Among other topics, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa discussed the plan to make Gauteng a globally competitive city region (Photo: Gauteng Province)

RELATED LINKS: Gauteng Legislature opens to song and dance MORE money would be invested in the youth, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said, as Beyers Naude Square shook to some of South Africa's finest young musos and DJs. Read more Soweto to benefit from Gauteng project THE province will spend R3-billion over the next three years to improve townships across the province. And Soweto is one of those set to benefit. Read more Joburg is 'on the right path' THE Growth and Development Summit was a success, and proved that "the City was on the right track". Read more Shilowa reveals ambitious 'global city' plans THE proposed integration of several Gauteng towns and cities into "a global city region", highlighted in Premier Mbhazima Shilowa's opening address to the Gauteng Legislature on Monday, looks set to stimulate the province's economy, encouraging investment and tourism. Read more

Johannesburg's executive mayor Amos Masondo joined the premier and other mayors at a long meeting on issues affecting the province

Leaders discuss global city region plans Bringing together Gauteng mayors, its premier and MECs, a meeting was held to talk about key political issues, notably plans to create a global city region. May 25, 2006 By Tammy O'Reilly EXECUTIVE Mayor Amos Masondo joined the province's premier and other mayors at a day-long meeting to deliberate on common issues affecting provincial government and local municipalities. Premier Mbhazima Shilowa hosted the Premier's Co-ordinating Forum behind closed doors on 22 May, making it the first meeting of the province's decision makers since the local government elections earlier this year. On the table were key political issues. Among the attendees were the mayors of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, West Rand and Sedibeng, city managers, local government MEC Qedani Mahlangu and finance MEC Paul Mashatile. One of the outcomes of the meeting was a renewed commitment by all players to go ahead with implementing Shilowa's plan to make Gauteng a globally competitive city region. The plans for a "global city region", which were unveiled in February 2005, are drawn from cities like Sao Paulo and Greater London, whose cities are similar in character and faced the same the challenges as Gauteng. Through co-ordination across all spheres of government and other sectors of society Shilowa plans to improve governance and urban management and encourage investment and tourism in Gauteng. "The global city initiative aims to further boost Gauteng's performance in its efforts to address unemployment, poverty and underdevelopment and will seek to improve collaboration and integration on issues such as transport infrastructure, safety and security, sustainable human settlements, investment and tourism promotion and environmental sustainability," reads a statement issued by the Office of the Premier. Mayors, the premier and MECs will soon embark on a series of meetings to discuss the strategy with other stakeholders before its public launch later this year. 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