Premier David Makhura delivered his State of the Province Address today at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria and these are some of the highlights of his speech:
Youth employment and SMME’s
Makhura said in keeping a promise he made last year July, the government would introduce the Township Economic Development Bill in the provincial legislature in June this year. “So that our provincial legislature can pass new provincial legislation that will nullify all by laws that inhibit, frustrate and supress the operations of SSME’s and informal businesses in our province especially those in the townships and CBD,” he said.
To create new jobs for young people, Makhura said the government was mainstreaming youth employment interventions into all 10 high-growth sectors which would create employment for 250 000 young people in the next five years.
Furthermore, he said Gauteng was engaging the private sector including Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies, on means to collaborate and share resources in the rollout of affordable broadband connectivity and free Wi-Fi to poor households in the province.
Infrastructure
Makhura said the provincial government would spend R60 billion on building and maintaining infrastructure which will create an additional 100 000 jobs and facilitate the development of 50 black industrialists.
To support local businesses, Makhura said that Gauteng will ensure that provincial government and municipalities purchase 75 per cent of all goods from South African manufacturers for all new building and construction materials for projects including government buildings, schools, hospitals and roads.
Health
In the next two years, 10 priority hospitals will undergo major renovations. “We will also complete the construction of 5 new clinics and new community health centres in the various corridors so that they can provide much-needed health care services in this year,” said Makhura.
A new hospital will be built and those that were decommissioned would be re-opened. This according to Makhura, would be done as a result of migration pressures. Makhura said six new hospitals will be built in the next 10 years.
Working with the University of Johannesburg, the government will fast track the building of a new Medical School during the 10 years.
Education
Makhura announced that 10 new schools will be built in the next ten years, half of them built in the first five years. Moreover, 70 township schools that did not attract enrolment numbers will be reopened. The government will also expand offerings in technical skills by investing in technical schools and expanding schools of specialization.
What do you like about Premier David Makhura’s State of the Province Address?
Related articles:
https://midrandreporter.co.za/218102/makhura-tables-big-plans-youth-township-economy/
https://midrandreporter.co.za/234649/watch-gauteng-premier-david-makhura-mec-education-panyaza-lesufi-handover-bursaries/
