Nothing special planned for Gauteng’s economy

Despite continuous rhetoric from the ANC-led provincial government in Gauteng about radical economic transformation to bolster growth and job creation, there are no active special economic zones (SEZ) in the province.

This was revealed by Gauteng Economic Development MEC, Lebogang Maile in response to DA questions posed in the Gauteng Legislature.

The only site that has been identified as a potential SEZ is in the OR Tambo precinct in Ekurhuleni. No information has been provided as to what the nature of this SEZ will be, how many people will be employed and what value it will add to the economy of Gauteng.

To date, only a comparative study has been completed, the details of which are unknown.

If the ANC-led provincial government in Gauteng is serious about creating a more inclusive and value-added economy, it would look to creating more SEZ across the province.

These zones will create opportunities for new industries ideal for entrepreneurs and foster a climate in which innovation and job creation would thrive.

More out-of-the-box thinking is required by the provincial government and the department if it is to effectively tackle the high rates of unemployment in the province, but also move the economy of Gauteng into the 21st century.

The DA will write to MEC Lebogang Maile to request a copy of the comparative study to ascertain what the plans are for the OR Tambo SEZ.
 
Media Enquiries

 
Janet Semple MPL
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Economic Development
082 462 8239
 
Warren Gwilt
Media Manager
073 601 6144
 

Premier Makhura Shirks Responsibility And Offers More Empty Promises

State of the Province Address

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura’s State of the Province Address was a weak attempt to absolve himself from the many wrong-doings of the ANC-led provincial government, while at the same time offering little hope of a brighter future for the 13.5 million residents of the province.

Makhura’s admission that no consultation had taken place on e-Tolls, and that the matter is the prerogative of national government, shows that he has capitulated to his masters in Luthuli House. He has decided that he is not a man of the people.

The complete and untruthful distancing of himself from the Life Esidimeni tragedy beggars belief. The Premier should have tendered his resignation today out of respect for the 100 and counting mentally ill patients that lost their lives.

Economy, Housing, and Social Services

The de-institutionalisation of mental health patients and the warnings against this action were made known to the Premier as early as January 2016. Instead of taking his share of the blame, Makhura has attempted to isolate himself from the tragic events that led to the loss of 100 and counting lives. Again, he has shown that political survival and, not people come first.

Many of the so-called plans to be rolled out to reshape the economy, housing, and social services are simply reheated dreams that are two years old. Minor adjustments to these fanciful dreams has certainly not led to prosperity.

The Lost Generation

The Premier had little to offer to the lost generation of those who are out of education and out of work. In Gauteng, there are 3.4 million people who fall into this category, the highest in the country. Since taking office, unemployment has risen from 29.8% to 32.2%. It cannot continue to be business as usual for this province.

The Premier has made mention of numerous panels and commissions that will be established to re-shape the economy and deal with the social challenges of this province. The real question is, when will this administration get down to the hard task of delivering on its mandate to all?

More, now than ever, will the DA seek to drive a plan that speaks to redressing the wrongs of the past – building a more inclusive economy and uplifting the lives of those who have been marginalised and forgotten about by this administration.

Premier Makhura’s face saving exercise may do well for the cameras, but it does not bode well against the coalface of real-world hardships faced by the residents of Gauteng.

 

 

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

060 558 8312

[Image source]

SPEECH BY MRS JANET SEMPLE, MPL ON THE STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS, DELIVERED IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ON THURSDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2016

Gauteng’s economy needs action more than words

The Premier began his 2016 SOPA by announcing that “a promise made is a promise kept”.  Very bold words from a Premier of a political party that is renowned for making empty promises.

The Premier might have kept his promise to the people of the Sedibeng district by bringing the SOPA to Sedibeng, although the cost of that exercise was hardly in line with the cost cutting measures and budget cuts proposed by the President in his recent State of the Nation address.

However, if we look at the promises made by the Premier in SOPA 2015 it appears that some of those promises made a year ago have either been forgotten or not followed through.

One of these was the seven new township hubs promised to be established in Ennerdale, Hammanskraal, Mabopane and Reiger Park to name a few.

At last week’s portfolio committee meeting the word “established” was questioned and clarified.  According to this Province’s Department of Economic Development established can mean (1) actually established, i.e. up and running, (2), in the process of being established or (3) merely having a site identified.

One could be forgiven for not understanding quite what the Premier means by established -it does appear that however one defines established, the conventional meaning of the word does not apply.

Similarly the Premier referred to revitalising industrial parks in Katlehong, Orlando, Residentia, Khutsong and Ennerdale in his 2015 SOPA. Perhaps the MEC for Economic Development would like to explain at what stage of revitalization these industrial parks are actually at?

Another challenge the Premier faces in his great vison for Gauteng is the economic policy uncertainty faced by the entire country. The Premier himself acknowledged in SOPA 2015 that the vast majority of the planned economic development of this province relies on public/private partnerships.

We all know that economic growth has slowed throughout the world with commodity prices hitting rock-bottom, naturally effecting South Africa but equally so, the economic and financial instability in our own country does not help.

The domestic and foreign investors, essential to driving economic growth and the jobs that go with that growth, need to know that their investment is safe. They need to know that there will not be three finance ministers in almost as many days, and they need to know what the overall economic plan for the country is.

Is South Africa still committed to the NDP or are we following the New Growth Plan?

Ultimately all the mega projects the Premier plans for Gauteng are dependent on what happens on the national stage. For Gauteng’s economy to grow and for more jobs to be created, there must be policy certainty.

The Premier states that the economy in Gauteng has been consistently growing above the national average, well then he needs to use that fact as leverage to prevent the mayhem that occurs at a national level. Unfortunately this province is not an island that can progress regardless of what is going on in the rest of the country.  Economic growth nationally is predicted to be just 0.7% this year which will obviously impact on all provinces.

The Premier’s big plans need big investment and that can only be achieved if the investors have confidence and are committed in investing for the long-term.

Interestingly in the Western Cape there is a significant uptake in infrastructure and real estate investment, a leading indicator that investors are confident and committed for the long term and are prepared to commit their capital to create jobs.

The number of square metres of building plans approved in the province showed a significant increase in 2014/15.

In a 12-month period ending August 2015, 654 000 square meters of commercial and residential developments were approved for construction in the Western Cape, almost 9 times the 75 000 square meters approved in Gauteng for the same period, according to Statistics South Africa.  To quote Premier Helen Zille: “construction projects not only reflect confidence, they create jobs”.

The Gauteng Premier states that steps are being taken to improve the ease of doing business and cutting red tape. This is to be welcomed although there are still many reports of people being asked for cuts on profits in order to get the permission needed; of phones going unanswered and appointments only being granted once money changes hands.

Why is it so difficult for officials to make a decision? Anything that requires a commitment beyond a six month time period seems to be impossible. Do the officials in this Province know something the opposition is still anticipating?

The premier has noted that payment of e-tolls is more about affordability than civil disobedience. Surely Premier if people are battling to pay e-tolls now, how are they going to be able to cough up an additional 5% in March?

Once again it will be the poorest people in this Province who will be most disadvantaged by the increase as they are the ones who live furthest away from their places of work due to apartheid spatial planning. The cost of a loaf of bread and other essential items is rising every day and an increase in e-tolls is the last thing any household needs right now. We call upon the Premier to use his influence in the national sphere of government to stop this highway robbery once and for all. Let’s see if the ANC really cares about the people of this province!

Premier we note and appreciate the improved methods of public transport such as the Rea Vaya, Areyeng and now Harambee in Ekurhuleni.  We would however like to know how it is planned to integrate these different transport systems between the three metros in the planned city regions. Obviously this would help people move seamlessly between the different areas.

The results of the feasibility study on extensions to the Gautrain have never been announced but the expansion is going ahead at huge cost.  Can this be afforded in this time of economic austerity?

The Premier has a grand vision for Gauteng. He needs to follow up the promises with commitment and visible results on the ground. In the words of Pravin Gordhan at yesterday’s Budget Speech “Above all, action is needed rather than words”. Premier the unemployed people of Gauteng are depending on you to do just that.

DA To Debate Gauteng’s State Of The Province

Tomorrow, 25 February 2016, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, John Moodey MPL, and members of his shadow cabinet will debate Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s State of the Province Address. The DA will reveal the true state of the Gauteng economy, unemployment and service delivery backlogs – and offer its policy proposals to transform Gauteng into an all-inclusive economic centre of prosperity.
Date: Thursday, 25 February 2016
Time: 10:00 am
Venue: Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Johannesburg

There will be opportunities for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

 

Media enquiries:

Warren Gwilt

DA Gauteng: Communication & Research Manager

060 963 8320

Scrap E-tolls: The Only ‘Dispensation’ That Works

Unfair and Unjust SystemJohn Moodey DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

Today Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce more ways to pay for e-tolls, instead of scrapping them altogether – despite the fact that less and less road users are willing to pay for this unfair and unjust system.

According to the National Department of Transport, since January there has been a dramatic drop in the number of people registering for e-tolls, as well as a steady decline in revenue collected.

This disproves the assertion by Premier Makhura and the e-toll review panel that people are not fundamentally opposed to paying tolls on Gauteng’s highways.

People are feeling the financial crunch of increases in municipal rates, electricity, petrol and income tax, and are simply not willing or able to pay e-tolls.

Stealth Methods to Pay for E-Tolls

Instead of scrapping e-tolls altogether, the ANC’s response is to introduce stealth methods hidden in licensing and other fees to force people to pay.

The fact is that the e-tolls system does not have the ability to cope and deal with debt collection, and the introduction of the hybrid model will further complicate an unsustainable system.

So while the economies of Gauteng and the country are reeling from the effects, and unemployment spirals out of control, Deputy President Ramaphosa and Premier Makhura are standing at a crossroad today.

They could act in the interests of the poor and working class by scrapping e-tolls altogether, or open a Pandora’s Box of civil disobedience and non-compliance on a scale never seen before.

The choice is theirs, and the consequences will be felt at the polls in 2016.

 

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

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