Same old, same old Sopa
SHALLOW: ‘FAILED TO SHOW WHAT PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT ACHIEVED’
Gauteng premier accused of plagiarising president’s State of the Nation address.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s State of the Province address (Sopa) was a rehash of last year – lacking in achievements or milestones – and which, in some parts, plagiarised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation address (Sona), SA Communist Party activist Ndzipo Kalipa said yesterday.
The former public accounts standing committee member in the Gauteng legislature said Makhura had “failed to show how the ANC-led provincial government made tangible achievements on its objectives”.
“A year ago, the premier of Gauteng told us about developing a township economy and empowering locals,” said Kalipa. “But, where are the milestones that demonstrate what he has achieved in black townships?
“He talks about a social compact in 10 high-growth sectors, when he mentioned the same compact a year ago.
“All we see in our townships is a mushrooming of malls, which have squeezed small family-owned shops out of business.
“Where is there social compact when in Soweto about R6 billion is flowing out ... to banks, not benefitting the (small, micro and medium enterprises) sector.”
Kalipa added: “Premier Makhura should be telling us how he plans revamping his government as a caring one, particularly when looking at the plight of small businesses – a show that big business still has a monopoly.
“Public procurement in Gauteng is not transparent,” he said. “[It serves] a certain group of people with strong political and factional links.
“How does one talk job creation when, in Ekurhuleni alone, you have a 36% unemployment rate?
“If he is talking about the public works programme part-time jobs, lasting for only two months, he is not talking real jobs.”
Makhura, said Kalipa, “should stop plagiarising the Sona speech recently delivered by President Ramaphosa”.
“He must say what he is doing and not take credit for what the president has done,” said Kalipa.
“When he talks about compact with business, he should explain how come the SA Breweries is retrenching 160 workers at Ekurhuleni, if there was a compact?”
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