By Nangamso Mabindla

2 July 2008

THE Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) expects to have invested a total of R37 billion in infrastructure development and created 49 000 jobs through its expanded public works programme by the end of the current financial year.

The mammoth infrastructure investment is in keeping with the provincial government's mandate to drive growth and investment.

While delivering his budget vote at the Gauteng Legislature on Monday 30 June, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said the fact that the Gauteng economy had grown by 20% over the past five years while unemployment had decreased by 25.7% over the same period, shows that the GPG had made significant progress in meeting the needs of its people.

Areas where notable success had been enjoyed included growing the economy, developing skills, growing small and micro enterprises, creating income generating opportunities, and providing basic services.

"We can boldly say that we will deliver on the commitments we made in 2004 that today will be better than yesterday. The budget further confirms that we will lay the foundation for the realisation of vision 2014 thus ensuring that tomorrow is better than today," Shilowa said.

He added that as the current government concluded the final year of delivery on their programme of action, they were confident that they would complete their mandate and establish a firm foundation for the realization of the vision to drastically reduce unemployment and poverty by 2014.

While highlighting the province's achievements during his term of office, the Premier conceded that challenges still existed.

"Crime remains a major challenge for all of us. Together with unemployment and housing it is one of the priority areas that communities from all walks of lives expect government to help bring down considerably."

"We know that some of our people, particularly the poor, are currently facing economic pressures such as increases in the cost of living. But, as we have said before, working with our people we will do everything to ensure that we weather this storm," he said.

He emphasised that by remaining focused on strategic priorities; the provincial government would achieve its promise of a better life for all. Areas of focus include for the year include:

• Building Gauteng as a socially inclusive, integrated and globally competitive city region which is able to sustain high growth levels and meet the needs of its entire people.
• Accelerating the implementation of the social development strategy to provide a social safety net to the poor and the vulnerable and give more people an opportunity to move from dependence to productive economic activity
• Building the capacity of the developmental state to effectively implement our programmes and improve service delivery.

To cushion the poor against the impact of rising food and oil prices and climbing interest rates, the province is providing social assistance relief for those in dire need.

He added that the "the situation further demands that we accelerate our offensive against poverty and implement our social development strategy. Together with municipalities we will speed up the provision of a pro-poor package of services to the poorest households such as free basic water and electricity, rates rebates, social grants, free health care, free education, food for poor children and families in distress and services for the elderly."

Through the expanded public works programme, government will continue to provide jobs, skills development and other economic opportunities to help people to look after themselves and their families. To further address marginalisation and inequality; we will focus on completing the work we have started to improve the 20 priority townships and fast-track infrastructure development in these areas, he said.

"We will waste neither hour, nor day in the coming months as we engage in our final push to make Gauteng a better place to live in for its entire people," he said.

Source: GPG.gov.za