the re-incorporation of Merafong back to Gauteng and the plan to have a single system of local government in Gauteng, a new relocation plan will be developed to ensure that Merafong moves closer to the future development nodes of the West Rand, in particular, Randfontein.

Last year we committed ourselves to reviving the central business districts of Germiston, Vereeniging and Krugersdorp. A plan for Krugersdorp has been developed and will focus on 23 projects related to housing and infrastructure to stimulate the commercial and retail sector. Work will also include the taxi rank, refurbishing of dilapidated streets, formalisation of street trading areas and heritage tourism initiatives.

The plan for the Germiston Inner-City will transform the area into a modern city that will improve people's quality of life through better housing, transport, employment opportunities and arts and culture projects.

Compared to other provinces, Gauteng has limited land available for the establishment of new human settlements. In this financial year, we have acquired 52 land parcels from the private sector at a cost of R220 million. This includes land procured for the development of Sweetwaters. A further 30 land parcels in Gauteng will be bought at a cost of R252 million for key human settlement projects.

In 2011/12 we will continue with the construction of social infrastructure in 20 priority townships. Those are two Early Childhood Development Centres in Protea Glen and Sharpeville; five Day Care Centres for the aged in Duduza, Tsakane, Protea Glen, Munsieville and Sharpeville; two new Homes for the Aged in Tembisa and Mohlakeng; and a Secure Care Centre in Soshanguve.

Honourable Members

In providing better public health care services, our key areas of focus this year will be on strengthening primary health care and improved hospital management.

Many of our people still lack confidence in localised health care services. Primary health care facilities are often under-utilised while hospitals are over-burdened by health needs that do not require hospitalisation or high-level medical care. Some of our people still prefer to travel long distances to a hospital to collect chronic medication which could be provided closer to where they live.

We therefore need to re-engineer our primary health system and take better quality primary health services closer to where people live. We must intervene to prevent ill health and disease, including detecting problems at an early stage and encouraging our people to adopt healthy lifestyles. This will help reduce the need for curative services and see to it that more of our people indeed live long and healthy lives.

One of our most important interventions will be the establishment of a network of localised Health Service Posts providing community-based outreach and door-to-door services. These will bring dedicated health and social services to groups of households and link individuals and families to the broader public health system. Health Posts will be serviced by health and related professionals, including doctors, nurses and social workers and will be linked to clinics, Community Health Centres and Community Development Centres. People needing higher levels of care will be referred to the nearest district hospital or specialists assigned to particular areas.

The first phase of implementation of health posts will focus on the 50 poorest wards in the 20 priority townships. In the 2011/12 financial year we will establish health posts in Orlando and Zola in Johannesburg; Phenduka and Andries Raditsela in Ekurhuleni; Atteridgeville in Tshwane; Boipatong, Mamello, Sharpeville and Bophelong in Sedibeng; Bekkersdal, and Kokosi in West Rand and Kekana Gardens and Ekangala in Metsweding.

During 2011/12, the number of Community Health Centres operating 24 hours a day will be increased from 21 to 30. A total of 18 more clinics will have extended operating hours, increasing the number to 100. Work is underway to open a Community Health Centre in Kagiso in the next financial year, to service the whole of Mogale City. This will provide services closer to people and relieve pressure off Leratong Hospital.

Increasing numbers of people in our society have adopted unhealthy lifestyles leading to high incidents of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and numerous other health problems which place an undue burden on the health system. We cannot just keep treating these problems but should be focusing on preventing ill health especially that which is self-inflicted.

The introduction of multi-dose therapy to Prevent Mother to Child Transmission of HIV has resulted in a marked decrease in children born with HIV.

We have appointed a team to project manage the turnaround of some hospitals which have experienced challenges around maternal deaths. Some of the areas to be investigated include neonatal ICU capacity and staffing, infection control, equipment and the management of overtime.

To further reduce maternal mortality, we will through education and communication interventions encourage pregnant women to book for ante-natal visits before 20 weeks.

We will give more attention to family planning and women's reproductive rights focusing on preventing teenage pregnancy and reducing the number of unwanted babies. This should go beyond the distribution of condoms but include the promotion of other prevention options for women, young and old, and civic education.

Madam Speaker

The HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign launched by the President in April last year is important in reducing the spread of HIV. More than one million people in Gauteng have been tested. We will continue to encourage people to know their HIV status and to take appropriate measures, depending on their status, and to provide our health services with an accurate picture of the extent of the infection.

Access to anti-retroviral treatment has been extended to 206 public health facilities across Gauteng. In the coming year we plan to extend this even further to 366 facilities reaching 520,000 people.

Good progress is being made in improving Gauteng's TB cure rate, which stood at 80.7% by November 2010. We will in the coming year prioritise interventions to reduce TB even further.

We have appointed CEOs and managers in all our hospitals and will hold them accountable for the effective management of their institutions through the provision of the necessary management resources and delegation of authority. We will continue to focus on filling all critical health posts including clinical posts and those at the frontline of primary health care delivery.

Honourable Members

The provision of quality education does not only refer to producing young individuals who can read, write and think on their feet, it also encapsulates the development of our scholars' physical well-being. The Gauteng schooling system should not only aim to produce smart young minds but also develop learners' physical and creative abilities.

It is for these reasons that we are excited about the re-introduction of schools sport as well as visual and performing arts in our province. With effect from the next financial year, Wednesday afternoons will be sports days in all public schools. We will further, through the Department of Education and the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, launch a Gauteng schools sport tournament.

We will increase the involvement of schools in the School Sport Mass Participation Programme from 350 to 470 in the next financial year.

Madam Speaker

We are committed to creating a conducive, safe schooling environment. We will implement preventative measures that will encourage parental involvement and strengthen the adopt-a-cop programme, School Governing Bodies, school patrols and random searches.

Through the Department of Economic Development we will ensure that the Liquor Act is more effectively enforced to prevent liquor trading within a 500 metre radius of schools and prevent under-age access to alcohol. We will also review the opening of liquor outlets on Sundays and the operating hours of liquor outlets and shebeens across the Province.

To ensure police visibility around schools, a total of 1 000 schools will participate in the Linking Schools to Police Stations programme.

We will train 1 000 community volunteers in an accredited social crime prevention programme that will equip them to undertake education, awareness and monitor incidents related to school violence such as bullying, substance abuse, gangsterism and truancy. The volunteers will also be deployed at courts to monitor cases relating to young offenders and offer support in diversion programmes, community service and re-integration into community life.

The efficacy of our social crime prevention programmes will be measured by the extent to which we reach out to communities and conduct community-based safety campaigns.

In 2010/11 we established 13 Green Door sites as safe reception sites for victims of domestic violence and abuse. We will establish an additional 19 sites in the coming year.

We will continue to expand the Men As Safety Promoters (MASP) programme in 25 areas and support existing groups through capacity building and provision of resources to enable them undertake advocacy work with men and boys as well as being part of the broader movement against violence against women and children.

We will mobilise ordinary people in communities to take part in programmes such as the Take Charge Campaign, which entails greater visibility, people reclaiming their own neighbourhoods, becoming community patrollers, setting up street committees and improving environmental design and urban good governance.

To strengthen the Criminal Justice System we will work with the police to build their investigation capacity. We will also ensure that credible members of the community are appointed as lay assessors and friends of the court and that parole boards are effective and impartial. Our partnership with Business Against Crime and other stakeholders will be strengthened and we will strive to ensure that every locality in Gauteng has a functional Community Safety Forum.

In the coming year, we will implement our Rural Safety Plan, with the help of 70 new patrol vehicles to enhance police visibility and improve response times in rural areas.

Madam Speaker

We have introduced the outcomes-based approach to planning, budgeting and improved government performance. We have set clear targets for key services and will closely monitor these through the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Unit within the Gauteng Planning Commission. This will assist in ensuring that, where targets may not be met, early warning systems will indicate and timeous interventions will be made to prevent non-delivery and under-expenditure.

One of the hallmarks of successful city regions is the ability to make speedy decisions about development, without compromising the quality of such decisions. We wish to restate that these decisions will be driven by well-researched plans, and not in reaction to external pressures and expectations.

The Gauteng Spatial Development Framework provides for a single province-wide plan for future private and public development in the quest to build a non-racial, livable, equitable, accessible, sustainable and prosperous city region.

Elements of Environmental Impact Assessment approvals will be transferred to the Planning Commission so that we have proactive approvals and reduced turnaround times for the consideration of future development plans. This will help reduce the cost of doing business in Gauteng and promote investor confidence in our system.

Madam Speaker

Together with other spheres of government, we will focus on improving the operations of the more than 40 Thusong Service Centres in Gauteng. Working with the City of Johannesburg and national government, we are pleased to announce that as part of taking government services closer to our people, we will be launching the first Urban Mall Thusong Service Centre in Maponya Mall, Sowet

Honourable Members

Borrowing from Vincent Van Gogh, one of the foremost painters of the modern era, allow me to quote his words, which are of relevance to us as we seek to improve our systems to better serve the people of our province... "Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model".

While retaining the shared service centre model, we will change certain procurement delegations to improve efficiency and reduce the time it takes from ordering to delivery. Procurement relating to critical functions and essential goods and services such as in clinical care will be delegated to the line Department and/or the site of delivery so as to ensure timeous and quality service delivery.

Public procurement remains an important lever of the government in effecting change and broadening access to economic opportunities. In the year ahead, we will further reform our procurement systems to better support our job creation goals and improve the efficiency of our public institutions. Amongst other reforms will be local procurement and the acquisition of goods and services from cooperatives.

Among the problems in the current procurement system are long delays in the delivery of goods and services, including essential items, inflated pricing, fronting and the use of middle men and the supply of inferior products. This has undermined the quality of service delivery to our people. We, as government and the people of Gauteng, deserve better. We will therefore continue to act to remove these obstacles.

All departments will endeavour to settle their current liabilities within the stipulated 30-day period from the date of receipt of the invoice. With the exception of a handful, most departments have already started to demonstrate compliance with this requirement. Our provincial challenge has been the mismatch between monthly cash flow projections, commitments, cash requisitioned, and actual funds available. Based on this, Departments have now aligned their cash flow projections to requisitions, and have also curtailed their monthly commitments in line with available monthly cash inflows.

Madam Speaker and Members of the House

Corruption threatens to undermine the gains made in improving people's lives. The public service has complex and sometimes ineffective regulations and controls to combat corruption. What we require is simple, effective and user-friendly means that can help us deal swiftly with this scourge.

We will work with the Department of Public Service and Administration to review public service regulations that inhibit our ability to deal effectively with corruption, maladministration and dereliction of duty.

Equally important, we must distinguish between matters of maladministration and corruption and discourage a situation where perceptions dominate over reality.

We will in the coming year extend disclosure of information requirements to all levels of the public service, especially in high risk areas. Beyond this, we must improve our capacity to verify this information and act on conflicts of interests identified. We will more rigorously implement the compulsory vetting of senior managers and clamp down on the abuse and theft of public resources by some in the public service, including the misuse of government vehicles and equipment.

We must tackle corruption wherever it manifests itself, without fear or favour. We must have the capacity to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute cases of corruption in the public or private sector. We must also improve the protection of whistle blowers and encourage more people to expose corruption. We will work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that the culprits are brought to justice. In pursuit of fairness and justice, we will ensure that such matters are attended to through the use of impartial state agencies and institutions.

We have joined hands with other sectors to fight corruption and build a more ethical society. Our Gauteng Anti-Corruption Summit in November last year emerged with a joint plan of action which we will implement together with business, labour, faith-based organisations, the media, women, youth and other sectors.

Madam Speaker

The performance of public servants is central to the achievement of our goals as a province. We would like to see a situation where the majority of public servants do not only work for government but also share with us the desire to improve the lives of the people of the province; public servants who understand our intentions, our priorities and the mandate of the people. We will, therefore, seek to forge a shared vision with them, based on an acknowledgement of our joint responsibility to deliver faster and better service to our people; to carry out our jobs with passion, humility and commitment to serve; to use public resources in a responsible manner and to make quality and timeous delivery a non-negotiable. Similarly, we invite the private sector to partner with us with integrity in supplying quality goods and services and without compromising on standards.

Honourable Members

If we are to give full meaning to democracy and enable people to shape their own destiny, it is important that organs of civil society find meaningful expression at the local level. It is at this level that we must respond to the call by our forebears that "the people shall govern".

As part of Vision 2055, work has begun to create a single system of local government in Gauteng.

We have made good progress towards the merger of the Tshwane Metro and the Metsweding District Municipality. All indications are that key stakeholders are on board and we are on track to realise a single Tshwane Metro after the local government elections.

In our quest to promote public participation and deepen democracy, the provincial government will focus on voter education and mobilisation for the coming local government elections.

We would like to urge every eligible voter, especially first time voters as well as those who have migrated to Gauteng, to use the next round of voter registration on 5 and 6 March 2011 to register and verify their presence on the voters roll. The right to vote is another way of holding your government accountable. Your vote is your voice.

Madam Speaker, the people of Gauteng

The road towards Vision 2055 has begun and the following are some of the projects that we believe will take us further on the journey towards the achievement of the future Gauteng that we would all like to see:

• The implementation of struggle heritage projects including the Women, Youth and Oliver Tambo Memorials from 2011/12;
• The construction of the Sedibeng Sewer Network from 2011/12;
• Elements of the Green Economy from 2011/12;
• The rollout of G-link by 2011/12;
• The implementation of 14 new mixed housing developments from 2011/12;
• The procurement of well-located land for the provision of current and future development from 2011/12;
• The servicing of sites and the issuing of title deeds to informal settlements on well-located land with effect from 2011/12;
• The implementation of the Tembisa Master Plan, from 2011/12;
• The roll-out of the Maize Triangle to Metsweding and the West Rand District, from 2011/12;
• The further development of the Constitution Hill, from 2011/12;
• The development of three freight and logistics hubs, from 2011/12;
• The Johannesburg-Ethekwini High Speed Rail Link;
• A single roadmap for Gauteng's development through the Spatial Development Framework and effective land use management by 2012;
• The development of an aerotropolis linked to the OR Tambo International Airport and Lanseria by 2012/13 ; and
• A single system of local government by 2016.

All these projects will be multi-year programmes and offer opportunities for partnership with the private sector, financial institutions and potential international partners.

Now that we have presented our plans for 2011/12 and beyond, we call on the people of Gauteng through their public representatives, the media and other stakeholders to measure our performance based on this plan.

We commit ourselves to periodic scrutiny and accountability in this House and through Legislature Committees. We urge members of the House to engage us in a manner that will enhance the programme that we have presented before you today; we are looking forward to robust discussions and sharing alternative solutions in the best interests of our people and our Province whilst upholding the integrity of this House.

We further urge our Gauteng representatives in the National Council of Provinces to represent the interests of Gauteng on issues of policy and development.

We call on the people of Gauteng in their diversity, to join hands with us in defining our future. Ours is a common and bright destiny. It is up to us to seize this moment and define the Gauteng that our children will live in. Engage with our vision, shape it and let it reflect your aspirations. If Gauteng optimises its development opportunities, it will not just be for the Gauteng residents, but for the country and the continent as a whole.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests, Residents of Gauteng

We have outlined the work we have carried out in the past financial year; we reflected on the strides made in fulfilling our mandate and we also highlighted the programmes and projects that we will implement in the future as well as the obstacles and challenges we continue to encounter. However, we are encouraged by the continued support we enjoy from the people of this Province. We will always in humility be indebted to you.

Let's give the development of Gauteng our best shot. Together we can do it! Re kaofela!

Kuyasheshwa: Gauteng working better for job creation!

At this point, allow me to borrow from the words of one of the world renowned leaders, the first Noble Peace Laureate in Africa, the late President of the African National Congress, Chief Albert Luthuli, when addressing the 44^th National Conference of the ANC in 1955:

"Let me close my message by drawing you away from our failures and disappointments to a vision of a Glorious Future that awaits us: A South Africa where all people shall be truly free...Let us march together to Freedom saying: The road to Freedom may be long and thorny but because our cause is just, the glorious end - Freedom - is ours".

Dankie! Ngiyabonga! God Bless Africa!

Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government, February 21 2011

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