Discussing the province's plans for a globally competitive city-region: the MEC for local government Qedani Mahlangu, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, Johannesburg's executive mayor Amos Masondo and Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramokgopa

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Gauteng to develop global-city strategy The plan to turn Gauteng into an integrated global city-region allows for municipalities to retain autonomy while integrating development plans in order to make the province a competitive economic hub. June 23, 2006 By Ndaba Dlamini PROVINCIAL and local government leaders in Gauteng have endorsed a plan to turn the province into a globally competitive city-region. The global city perspective, proposed by Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa in 2004, will be officially launched in August this year, it was revealed at a meeting with representatives from the province's three Metros on Wednesday, 21 June. The plan is expected to increase the province's economic growth by eight percent by 2014. "The idea is to build Gauteng into an integrated and globally competitive region where the economic activities of different parts of the province complement each other in consolidating Gauteng as an internationally recognised global city region," said Shilowa. The province is a major metropolitan centre undergoing rapid urbanisation and population growth as rural people and foreigners flock to the cities. The decision to develop Gauteng as a global city-region was influenced by the growing centrality of cities in modern economies like London, New York, Paris and Tokyo. "It was also a response to development challenges affecting the province. The ongoing divide between the first and second economies have to be dealt with urgently in order to meet our target of halving unemployment and poverty by the next decade," said the provincial director general, Mogopodi Mokoena With a total population of 9,5 million and a population growth of 3,8 percent between 1996 and 2001, Gauteng would be the 14th largest urban region in the world by 2015. Metros to complement province The global city perspective will see Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni aligning their resources on issues of common interest, such as economic development, transport, safety and planning, while still keeping their autonomy. Shilowa said part of the efforts to build the city region would involve "aligned planning" between the various spheres of government. He said municipalities have integrated development plans that will have to be aligned with regional goals to build Gauteng into an economic hub. Johannesburg's executive mayor Amos Masondo said the City has a comprehensive strategy to complement the global city perspective. "The 2006/7 budget that we recently tabled, the growth and development strategy and the five-year integrated development plan are in line with the province's efforts to create a globally competitive city-region," he said. According to the MEC for finance and economic affairs, Paul Mashatile: "The metros will still have a role to play in the city-region. "Ekurhuleni, the manufacturing hub, and Johannesburg, the financial hub, will continue to play their respective roles in developing the economy of the province." Less emphasis will be given to administrative boundaries and the working relationship between municipalities will be taken further as part of advancing the global-city region perspective. "Metros, smaller municipalities and districts within the province will strike agreements on social and economic development issues to advance the principle of 'co-operate internally to compete better externally'," said Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramokgopa. The most pressing challenge to the establishment of the city-region was the skills shortage in municipalities, according to Shilowa. "To address this deficiency, the province has drawn up the Gauteng human resources development strategy and it will be presented to business, training institutions and the labour sector for input. It is expected to be made public in September," said Shilowa. An integrated transport plan supported by national government had been developed which will look at the "entire spectrum of transport in the province". The provincial safety and security department was also drawing up a plan to ensure a secure province, essential components of a city-region. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za