April 28, 2004
By Jonews reporter
GAUTENG premier Mbhazima Shilowa, the only provincial premier to be reappointed for a further five-year term of office following the third democratic elections, was adamant it will not be "business as usual" for his government.
Shilowa, addressing the Gauteng legislature after his re-election as premier on Monday, 26 April, said: "We have heard what the people said. We will not disappoint them. The people expect us to radically improve their situation … there is no room for complacency."
The premier said he was humbled by the people's overwhelming support and confidence in the African National Congress (ANC) and promised not to betray the trust placed on him to once again lead the richest province in South Africa.
"The people agreed, through their vote, to work with the ANC on a people's contract to tackle the challenges still facing us and advance towards building a better South Africa for all," Shilowa said, adding that the provincial government would interact directly with the people. "We will work together with all the parties that are prepared to join the people's contract to create work and fight poverty."
The MEC for Development Planning and Local Government, Trevor Fowler, was to be deployed to the Office of the Premier as a political adviser, while Richard Mdakane was elected the new speaker of the legislature, with the MEC for Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs, Mary Metcalfe, chosen as his deputy.
Of the 73 seats in the provincial parliament, the ANC has 51, the Democratic Alliance has 15, and the Inkatha Freedom Party has two. The African Christian Democratic Party, the Independent Democrats, the United Democratic Movement, together with newcomers Freedom Front Plus and the Pan Africanist Congress all hold one seat each.
The New National Party failed to win a seat in the Gauteng legislature.
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