February 20, 2007
By Lucky Sindane
ECONOMIC development, social infrastructure and poverty alleviation should be the driving force behind all municipalities in Gauteng.
The provincial premier, Mbhazima Shilowa, urged municipalities to focus on these issues during the opening of the Gauteng Legislature on Monday, 19 February.
"We call on all municipalities to ensure alignment between plans and resources," he said. "On our side we pledge to ensure alignment of provincial plans to local economic development plans, while municipalities must focus on the provision of basic services."
The Gauteng midterm report of the government's progress between 2004 and 2006 was also made public.
Economic growth and job creation
After the 2004 provincial elections the Gauteng government committed itself to working with all stakeholders to respond adequately to the challenges of unemployment, poverty and underdevelopment.
"Midway through our term, we have made significant progress. While the province continues to face the challenges of poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment, we are confident that in partnership with the people our plans and programmes will continue to make Gauteng an even better place for all our people."
According to the report, Gauteng's economic growth increased to 5,8 percent in 2005. Unemployment dropped to 22,8 percent in September 2005 from 30,4 percent in September 2001. The number of fulltime formal sector jobs grew from 2,9&nbp;million in 2002 to 3,3 million in 2006.
"This represents an increase of 426 000 jobs. Our labour absorption rate also improved from 47,8 percent in September 2002 to 53,3 percent in September 2005," Shilowa said.
By the end of June 2006, the Gautrain project had created 1 800 jobs, of which 85 percent were filled by South Africans. It was estimated that 20 000 more jobs would be created during the next financial year.
Gauteng's successes had brought achievements and challenges. One of the challenges was the massive number of people migrating to the province, continuing to exert pressure on social and economic infrastructure.
Shilowa said the province had to put more effort into fulfilling its five-year mandate and realising its 2014 vision.
A plan of action for 2007 was also announced. It includes Gauteng's contribution to growing the economy and creating jobs; improving the health, skills and education of the province's people; ensuring the provision of adequate shelter; and, in partnership with all stakeholders and communities, responding positively to the challenges of crime, especially violent crime and poverty.
Global city region
Through the global city region initiative, the Gauteng government would be able to speed up service delivery. The Gauteng Human Resource Planning and Development Agency had been established within the provincial department of education to drive the implementation of the province's Human Resources Development Strategy for the global city region.
Pomp and ceremony at the opening of the province's Legislature
"In addition we will also start working on establishing a global city region development agency model that will bring existing development agencies in the province together to assist with the requirements of creating [such a region]. This will include exploring the roles of our partners in economic development, leadership, co-ordination and the implementation of a global city region," Shilowa said.
Road infrastructure
"Road infrastructure development is integral to economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation."
Over the next three financial years the government planned to double the R511 between Fourways and Diepsloot, complete the link between Dobsonville Road (K102) and Main Reef Road and begin construction of the Pinehaven Interchange and the K29 near Cosmo City.
"Together with our municipalities we also continue with the tarring of roads in all the 20 priority townships."
Meanwhile, the R24, which runs between Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport, is to be renamed to honour African National Congress veteran Albertina Sisulu.
"As a mark of honour to the contribution that women have made to our liberation and the development of democracy, we will this year rename the R24 after Mama Albertina Sisulu, a stalwart of our struggle for the total emancipation of our people, and women in particular," Shilowa explained.
Social development
Over the next three years the housing programme would also be intensified. Key steps would be the programme to formalise and upgrade informal settlements; the provision of affordable rental accommodation; the development of mixed income areas; and accelerating the urban renewal of Alexandra, Bekkersdal and Evaton.
"During 2007, 25 159 serviced sites will be provided as part of our plan to formalise and upgrade informal settlements. A total of 58 552 houses will be built through the mixed housing development, the community builder programme, the People's Housing Process and alternative tenure. Together these will benefit close to 300 000 people," Shilowa said.
Focus would be given to improving the lives of people in the former cross-boundary areas that had been incorporated into Gauteng. In April the Gauteng government takes over the Winterveldt upgrading project and the plan is to conclude the pre-feasibility study of the area as an Urban
Renewal Programme, install bulk infrastructure and complete 1 500 houses by the end of 2008.
On health Shilowa said greater emphasis would be placed on the provision of community-based health services, focusing on encouraging healthy living.
Programmes will be undertaken to focus on the importance of regular exercise, no smoking, nutrition, safe sexual practices, stress management, alcohol, drug and substance abuse.
The introduction of a new comprehensive information and technology system would accelerate the existing programme of strengthening efficient management of patients and dealing with long queues in hospitals and clinics. Patients would be given a smart card containing all their vital medical information and history.
The provincial HIV and Aids programme continued to expand and more than 41 000 people had been put on the programme in the two years since it was started.
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