Lesufi promises to crack whip
GAUTENG Premier Panyaza Lesufi conceded that more has to be done when it comes to combating crime, which has taken a lot of innocent lives in the province.
He was speaking at his maiden State of the Province Address (Sopa) in Johannesburg last night.
“If I had a choice, I would not deliver this Sopa, as our people have lost confidence in what we say. They think we talk too much and do less. My preference would have been to take you to different sites of Gauteng to showcase the work we have done. Let me assure, we will talk less and do more. We are getting Gauteng back to work,” Lesufi said.
“Today, let’s openly admit, our province is a home of heartless and merciless criminals. They do as they wish.” Lesufi said the issue of fighting crime should be their apex priority.
“To this end, we are increasing our budget for fighting crime from R750 million to a multibillion (figure) in the next three years.
“Starting from April 1, 2023, we will start to connect suburbs, townships, business districts, schools, and other public places with hi-tech, faceand car-recognition CCTVs.”
Lesufi added: “We have allocated a specific fund to respond to GBV, including strengthening the green doors project and working with Ikhaya Lethemba.
“We have donated 75 cars and mobile police stations to the police.”
He said as of April 1 this year, they would use 60% of the R34 billion goods and services budget to support township initiatives.
“We are establishing a digital database (the township business register) of all businesses in townships,” Lesufi said.
The non-government sector received more than R2bn from the provincial government.
He said with this amount of funding, they should be impactful in the fight against social ills.
When it comes to roads and transport, residents of Gauteng would be pleased to know e-tolls have been scrapped. “Together with the ministries of Finance and Transport, we will make a joint announcement. Together with the national government, we are on the verge of agreeing on all matters that will finally allow us to gazette switching off the gantries – matters related to debt repayment and the money collected from paying customers as well as funds not collected from non-paying customers,” he said.