DA gives Makhura its Sopa wish-list
THE DA in Gauteng wants provincial Premier David Makhura to prioritise and attract more investments to create job opportunities in the economic hub of the country.
DA Gauteng caucus leader Solly Msimanga made the call ahead of Makhura’s State of the Province Address (Sopa) at the University of Johannesburg in Soweto today.
Msimanga said the address was taking place at a critical time as Gauteng faced serious challenges of unemployment, lack of service delivery, high levels of crime and corruption.
He also commented on Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu’s 2017/18 report which found that the DA-led Midvaal Local Municipality was the only one in the province that sustained a clean audit outcome for five consecutive years.
“It is deeply concerning that some of our municipalities are failing to obtain clean audit outcomes due to the lack of financial accountability, maladministration and corruption.
“Premier Makhura has been elected for office for the second time and we hope that he has learnt from the previous term’s mistakes and will work to make things better for the people of Gauteng.”
He said as a leader of the opposition in the Gauteng legislature, his party would fully support Makhura if he acted in the best interests of the people by fighting corruption and speeding up service delivery.
Detailing his party expectations, Msimanga said Makhura should prioritise speeding up service delivery, improve access to quality healthcare and reduce queues and waiting times at all provincial healthcare facilities and provincial institutions.
He also said Makhura should aim to grow the Gauteng economy and attract more investment by revitalising and expanding industrial parks; create fair access to jobs and employment opportunities through promoting skills for jobs and apprenticeship; fight corruption and deal with safety in schools and maintenance of school infrastructure.
“If the Sopa addresses our expectations, then together we will build one Gauteng for all. We will win the battle against unemployment, corruption and poor service delivery and poverty.
“We will grow Africa’s economic hub,” Msimanga said.
Meanwhile, Equal Education (EE) is planning to stage a protest at the UJ campus when Makhura delivers his Sopa.
EE Gauteng head Sello Mabunda said they were demanding that Makhura hold MEC of Education Panyaza Lesufi accountable for his failure to urgently and adequately address school infrastructure challenges in the province.
“Gauteng still has schools made of inappropriate materials, such as asbestos, as well as sanitation facilities in urgent need of maintenance.
“Equal Education members have articulated that the state of sanitation in their schools remains deplorable and unhygienic, despite the upgrades and renovations made by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).
“Learners face severe challenges around shortages of toilet facilities, lack of privacy in school bathrooms because of broken locks, and unhygienic conditions due to limited cleaning staff,” Mabunda said.
He said Makhura must ensure that his government met the 2020 Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure deadline, which clearly stipulated that schools must be provided with adequate sanitation.
In addition, he said the provincial government should provide an adequate supply of classrooms to reduce overcrowding.
“EE is disappointed at the fact that the GDE has violated the 2016 Norms and Standards deadline by failing to eradicate schools made of asbestos across the province. The GDE states it will eradicate the 29 schools entirely made of asbestos by 2023 – this is not good enough.
“This life-threatening substance poses a threat to the health of learners and teachers. Makhura and Lesufi must prioritise the eradication of asbestos in all schools across the province.
“The premier must ensure Lesufi fulfils his mandate to adequately fix school infrastructure…” he said.