By Ndaba Dlamini

Political leaders from across Gauteng have identified areas in which they will cooperate to stimulate economic growth, giving substance to the idea of the province as a global city-region.

Provincial and municipal leaders in Gauteng, have set themselves a target of achieving an eight percent economic growth rate by the year 2014.

This was said by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa during a media briefing on the outcome of the Gauteng Extended Executive Retreat, a conference held from 5 to 7 September to review progress in fulfilling government's mandate and set common priorities for the years ahead.

The retreat, attended by Shilowa, members of the Executive Council, Gauteng's District and Metropolitan Mayors, municipal managers and heads of Gauteng government departments, noted that the Gauteng economy had experienced "unprecedented and sustained growth" over the past decade with a decline in unemployment from 30,4 percent in September 2001 to 22,8 percent in September 2005.

"Through implementing the initiative to build Gauteng as a globally competitive city region, the Gauteng Growth and Development Strategy and Local Growth and Development Strategies, the province hopes to achieve an eight percent growth rate by 2014 and contribute to the national goal to halve poverty and unemployment," said Shilowa.

The retreat reaffirmed the province's plans to see municipalities in the province working together, rationalising their use of resources to reduce poverty and generate wealth as the province grapples with urbanisation and migration.

"It was agreed that the initiative needs to be further institutionalised at all levels, including through the strengthening of both municipal and provincial government, the strengthening of inter-governmental relations and the improved functioning of the premier's co-ordinating forum and its related technical structures."

The agreement will see municipalities adopt common policies and plans would in the areas of safety and security, transport infrastructure and authorities, integrated safety and transport system, sustainable human settlements and investment and tourism promotion.

"Certain identified flagship projects would be fast-tracked as part of the establishment of the city region and these include the preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the development of the creative industries sector," Shilowa said.

One of the goals of the global city-region is to address uneven development and inequalities in the province, according to Shilowa. Particular attention, therefore, would be paid to stimulating higher levels of economic activity in Gauteng's three districts, Metsweding, Sedibeng and the West Rand. These municipalities are currently less developed than Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.

As a corrective measure, Shilowa said the province would go all out to develop the municipalities to stimulate investment, tourism and job creation.

The retreat noted that a successful Gauteng city-region will depend on a sound transport infrastructure and the province has put in place an integrated transport strategy to improve the province's public transport system.

Key aspects of the integrated transport strategy will include the following:

"The construction of the Gautrain will be a key backbone of the province's integrated transport network. We are ready to commence with construction and will have a sod-turning ceremony at the end of September," Shilowa said.

Initiatives to broaden access to economic opportunities among black people, especially youth and women, will be further expanded and consolidated. The Gauteng broad-based black economic empowerment strategy (BBBEE) and the preferential procurement and the Gauteng Enterprise Propellor which provides support for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) remain central in this regard.

"The Gauteng government target is to have 70 percent of its procurement done by BBBEE companies by 2009. It has agreed that all municipalities should adopt BBBEE strategies and that resources devoted to SMMEs support should be combined to maximise their impact and reach. Plans are afoot to mobilise private sector capital to enable more BBBEE companies to participate in the mainstream economy."

One key priority in developing sustainable human settlements in the Gauteng city-region is the need to address apartheid era settlement patterns and build "safe and sustainable communities", said Shilowa.

"We are continuing to implement an integrated housing strategy which provides a variety of housing solutions for the unemployed, for low and middle income earners, for those who need places to rent and so on."

Detailed plans to renew 20 prioritised townships in Gauteng have been approved and the province will be launching the R3-billion plan in Tembisa on Wednesday, 13 September. The province, together with municipalities, will continue to fast-track upgrading of backyard shacks, the formalisation of identified existing informal settlements by 2009 and their eradication by 2014.

The retreat agreed that crime levels remain unacceptably high and that crime impacts negatively on the quality of life of our people and that it is a threat to our development and the Gauteng Safety Plan, to be released later this week, has been developed as a comprehensive strategy to identify priorities to deal decisively with crime in the province.

Shilowa said government and all law enforcement agencies must adopt a zero tolerance approach to crime and that all peace loving South Africans should be called upon to work harder to entrench a culture of respect for the law at all levels of society.

"We plan to intensify the visibility of metro police in all cities and it is important that communities work together with police in order to reduce crime. In most cases, police depend on the public because most criminals live amongst us."

The delegates agreed that the role of the Metro Police should go beyond traffic law enforcement to include crime prevention. The municipal courts will be reviewed with a view to strengthen them.

Gauteng will host three of the match venues including some of the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The provincial government, together with municipalities has developed an integrated 2010 implementation plan to ensure that Gauteng is ready to contribute to the successful hosting of the games.

"The province will use the opportunity to upgrade infrastructure, particularly transport and sports infrastructure, to create a lasting legacy for the people of Gauteng. The province will seek to position itself to effectively use the opportunity of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to market and brand the province as a destination for investment, tourism competitive sport and the creative industries."

Gauteng is fast expanding with growing urbanisation and growing population densities, a threat to the environment and sustainable development if not managed properly. The retreat agreed that environmental considerations impact directly on Gauteng citizens and that there is a need to balance the demands of rapid development with consideration of the environmental impact of development and the need for long-term sustainability.

Shilowa said initiatives such as Bontle Ke Botho campaign have contributed to improving the environment across the province.

"We need parks not only in the northern suburbs of cities like Johannesburg but in townships as well. More attention should be paid to cleaning up the environment and beautifying and greening underdeveloped and poor communities. This should include cleaning up rivers, planting trees and providing attractive parks for recreational purposes."

There was also a need for a significant upscaling of the expanded public works programme, a project to provide short-term job opportunities to unemployed people, to expand its impact and to pay more attention to driving it in the social, environmental and economic development sectors, said Shilowa.

"All these plans can only succeed if local governments and the province go on a capacity-building drive. It's not just money and people only that will ensure accelerated delivery and better performance within these spheres of government, but skills as well."

Source: Johannesburg News Agency