State of the Province Address by Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane

21 February 2011, Gauteng Legislature, Johannesburg

Madam Speaker

Deputy Speaker

Members of the Executive Council

Honourable Leaders of Political Parties

Mayors

Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature

Councillors

Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Distinguished guests

The people of Gauteng

We are sixteen years into our democracy and since 1994 we have been given the opportunity to drive the agenda for the total emancipation of our people. (through the mandate that was bestowed upon us). The first term of government was based on the manifesto whose theme was “Proud of our past and confident of our future’ In the second term of office in 1999 the mandate was based on the theme of “A Better Life For All”. Once more after the landslide victory during election of 2004 “The peoples contract to create work and fight poverty” became our clarion call, Our people continued to show confidence in the leadership of the African National Congress(ANC) in 2009 by casting their votes in support of the rallying Manifesto call of “ Working together we can do more”.

It is on the basis of these calls that the mandate to transform our society remains unchanged. In line with our current 5 year mandate, the year 2011 is the year of job creation, through visible delivery, effective implementation of our plans as well as being solution orientated.

The realization of job creation is dependent on having short,medium and long term solutions for a better Gauteng. It is on this basis that the work we do is geared towards achieving our long term goal of a globally competitive city region. In our endeavor to realize the goals of a competitive Global City Region we would want to commit ourselves to a long term vision for the development of Gauteng.

In thisregard we have been working tirelessly in developing a framework forGauteng Vision 2055. We now have a base document for the development of the kindof Gauteng we envisage between now and 2055. It is the path that all of us must walk, embrace and help to shape so that Gauteng can be in the league of the best Global City Regions of the world. Through vision 2055 we envisage to propel the growth and development of Gauteng to new and greater heights.

Gauteng remains the most critical location of the economic life of South Africa. We remain the beacon of hope for multitudes of people from different strata of our society. The profound effect Gauteng has is not only limited to South Africa but permeates the lives of the African people and the entire continent. We therefore cannot afford to be mediocre in our thoughts, plans and operations because we hold the promise of a better world for our people all over the Continent and the world over. To realize this commitment, Gauteng will require the maximum utilization of its capacity in allvarious forms through partnerships.

Notwithstanding the inequalities of the past and the present realities of poverty, Vision 2055 requires a paradigm shift away from the immediate to strong emphasis and focus on long-term planning and development. A commitment by all to the promise contained in Vision 2055 is a prerequisite. Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to claim their stake in the Vision so that it becomes a people’s Vision, driven and owned by all. It is with this in mind that we will release the Gauteng Vision 2055 base document for broad public participation and consultation.

Our view has been, and still is today, that our global competitiveness should be based on internal co-operation within Gauteng, between different spheres of government, the private sector, as well as civil society. In essence, the maintenance of our leadership role in matters of development is dependent on our ability to plan within a long term horizon, tolerant of diverse views and with consideration of alternative solutions. This vision seeks to guide how we can create and sustain a Gauteng that is:

  • Livable
  • Equitable
  • Accessible
  • Sustainable
  • Prosperous and competitive

Vision 2055 has to be a multiyear plan for general growth and development for Gauteng. It seeks to improve the manner in which we approach the business of development, nation building and social cohesion.

Vision 2055 finds expression in our short and medium-term plans. The major instruments to help us achieve our vision include amongst others:

  • Long term infrastructure planning and provision;
  • Our Spatial Development Framework;
  • The creation of sustainable, well located and compact human settlements and addressing the apartheid city structure;
  • Globalization as well as the global competitiveness of our industries;
  • Management of our natural resources, including the impact of global warming and climate change;
  • Renewable energy sources and environmental management;
  • Our linkages and entrenchment in the African continent.

Vision 2055 will also assist us in identifying the character of the ideal Gauteng resident that we aspire for. We will strive to remain a leading Province in being the economic hub of South Africa, the gateway to Africa, the struggle heritage and the melting pot of diverse cultures.

We have since established the Gauteng Planning Commission to coordinate and drive the implementation of Vision 2055. Key to the functioning of the Planning Commission, will be the setting up the Gauteng Advisory Council by the end of March 2010 to provide a platform to facilitate consultation, strategic advice and sectoral expertise from key sectors of our society.

Honourable Members and the residents of Gauteng

It is of paramount importance that we do the right things now. It is only when we do the right things that we can build a proud, united and self-respecting nation. Our actions today should be such that they not only benefit the present but also honour the past and benefit future generations. Those who marched and were imprisoned, exiled and assassinated sacrificed so that South Africa could be free. These are, amongst others, the unsung heroines of the 1956 Women’s March. The heroes of the Sharpeville anti-pass campaign. The brave young lions of the June 1976 rebellion. They all fought and died so that we can take our proud place as a united and democratic nation amongst the civilised nations of the world.

We owe it to all those who stood up against divisive and racial policies to foster unity and promotion of social cohesion. It is such selfless fighters who ensured that as the country and people we embrace new and progressive national symbols that reflect our unity in diversity.

Any self-respecting nation will hold its national symbols in high-esteem; and ours cannot be an exception to this universal norm. The time has come for all of us to stand up and protect our national symbols. The time is now for all of us to show unfettered patriotism by teaching our children at schools, workers at the shopfloor level and farms to show pride and love for our national symbols.

It is disconcerting that at this stage of our democracy, we still have people who want to take us back by arrogantly displaying those symbols we fought to change or continue to show disrespect for all that represent the new nation. We need to help such people, rehabilitate them and make them understand the value of a united nation.

It is in this context that we empathise with the act of highly-conscientised patriots such as radio personality, Mr Bob Mabena, who expressed disgust at those who insult our national symbols.

Nation-building and developing a national identity is fundamental in our young democracy. We need to invest resources in building our heritage for the future generation so that we become a proud nation. A programme to distribute the national flag, other symbols and national orders to all schools, libraries and other public buildings will be implemented to promote patriotism and an understanding of the meaning of our national symbols.

We reiterate our commitment to the establishment of a desk in government that will focus specifically on the matters of the Military Veterans. In this regard departments within the Gauteng Province are being engaged to identify services that they can provide to meet the needs of the Veterans in line with national processes.

We will put in place a Heritage Legislative Framework that will guide the protection, preservation and promotion of heritage in the Province. We will also develop a monument to celebrate the life of OR Tambo in partnership with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. A Women’s Monument at the Union Building will be developed in conjunction with the national Department of Arts and Culture

Honorable Members

As Gauteng, we were humbled by the support and patriotism displayed by our people during the hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Once again we proved to the world that we have the capacity and ability to organize and host events of international stature. Once again Gauteng earned its mantle as the Gateway to Africa and the Home of Champions.

We also hosted the 2010 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Championship, which was a success. This was, again, made possible by the ever-supportive people of Gauteng and South Africa in general.

Moreover, Gauteng broke new ground by hosting the first Rugby Tournament held in Soweto at Orlando Stadium. Our people, Black and White, were united in support of the championship.

Recently Gauteng hosted the South African Open Tennis Championship in Fourways, where one of our own, Mr Kevin Anderson, lifted the coveted trophy. In his absence, we are honoured today to have amongst us the CEO of SA Tennis, Mr Ian Smith as our special guest.

In keeping with the spirit of Gauteng being the Home of Champions and the leader in hosting major sporting events, we are committed to host the finals of the Vodacom Challenge in July 2011, when Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs look to conquer the guest team, Tottenham Hotspurs. This will give us an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the FIFA 2010 World Cup legacy in style.

Through sport we have been able to unite the nation and build common national pride and identity. Let us continue to show unity and respect for one another in and outside the sports arena.

Madam Speaker

The popular mandate given to us by the masses has not changed. But as a government which constantly seeks to improve the lives and conditions of its people; it is our responsibility to think and plan ahead. This will not only enhance our capacity to work for meaningful change; but will help us to remain a leading Province in all critical areas of development. We are determine to stay in the lead because it all starts here and nowhere else. We are the Cradle of Humankind, the Gateway to Africa and the economic hub of our country and a province of rich diversity.

In pursuit of the mandate as expressed in our strategic priorities for 2009-2014 presented to this House, we have made considerable progress.

We have made effective interventions in our efforts to improve the quality of learning and teaching across the schooling system in Gauteng. However, in the previous year we went through difficult and challenging times. The country was engulfed by massive public sector strikes which adversely impacted on learning and teaching in our schools. Despite this, the class of 2010 was able to make us proud. One such story of hard work and hope is that of Skhumbuzo Selby Nkutha, who achieved six distinctions. Today, Skhumbuzo is the deserving recipient of R40000 funding, which is part of the R58 million bursary scheme offered by the Gauteng Provincial Government.

For the first time in the history of Gauteng, we are proud to occupy the number one spot in the Matric results in the country. We achieved a 6,8% increase in the matric pass rate, which rose from 71,8% in 2009 to 78.6% in 2010.

In 2011, our intervention programs will continue to target learners in Grades 10-12, focusing on subjects such as Geography, History and Business Studies, in schools where performance was poor. With the involvement and support of parents, educators and learners, we are on track to achieve our goal of an 80% pass rate by 2014.

We have expanded access to Early Childhood Development (ECD)and Grade R, with 448 ECD sites across the province and the training of ECD practitioners. A total of 442 Grade R classrooms were delivered to sites across Gauteng in 2010.It is through investment at this level that we can begin to prepare and produce dynamic Matriculants of the future.

We successfully expanded the School Nutrition Programme to all no-fee paying secondary schools. The total number of primary and secondary school learners that benefited from the nutrition programme during 2010 is was 795785.

We have taken important steps in improving public health care this year. In response to calls from our communities, 21 Community Health Centres (CHCs) now provide a 24-hour services in Gauteng and have reduced waiting times for patients.

We now have fast queues for chronic and old-age patients and dedicated queue marshals. The availability of essential medicines has improved, with dedicated vehicles to assist with emergency medication deliveries to the health institutions.

We have taken school health services to 1431 public schools, with a focus on Grade R, 1 and 7.

We are all too aware of the devastating impact that the death of even one baby, child or mother has on a family. The reduction of maternal and infant mortality has been a top priority and is at the heart of our work to improve public health services.

Preliminary figures indicate that the maternal mortality rate has decreased from 154 to 139 deaths per 100,000 from 2009 to 2010.

Among our key interventions to reduce infant and child mortality is to protect children against diseases that can be prevented through vaccination. Our immunization programme has proven to be effective.

The availability of neonatal ICU beds is crucial in reducing infant mortality. Steps have been taken to improve the neonatal wards at Charlotte Maxeke, Dr George Mukhari and Natalspruit hospitals with additional neonatal ICU beds and dedicated nurses.

We have made good progress in fulfilling our commitment to deal effectively with HIV and AIDS and TB. By the end of 2010 we were providing over 357,000 people with anti-retroviral treatment against our target of 400,000 by the end of the financial year.

Madam Speaker and Honourable Members, I wish to thank all those, including members of the public who came as volunteers and private companies, especially Mediclinic, Life Hospital group and Netcare, who came to our aid during the public sector strike last year. Their support and interventions helped save the lives of many of our patients, including about 80 innocent babies. Above all, a special thanks goes to Netcarefor donating 30 incubators to Charlotte Maxeke and Natalspruit hospitals.

This is a demonstration of what we can achieve through strong partnerships. We will seek to build on these partnerships in the new year to provide better services to our people.

Visible policing in the province has improved and joint operations continue under the command of the South African Police Services. The leadership role played by SAPS under the new provincial commissioner has demonstrated that through integrated plans and sharing of resources, we can combat crime more effectively.

We have strengthened the partnership in crime prevention and have begun to build on the legacy of the World Cup where the criminal justice system was swift and effective. Specialised courts and sectoral policing are yielding good results.

We are on course in implementing the Gauteng Employment Growth and Development Strategy,through which we will contribute to job creation.

With regard to the development of vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities contributing towards food security, we have worked with development finance bodies to help emerging farmers access finance. Technical and advisory support has been given to 131 farmers to help them become viable entrepreneurs.

As part of food security we have provided tools, seeds, compost, materials and equipment for the development of 977 gardens in areas such as Randfontein, Germiston and Tshwane.

Under the programme of human settlements, spatial development and land management, we have delivered 664952 housing units in the Province since 1994. So far this financial year, we have delivered 21028 units and 21470 serviced sites, yielding 51392 jobs. Gauteng remains a leading province in the development of sustainable human settlement, albeit the minimal resources at our disposal and the high cost of land development in our province.

Through the Alexandra Renewal Programme, the province, together with the City of Johannesburg has invested more than R2 billion in infrastructure development. We have concluded 18 projects, delivering 7460 housing units, 4 schools and new roads.

The rehabilitation of Jukskei River banks and the recreation parks is ongoing. A state of the art police station was built in partnership with Vodacom, as well as the Pan African Development Mall.

As part of the Evaton Urban Renewal we are building new houses and upgrading old ones. The Mafatsane Thusong Service Centre has been completed. Work in Evaton will continue with the installation of solar powered street lighting, the development of the commercial precinct and the eradication of the dehumanising bucket system and improved waste management services.