The Gauteng Executive Council on 13 to 4 July 2010 held its ordinary meeting in Johannesburg. The meeting was chaired by Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and attended by all MECs.
The Executive Council expressed profound appreciation for the efforts of the people of Gauteng in making the 2010 FIFA World Cup a resounding success. The three spheres of government in close collaboration with FIFA and the Organising Committee worked hard to ensure that the world cup was a success.
The Gauteng Provincial Government did everything to ensure that the first ever World Cup to be staged on African soil was not only successful but also exciting. The entire month of the world cup was characterised by exhilarating football action and great festivities throughout Gauteng.
We are proud to say that as South Africa, in particular Gauteng, we have been great hosts. The visitors who came here to be part of this historic occasion have had a great time in Gauteng and we are hopeful that many of them will return to this beautiful province in future.
Success for the world cup could not have been possible without the patriotic role of the people of South Africa. With their warmth, friendliness and hospitality; the people have made a lasting positive impression on the world, dispelling negative perceptions about South Africa.
As government we also used the world cup to strengthen existing international relations and establish new friendships. A number of commitments were made with some of the visiting countries and these will be followed up with more discussions on specific projects. We have asked the Gauteng City Region Observatory to conduct a study to determine the full benefits that accrued from the world cup.
The resounding success of the FIFA World Cup has raised our country’s confidence to bid for more world sporting events, with the 2020 Olympic Games being identified as one of these events. The Gauteng Provincial Government will support any of the South African cities which may decide to bid for the Olympic Games. We will offer our expertise on big infrastructure planning and development to any of the South African cities that gets awarded the right to host the games.
Throughout the period of the world cup we have seen unprecedented levels of national cohesion.This must be sustained even after the world cup and as government we will do everything we can to encourage South Africans to keep the national flag flying high.
The Executive Council reaffirmed that it took the correct decision when deciding to purchase 4 613 world cup tickets at a cost of just over R4 million. The decision to purchase the tickets was based on the need for government to take reasonable steps to afford deserving Gauteng residents who would not be able to afford to buy tickets an opportunity to attend some of the world cup matches. These included learners from poor schools, orphanages, special homes and amateur football teams.
The Executive Council also agreed that there was a need for the provincial government to provide match tickets to some of its key strategic partners including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community organisations and other organised formations so that they too could be part of the historic occasion.
More than 3 000 tickets were distributed to schools, orphanages, special homes and amateur football clubs. The rest of the tickets were given to the strategic partners of government. MECs were allocated tickets for the purpose of hosting and networking with the government’s strategic partners.
The Executive Council has approved specific measures to support cooperatives in the province. These include the establishment of a cooperatives forum to facilitate engagement between government and this sector on an independent basis. Government will provide administrative and technical support, create access to state procurement and market opportunities. Cooperatives will be included in the database of service providers.
Through the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Strategy, the Gauteng Provincial Government will also address inequalities and enable the majority of the people in the province to participate meaningfully in economic activities and contribute towards economic growth. The provincial government will substantially increase spend on B-BBEE-accredited and small micro and medium enterprise (SMME) suppliers, so that by 2014, 80% of the GPG’s procurement needs will be met by BBBEE-accredited enterprises and the remaining 20% of services needed, will be provided by SMMEs.
The Executive Council has discussed the possibility of the resurgence of xenophobia related violence. We have made an observation that the so-called xenophobic attacks are nothing, but acts of criminality. Anybody who is caught staging attacks on foreign nationals will be dealt with decisively. A political team has also been set up to monitor the situation and our law enforcement agencies are prepared to deal with any eventuality.
Our people, including our brothers and sisters from other African countries, have during the world cup displayed unprecedented love and affection towards one another. This was evident in the support they gave to the Ghanaian football team, the Black Stars. We are hopeful that this spirit of African unity will continue beyond the world cup. Also, as we approach Mandela Day the spirit of camaraderie and celebration should be sustained.
The Executive Council will also be participating in the process of appointing a new Provincial Commissioner of Police as the term of office of the current commissioner is coming to an end at the end of this month July.
The Executive Council has thrown its full weight behind the Nelson Mandela Day campaign. On the 18 July 2010 members of the Executive Council will visit schools in ten different areas throughout Gauteng to make a contribution to education by engaging in various activities to improve the condition of the province’s schools. I will also be visiting a school in Kagiso, where I, as part of promoting access to books and the right to read, will be donating books to the school library.
We urge all the people of Gauteng to spare just 67 minutes on Nelson Mandela Day to do something to improve the lives of our children.
For more information contact:
Thabo Masebe
Cell: 082 410 8087
