Gauteng State of the Province Address by Premier David Makhura, Thokoza Auditorium, Ekurhuleni Metro
27 Jun 2014
Madame Speaker, Honourable Ntombi Mekgwe, Honourable Members of the Executive Council,
Honourable Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Honourable Members of Parliament;
Former Premier of Gauteng and Chairperson of the ANC Paul Mashatile,
Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Cllr Mondli Gungubele,
All Mayors, Speakers, Chief Whips and Councillors of Gauteng municipalities,
Leaders of Political Parties represented in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature,
Leaders of Religious Formations, Community Organisations, Trade Unions, Business, Women and Youth Sector,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
The Wife of the late Comrade Sam Ntuli and the Members of the Ntuli Family,
Director-General and Heads of Departments Provincial Commissioner of Police, General Mothiba
Veterans of our struggle, Isithwalandwe Ahmed Kathrada, Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Isu Chiba
Distinguished guests, Comrades and Compatriots Fellow citizens of Gauteng,
I hereby join the Speaker in welcoming you to the opening of the fifth Legislature in Thokoza township in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipality.
Siyathokoza!
Once more, I am humbled by the distinct and singular honour to be the sixth Premier of Gauteng province, the leading economy in the country and significant player in the African economy. I want to assure the people of Gauteng that my election comes with enormous responsibility to serve you with honour, integrity and dedication.
Honourable Speaker,
Allow me to welcome to this august house the family of our dear Comrade and Hero, Sam Ntuli - his brothers, sisters and children. 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.
We have chosen to gather in this township and metro as part of paying homage to the communities and community leaders who played a decisive role during the struggle for freedom and democracy in our country and province. We are here to say to the people of Thokoza and Ekurhuleni: thank you for your contribution to the struggle for freedom and democracy. Freedom was not free!
Honourable Members,
This morning, we started at the gravesite of the late Comrade Sam Ntuli, a hero of our people, who fought gallantly against apartheid and paid the highest price so that we can, today, enjoy freedom.
As a way to honour Sam Ntuli's selfless contribution to the struggles of this township and metropolitan, I would like to announce that his grave will be declared a provincial heritage site so that future generations can know that freedom was not free. Comrade Sam was killed by the apartheid regime for the love of freedom and democracy and many people were killed on the day of his funeral, which I personally attended on 29 September 1991.
In honouring Sam Ntuli we have declared his place of rest as a heritage site and in September, in partnership with the City of Ekurhuleni, we will unveil a master plan for the Sam Ntuli Cultural Heritage site aimed at telling the story of the struggle of the people of Gauteng, and in particular Thokoza, for a free and democratic South Africa.
OMphemba, ONdlela bakaSompisi, Siyabonga! Honourable Speaker,
Tomorrow the 28th June, we will lay to rest an outstanding
veteran of our struggle, Reverend Makgale Mapheto, a struggle veteran, a community leader, father of Andrew "Ranjo" Maphetho (MK Combatant), who passed on last week, in Tembisa.
The greatest monument we must erect for Sam Ntuli, Reverend Mapheto and all the departed freedom fighters, is to remain true servants of the people who are totally dedicated to the radical transformation of our society and economy in order to realise the ideals of the Freedom Charter, whose 59th anniversary we celebrated yesterday. The Freedom Charter remains our overall strategic vision as we build a national democratic societ
The People of Gauteng,
We start this term of the fifth administration with a tremendous sense of historic obligation and an electoral mandate to effect radical socio-economic transformation in our country.
The need for radical change was underscored by the Honourable President, Jacob Zuma, during his inauguration on 24th May 2014:
"Today marks the beginning of the second phase of our transition from apartheid to a national democratic society. This second phase will involve the implementation of radical socio-economic transformation policies and programmes over the next five years. We have already placed before the nation, the National Development Plan, our road map which outlines the type of society we
envisage by the year 2030. Through this programme, we will move South Africa forward to prosperity and success."
The radical second phase of our transition to a national democratic society needs bold thinking and decisive action to completely eradicate the social, economic and spatial legacy of apartheid and colonialism. It requires men and women with the capacity to think ahead and the capability to inspire actions that can turn dreams into a reality. It needs men and women driven by a sound vision as outlined in the Freedom Charter and the National Development Plan. It also needs public representatives, public servants and leaders of other sectors who will remain true to the values of loyal service to the people.
Honourable Members,
It is for this reason, that over the next five-to-fifteen years, we shall take active decisive steps to make Gauteng an integrated city-region characterised by social cohesion and economic inclusion; the leading economy in the continent underpinned by smart and green industrial and socioeconomic development.
Accordingly, the fifth administration, has adopted a ten-pillar programme of radical transformation, modernisation and re- industrialisation of Gauteng over the next five to fifteen years:
1. Radical economic transformation
2. Decisive spatial transformation
3. Accelerated social transformation
4. Transformation of the state and governance
5. Modernisation of the public service
6. Modernisation of the economy
7. Modernisation of human settlements and urban development
8. Modernisation of public transport infrastructure
9. Re-industrialisation of Gauteng province and
10. Taking the lead in Africa's new industrial revolution
Honourable Members,
As we undertake radical and decisive action during the second phase of our transition, we do so fully conscious that Gauteng is
a much better place than it was before 1994. We have made significant progress in improving the quality of life of the overwhelming majority of our people.
However, we know that you, the people, have a yearning desire for an even better Gauteng. We know this because 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.
We all want children to grow up in safe and clean neighbourhoods. We all want a decent standard of living and a better future for our children. We all want quality education, quality health care and a better environment.
Honourable Speaker,
Over the past 20 years, the ANC-led government has worked with the people and different sectors to address these needs and aspirations.
We have a good sense of what has been achieved and together have done well over 20 years.
Going forward, together we shall take decisive steps to move Gauteng forward as an integrated, socially-cohesive, economically-inclusive city-region, underpinned by a smart and green industrial and economic development.
Honourable Speaker,
As we undertake the onerous task of radical economic transformation, we do so knowing fully well that ours is currently the leading economy in the country and SADC region and a key player in Africa's economy. According to the World Bank Development Report, between 2000 and 2010 six of the ten fastest economies were from Africa.
In all respects, Gauteng is the heartbeat of South Africa's economy and gateway to Africa. Although Gauteng constitutes 1,46% of our country's landmass, our economy is worth one trillion rand of goods and services and contributes 36% of
national Gross Domestic Product, the largest economy in our country.
Our province is the engine that drives most sectors of our country's economy and the biggest contributor to growth and employment - 32% of all jobs, 40% of manufacturing, transport, communication, pharmaceutical and financial sectors and 41% of the SMMEs. We are the headquarters of more than two-thirds national and international companies that do business in Africa.
Gauteng is the fourth biggest economy in the continent, contributing 11% to Africa's economy. Globally there has been an economic shift towards countries of the south, particularly the (Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA) BRICS countries.
All these facts underscore the strategic significance of our province in strengthening economic trade and partnerships with African and BRIC countries.
However, our economy has major structural problems that necessitate the call for radical economic transformation - massive unemployment, casualisation of labour, high-income inequalities and exclusion of a large number of the black population from meaningful economic participation and ownership. 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.
Over the next five years, we shall make the following interventions in order to radically change the structure of the economy and unlock the potential of different sectors:
Firstly, we are determined to revitalise and mainstream the township economy by supporting the development of township enterprises, co-operatives and SMMEs that will produce goods and services that meet the needs of township residents. The provincial government and municipalities shall work together to provide training, funding, economic infrastructure and markets for the goods and services produced by township and community enterprises.
Township entrepreneurs are capable of producing food (bread for school nutrition and hospitals), clothes (school and police uniforms) and furniture (for government offices). This will bring millions of township residents into the mainstream of the economy. We shall convene a summit with township entrepreneurs and SMMEs in the next 200 hundred days - or around 6 months - to develop a detailed Programme of Action.
Secondly, the provincial government has identified key sectors of that have the potential to address the twin policy imperatives of creating decent employment and greater economic inclusion. These sectors include finance, automotive industry, manufacturing, ICT, tourism, pharmaceuticals, creative industries, construction and real estate. The promotion of new SMMEs and township enterprises will also be brought into these key sectors of the economy.
In the next 200 days, we shall enter into serious dialogue with the private sector players in each of these sectors in order to hammer out consensus on how we can unlock the potential of these key sectors of the provincial economy to create more decent jobs and be more inclusive of blacks, women and youth.
Thirdly, we shall work with research institutions to vigorously promote innovation within the provincial economy and fast-track the development of new industries that will usher Gauteng into an innovation-driven, knowledge-based, smart and green economy. The potential for Gauteng to be the key driver of new sectors such as mineral beneficiation and agro-processing shall also be enhanced. The provincial government and municipalities are working together with the private sector in the massive rollout of broadband and free wi-fi across the province as a backbone of the new economy. Gauteng should be able to realise 100% internet connectivity in the next five years.
The fourth radical intervention we will focus on is the re- industrialisation of the Gauteng economy through strategic infrastructure development. The massive rollout of public transport infrastructure across the province shall be utilised to revitalise and modernise old industries that will locally manufacture or assemble buses, trains and locomotives. In order to boost employment and economic inclusion, the provincial government and municipalities will procure 75% of all goods and services from South African producers, especially SMMEs,
township enterprises and black-owned, women and youth enterprises.
To be specific, we are working closely with state-owned enterprises, PRASA and TRANSNET, to re-industrialise our province and build economic infrastructure that will boost employment creation and economic inclusion through investing more than R300 billion in post, freight, rail and pipeline capacity.
Honourable Members
Gauteng will look different over the next five to fifteen years. Combined with public transport infrastructure rollout and the development of the Aerotropolis, and OR Tambo Special Economic Zone, driven by the provincial government and municipalities, this infrastructure investment has a major potential to create more than 300 000 jobs and boost the development of new SMMEs and township enterprises that are owned and managed by black people, women and youth. Over the next six months, we shall outline detailed plans in this regard. One of the issues that impact on economic performance is the question of energy security. President Jacob Zuma has outlined the decisive steps that will be taken by national government to address the security of supply and build the appropriate energy mix that will support an inclusive growth. As President Zuma pointed out during the State of the Nation Address "energy is one of the game changers".
Over the next 200 days, we shall work with the Mayors of metros and districts and the private sector, within the National Policy Framework, to develop a plan on the healthy energy mix (with an emphasis on smart and green energy solutions) for Gauteng as the leading economy in the country. Many businesses are willing to participate in this major effort to address the constraint imposed by the current supply challenges. The transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation of Gauteng will not be possible without energy security.
To the youth of our province, we say please rise to the occasion and be counted. Most interventions in the economy are aimed at creating more opportunities for you. Most of the jobs and training opportunities should go to the youth. Most township enterprises should be established by the youth. Most infrastructure development is to the benefit of the youth. We have confidence in the ability of our youth to seize the opportunities.
In the next financial year beginning in March 2015, we shall launch a massive programme that will give hope and entrepreneurship skills to 500 000 young, women and people with disability over the next five years - Tshepo (HOPE) 500 000. Through this programme, we shall 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 revitalisation.
People of Gauteng
We shall work with all municipalities to ensure that government procurement policies facilitate the formation of co-operatives and SMMEs by young people, women and including people with disability who have demonstrable commitment to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship.
In order to realise our goal of building a new social sector of the economy that is driven by SMMEs, township enterprises and community co-operatives, we shall launch Incubation Centres and Township Hubs that offer technical support, funding and off- take agreements and access to markets.
The systematic incubation and support of youth and women enterprises, township enterprises and SMMEs is going to be one of the key elements of radical economic transformation. In the next 100 days, we shall launch the first SMME Incubation Hub in Diepsloot. This is a ground-breaking initiative that has the potential to develop the Diepsloot's township economy into the mainstream and set an example of township economy revitalisation, following Soweto's example.
The significant participation and meaningful inclusion of the people of Diepsloot, Thokoza, Bekkersdal, Sharpeville, Mamelodi and Kliptown into the mainstream economy of Gauteng through their own township enterprises that are supported by the government and big business will be one of the key game changers during the second phase of the transition to a national democratic society. The townships must be self-sufficient and vibrant economic centres.
Honourable Speaker,
Radical socio-economic transformation must include the transformation of the apartheid geography - that is the spatial patterns of apartheid planning and development.
The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) adopted by the first democratically elected administration in 1994 called for spatial transformation:
"breaking down of apartheid geography through land reform, more compact cities, decent public transport and the development of industries and services that use local resources and or meet local needs".
There are people who say we must forget about apartheid, without taking radical steps to eradicate the psychological, social, economic and spatial manifestations of this evil and inhuman system.
The geography of apartheid separated out the economic hubs and the residential areas. It did so by creating black residential areas as dormitories and labour reserves to service the white economy. Thus, townships developed as places far away from work and economic opportunities. To this day, black workers spent almost 70% of their income on transport commuting from home to work. Many workers 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.
This is apartheid's real legacy with massive physical barriers between us, South Africans of all races. And while those barriers divide us, we struggle to build trust and social cohesion. We want to radically transform the spaces we live in by connecting and integrating places of work and human settlements
It is true that even after the end of the apartheid government, we have continued to build houses and human settlements that reproduce the spatial legacy of apartheid - far from work and economic opportunities and away from public transport nodes. We have also built human settlements that promotes urban sprawl and unplanned development that is driven by the developers and illegal land occupiers without an active integrated planning and urban management by the state.
Honourable Members,
In the next five to fifteen years, we shall turn the tide against the current spatial patterns of apartheid in pursuit of spatial transformation and modernisation of human settlements in our province.
We must insist on planned and integrated urban development which will enable us to build more integrated and sustainable human settlements and communities that are inclusive and diverse.
We shall take radical steps to transform the spatial configuration and landscape of Gauteng province through better and co- ordinated land use management and spatial development. We shall work with municipalities and state-owned enterprises to ensure that a new built environment and inclusive spatial landscape emerges across the Gauteng city-region. This will be done through public transport infrastructure development and the creation of new integrated and sustainable human settlements and post-apartheid cities that are more connected, livable, smart and green.
New post-apartheid cities will be a combination of modern public transport modes, integrated and sustainable human settlements that are socially and economically inclusive and promote urban green development. Particular attention will be paid to the West Rand and Sedibeng regions, respectively, in order to revitalise their economies and connect them to the economic centres of the Gauteng city-region. The renewal of old towns and inner-city regeneration will be a key focus of the provincial government, working together with municipalities and the private sector.
With regard to existing human settlements, we shall make extra efforts to invest in the renewal of townships, especially the twenty-five old townships and old informal settlements that have been neglected. 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.
In 200 days, we will speed up the handing over of existing housing projects that are complete and make sure that all houses are allocated to the legitimate owners. As part of preventing and the abuse of the housing waiting list, we will introduce the use of biometric technology.
We shall work with municipalities and national government to ensure that all township roads and streets are tarred, eradicate the bucket system, all hostels turned into family units and prevent illegal land invasion and growth of informal settlements. Better and integrated urban planning and development is the best way to manage rapid urbanisation.
Honourable Speaker
Economic and spatial transformation must be underpinned by and support an accelerated programme of social transformation at the centre of which is raising the living standards, and quality of life of the all the people of Gauteng.
At the centre of our social transformation is our determination to improve the quality of education and healthcare, provide social protection to the vulnerable in particular women and children and eradicate poverty and build social cohesion and social solidarity.
The people of Gauteng,
Education remains the backbone of radical socio-economic transformation. It is also the cornerstone of radical economic transformation. A nation that neglects education, neglects its future.
Over the past twenty years, we have increased access to schooling and we have consistently improved performance in matric pass rates from 61.3% in 1994 to 87% in 2013.
To help the poor, 40% of our schools are non-fee paying schools - those thinking that "free education" is "bad education", must be reminded that one of our non-fee paying schools produced the top matriculant of 2013.
The number of people without formal education has been reduced drastically from 10% in 1994 to 3.7% in 2011. We also provide 1 million learners from poor families with meals, public transport and uniform. We have made quality education available to all.
Honourable Members,
It is now beyond any dispute that Gauteng is the pride of South Africa's public education. The United Nations Public Service Forum has just awarded the Gauteng Department of Education's Secondary School Improvement Programme that has turned around the performance of schools and learners in poor communities. This award represents the best example of public service excellence and innovation. We call on all public service institutions and public servants in our province to emulate the example set by the GDE, teachers, learners and parents who have shown to the world that improved and quality education is achievable in our life time.
Going forward, we shall continue to invest energy and resources in turning around the performance of schools in the townships and farming areas.
As part of our vision to modernise the delivery of public services, the next five years shall see greater efforts in harnessing ICT to deliver education in the context of e-governance and modernisation of the delivery of public services - smart schools and the classroom of the future. This is consistent with our vision of building a smart, knowledge-based and innovation- driven Gauteng economy.
Our children are a smart and techno-savvy generation and our task is to provide education in the best way that they prefer. We must move with the times!
Honourable Speaker,
Quality public healthcare is the life blood of a thriving economic and productive society. Healthy people are productive and enjoy a better quality of life. As a result of our bold programmes on the provision of health care, life expectancy in our country has improved.
We have over the past twenty years increased access to healthcare and built outstanding health public facilities, which includes new clinics and hospitals that are located within a 5km radius. This has improved access to quality healthcare and introduced primary healthcare as the pillar of our public health system. Primary healthcare requires an activist and community- oriented approach to the delivery of healthcare.
Boipatong township is one of the best examples of how primary healthcare can contribute to the transformation of the community and the revitalization of the township economy. Through a simple community health centre, health workers conduct regular house visits, provide preventive care and rehabilitative services.
Through this system of house-to-house visits, which resulted in comprehensive socio-economic census and community profile, the decentralised primary healthcare approach has reduced waiting times in the clinic as residents utilise primary health care centres closest to them and regular home visits by community workers or a doctor and effective referral system.
Boipatong represents an example of what can be done through primary healthcare to build an activist and community-oriented delivery of public services. This is a good lesson as we roll out the National Health Insurance. It is also a perfect example of what can be done to effect transformation in all aspects of community life - community policing, township enterprises and co-ops and building sustainable livelihoods.
Going forward, the urgent turnaround of the Gauteng Department of Health and all public health institutions is one of the priorities of this fifth administration of government. We shall stabilise the finances of the department, improve the delivery of quality healthcare, reduce waiting time and queues, increase professional staff and invest in infrastructure, including the ICT as part of our programme of modernising public services and e- governance.
Honourable Speaker,
We are committed to the vision of providing better quality health care to all. Jabulani District Hospital has been officially opened as a facility with hundred beds, including state of the art facility. This is the first-ever hospital built in the township since 1994. We are attending to all outstanding issues to ensure that it is fully operational.
We are pleased to announce that the commissioning of the new Natalspruit Regional Hospital from its current location in Thokoza to Vosloorus Marimba Gardens is now complete. The new Natalspruit Regional Hospital will have 821 beds. This hospital will be opened officially in the next 100 days.
Gauteng province has delivered the largest HIV/AIDS programme, including the biggest roll out of the ARV programme in the country and the continent. In the next five years, we shall take steps to strengthen our programme on the provision of ARV as part of our determination to with the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will also intensify the existing programmes on TB for screening and treatment for vulnerable groups.
In order to reduce risk factors associated with non-communicable diseasses, which includes smoking, harmful use of alcohol, poor diet and lack of exercising, we will embark on a programme and campaign to promote healthy lifestyles. In this regard, we will in partnership with local government and the private sector to build more recreational facilities and increase access to training facilities in communities.
We must live longer and the only way to do that is to promote healthy lifestyles. We must design new human settlements in a way that promotes healthy lifestyles and outdoor activities in public parks and open spaces where people walk, run and engage in sports, recreational and cultural activities.
Honourable Speaker,
Whilst Gauteng is a relatively wealthy province, urban poverty and hunger remain the stubborn realities for many households. The number of people living in poverty has decreased from 32,4% in 2001 to 22% in 2011.
This as a result of the policy intervention of providing social grants, to date the provision of social grants is 2.2 million of the 16 million South Africans benefitting nationally. We shall continue to provide a basket of free basic services such as the refuse removal, provision of water, sanitation and electricity to poor households and support learners from these households. We will take active measures to ensure that military veterans are incorporated in existing social support programmes.
People of Gauteng,
In further bringing relief and addressing depression in the economy, we have over the past twenty years implemented a vigorous expanded public works programme. Over the last 10 years, the EPWP has created more than 775,000 work opportunities in Gauteng. Through this programme we have seen many of our people being involved in the maintenance of public infrastructure and roads, cleaning of streets, caring for the environment, providing home based care in poor communities.
Over the next 100 days, we shall unveil a comprehensive and more integrated EPWP and CWP that will create over one million job opportunities within a period of five years. This comprehensive programme will be linked to providing temporary relief for a longer duration and offer training to women, youth and people with disability. It will also be linked to the revitalisation of the township economy and renewal of township infrastructure, especially in the old townships.
We must do so, particularly because over the past twenty years, the consequences of implementing vigorous strategies in reducing poverty has translated in the decline of inequality from 0.76 in 2009 and 0.69 in 2013.
Honourable Members,
In order to realise a vision of building socially and economically inclusive Gauteng city-region, we must build safe and secure communities. We have made progress in winning the fight against crime, especially murder, robbery and grievous bodily harm. We shall work with various sectors of society, including building a new social movement against social crime perpetrated against women, children and the elderly and including winning the war against drugs.
We shall work with and strengthen robust civilian oversight the law enforcement agencies. We shall focus on strengthening community policing and improving the relationship between SAPS and communities. We shall promote the involvement of communities in setting policing priorities at station and cluster level. We call on communities to hold the police accountable.
We shall continue to conduct unannounced visits to inspect service delivery in police stations, especially poor performing ones. We shall insist on the need to remove corrupt and rogue police officers from the SAPS. We shall work with national government to enhance the capacity of the SAPS to fight crime and corruption using smart technologies as part of the modernisation of public services and e-governance.
Honourable Speaker,
We cannot talk about radical socio-economic transformation without fundamentally changing the way state institutions relate to society. We as public officials and public servants have to radically transform our attitudes and behaviour towards the public to reassert the dictum that we are here to serve the people and not the other way round.
Quite evidently, members of the public are impatient with and intolerant of arrogance, bureaucratic indifference, corruption and sheer laziness from those who take them for granted and treat them with disdain and disrespect.
Over the past month, I have come across this public anger in hospital queues and other government offices where frontline services are provided by public servants who have no regard for the principles of Batho Pele.
Honourable Members,
I am more convinced that we have to radically change the way government works in order to place service to the people at the centre of our work.
It is for this reason that we have adopted the notion of an activist government as part of building a capable and developmental state envisaged in the RDP and more recently the National Development Plan, Vision 2030.
Honourable Speaker,
In his first State of the Nation Address, 1994, the late President Mandela stressed the importance of staying focused and unreservedly serving our people, when he said:
"The government I have the honour to lead and I dare say the masses who elected us to serve in this role, are inspired by the single vision of creating a people-centred society".
Equally this is what late President of Mozambique, Samora Machel, on the eve of independence in 1973, said:
"To govern one needs to know exactly the interests of the working masses, formulated and discussed with them and not merely on their behalf. To govern is to be able to fulfill those interests in the decision-making.
"To govern is always to be closely linked with the masses in order to sound out their preoccupations and discuss with them so as to come to a correct decision together, not disregarding the details of everyday matters on the pretext that they are minor problems. A decision taken in this way mobilises people and any difficulties or obstacles, which crop up will be overcome because the people understand the decision and see it as their own.
Conversely, the government will be unable to solve any problem if it remains enclosed in a building, governing by bureaucratic and administrative methods."
Guided by these great visionary leaders, we shall continue to make unannounced service delivery inspections to government institutions such as hospitals, schools, police stations and frontline offices to ensure that members of the public receive better and quality services from public servants.
We shall also continue to go to communities that have serious complaints and grievances against government to engage them in finding a lasting solution to the developmental challenges and service delivery problems they encounter. We are a government that is not afraid to face the anger and frustrations of communities on the ground. We want communities to know that we can and do listen when they raise their concerns within the legal prescripts, without resorting to violence and destruction of public infrastructure and community assets.
Over the past month, we have been everywhere to engage communities and sectors that have experienced problems. We are working very closely with the people of Bekkersdal to address their genuine concerns and move the community forward. We are also working systematically with muncipalties to resolve problems raised by the people of Grootvlei, Thokoza and Diepkloof Hostels, Mamelodi, Hammanskraal, Elias Motsoaledi, Empilisweni, Zithobeni, Alexandra and informal traders of Joburg and Tshwane. We will also work with the communities of Eldorado Park and Lenasia because they face common problems and challenges.
The MECs and I are spending most of our time on the ground so that we can promptly respond to service delivery complaints and build trust and partnership between government and communities.
Honourable Speaker
A radical socio-economic transformation requires co-operative governance anchored by a developmental government at all spheres.
Since assuming the position of Premier, I have held my first meeting with metro and district mayors to discuss how we must work together to radically change our response time to community challenges and improve the relationship with communities.
I would like to congratulate the City of Tshwane for having been the best municipality in Gauteng, in terms the Quality of Life Survey conducted by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory. This is a challenge to the rest of our municipalities.
I have also met with the Executive of the City of Joburg wherein I was appraised on the work done in addressing the billing problems in the city. We will work with the City of Joburg to find a lasting solution to this problem.
Honourable Speaker,
After the State of the Province Address, I will convene another meeting with all mayors of Gauteng municipalities and leaders of SALGA to discuss with them the urgency with which we must
improve governance, financial and address developmental challenges in every municipality in our city-region. We owe it to the people of Gauteng to work together, plan together and co- ordinate interventions that will enhance development and service delivery across Gauteng. It cannot be business as usual. We need a radical change and urgency from local government leaders. Municipalities that are unable to fulfill their constitutional mandate will definitely be on my radar screen and some may require more drastic intervention over the next twelve months.
In the next 200 days in addressing the above-mentioned challenges, the Office of the Premier will unveil a "Service Delivery War Room".
Honourable members,
Part of the radical shift in government involves how we deal with and eradicate corruption among public officials and public servants, including in the private sector. We shall introduce measures to strengthen the integrity of public institutions and public processes so that fraud and corruption are prevented and detected early in the value chain to prevent losses.
We shall work with law enforcement agencies, the Public Service Commission, the Integrity Commissioner of the Legislature and the Chapter 9 institutions to strengthen clean governance and enhance integrity across government departments and institutions. It is not enough to talk about fighting corruption. We have to demonstrate in action that corruption will not be tolerated in this administration.
Honourable Speaker,
One of the key issues that must be addressed is to radically improve popular involvement and participatory governance. We know that our people feel alienated from their own government and institutions of participatory democracy, especially ongoing local democracy is not existent.
Over the next 100 days, we shall work with local government to review current structures and process of community participation. So that People's democracy is expanded, institutions of democracy improved and its forms enriched. People's enthusiasm, initiative and creativity should be fully harnessed.
We invite you all to join us in the exciting future we see for Gauteng.
People of Gauteng,
I have outlined the framework and programme for transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation of Gauteng.
I would also like to thank all those who responded to the call on the Pointers for Premier in preparation for this State of the Province Address.
Mme Rachel, I hope I have addressed your challenges of how we can improve financial support to SMMEs in the green economy.
Barabara, I will ensure that MEC Panyaza Lesufi works with you to strengthen the implementation of the Gauteng Provincial Mathematics and the Langauge Strategy.
Ntate Kenneth, I agree with you that we should increase the war against drugs and in particular nyaope that is ravaging our communities.
Going forward I will dedicate time on social media talking to you on your ongoing challenges. I will also respond to letters and emails from communities.
Honourable Speaker,
Over the next 100 - 200 days, we shall undertake extensive consultations and engagements with all sectors of society to elaborate detailed plans and targets.
The people's voice must be heard on all the issues that affect our province.
It is against this background that we shall also set up a panel to review the impact of e-tolls and invite new proposals on how we can find a lasting solution to this matter, working with the national government, municipalities and all sectors of society. While we shall not promise easy solutions and claim easy victories, we must make it clear that we cannot close our eyes to the cries of sectors of our population who are severely affected by the cost of travelling across the province. We must all move from the premise that we need good roads in our province to support economic development. How we finance such infrastructure must be deliberated upon and agreed.
I urge those who are having vehicles to continue to pay while we are finding a lasting solution.
I would like to extend to the rest of civil society and in particular political parties to work together in putting our people first as we move Gauteng forward.
Our journey ahead is long, but full of hope, given how much we have achieved in just 20 years.
We must work together with our people diligently for the public good so as to live up to the expectations of both history and the people.
I repeat: with all my strength, and all that of my government, we shall do everything we can to ensure that we do not fail you! You too must not fail us!
Together let us move the Gauteng city-region forward!
I would like to thank my wife Mpho, my family, Members of the Executive Council, and the team in the Private Office of the Premier.
I thank you all!
Issued by the Gauteng Office of the Premier, June 27 2014
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