8 February 2006
Premier Mbhazima Shilowa will deliver his annual State of the Province
address when he opens the Gauteng legislature on Monday, 13 February 2006.
His speech is expected to take stock of the progress made by the Gauteng
government in fulfilling the mandate received from the people of Gauteng in
2004 to create work and fight poverty.
Shilowa is expected to pay close attention to plans to boost economic growth
and invest in strategic economic infrastructure as well as measures to promote
small business and black economic empowerment.
Housing, health and education issues are also expected to feature
prominently, as well as issues relating to the rights of women, youth, children
and people with disability. Commemorative days will also feature, since 2006
marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of South Africa's Constitution, the
30th anniversary of the June 16 Soweto uprising and 50 years since the 1956
women's march to the Union Buildings.
He will also outline plans to make Gauteng a better place in the year ahead
in line with the Gauteng government's five year programme which has the
following key pillars.
* Enabling faster economic growth and job creation, including through
promoting labour absorbing growth sectors, broad based wealth creation and
supporting Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and small, medium and
micro-enterprises (SMMEs).
* Fighting poverty and building safe, secure and sustainable communities, with
a focus on upgrading community infrastructure and ensuring a strong safety net
for the poor.
* Developing healthy, skilled and productive people, including through the
development of caring, responsive and quality health services and investment in
quality education.
* Deepening democracy and realising the constitutional rights of our people,
including through youth development, women's empowerment and access to
information about government.
* Building an effective and caring government through improving the capacity of
the public service and mechanisms to improve the public service's
responsiveness to citizens' needs.
Members of the public are invited to Beyers Naudé Square outside the Gauteng
Legislature in Johannesburg for a live screening of the speech and the
legislature proceedings. Live entertainment including Solly Moholo, Malaika,
Mandoza and Ghetto Lingo will be provided. Buses will be provided from certain
areas. Members of the public can call 011 376 7020 for more information on how
to access the speech.
Live broadcasts of the speech will also be carried on key radio stations as
well as on the Gauteng government portal, www.gautengonline.gov.za.
Details are as follows:
For the Opening of Legislature
Date: 13 February 2006
Time: 09h30
Venue: Cnr Loveday and President Streets, Legislature, Johannesburg
For the Beyers Naudé Square live screening
Date: 13 February
Time: from 08h00
Venue: Cnr Market, Simmonds and President Streets, Johannesburg
For more information contact:
Shalo Mbatha
Tel: (011) 355 6036
Cell: 082 374 7455 or
Annette Griessel
Tel: (011) 355 6859
Cell: 082 563 3614
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
8 February 2006
