Makhura: ‘Wait a little on e-tolls’
President to announce e-toll decision, he says
‘ ‘ 10k serviced stands across Gauteng to be released
Gauteng residents will have to wait a little longer to know what will happen to e-tolling in the province.
Yesterday, Gauteng premier David Makhura announced in his state of the province address that a decision had been taken on e-tolling but it would be communicated by the highest office in the land.
“As the executive council, we made a strong and persuasive case to national government on the e-tolls. I have been assured by President Cyril Ramaphosa that a lasting solution has been found and an announcement by the president is imminent,” Makhura.
E-tolling has been a thorny issue for Makhura and his administration which rejected the system which went live in December 2013.
Makhura outlined his government’s plan to grow the economy of Gauteng and create jobs in his state of the province address at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in GaRankuwa, Tshwane, yesterday.
Makhura said 10 focus sectors have been identified for investment. These are transport and logistics; ICT, media and digital services; tourism and hospitality; agri-food and agri-business; construction and infrastructure; automotive, aero space and defence; financial services; cultural and creative industries and the cannabis industry.
He presented a number of initiatives which will be implemented over a 10-year period to grow the Gauteng economy and improve governance.
To create employment, repairs and maintenance of public facilities will be done by township artisans from May.
Provincial government will also spend R4bn in sourcing goods and services from 2,000 township businesses.
A framework will be developed to support 500 cooperatives to supply uniforms, dignity packs and food packs for vulnerable households, instead of sourcing these from established businesses.
A township economic development bill will be tabled before the provincial legislature in June to address hurdles faced by small businesses.
“This new law will nullify all bylaws that inhibit, frustrate and suppress the operation of small business and informal businesses in our province. This new law will create new conditions for small and township businesses to create wealth and employment as they grow and prosper.”
Provincial government will also release 10,000 serviced stands across Gauteng between April and June to reduce the burden on the state to provide fully subsidised houses.
Partnerships have already been entered into with National Housing Finance Corporation, Indlu and Umastandi social entrepreneurs, to enable township property owners to develop formal backrooms in the townships.
This is expected to provide an additional 250,000 people with affordable accommodation over the next five to 10 years.
Makhura also said the government will reopen 70 township schools which have been closed due to low enrolment and poor performance.
To further meet demand for schools, 100 new schools will be built over the next 10 years.
“We are expanding the offerings in the technical skills through investment in technical school and schools of specialisation. By 2025, every district will have at least two schools of specialisation that are linked to the 10 highgrowth sectors.”
There will also be six new hospitals built in the same period. Another 10 will undergo major renovations in the next two years.
Makhura said he would review agencies of provincial government as some had become fertile spaces for corruption. “In addition, all officials who are part of supply chain management and human resources processes must be vetted with effect from April this year. Most of tender corruption happens through these two units.”