Gauteng's long-term plan, Vision 2055, aims to turn around the economy of the province so not to only rely on mining, says Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.
Speaking on the new Africa Business News (formerly CNBC Africa) political economy programme, Political Exchange, presented by seasoned journalist, Karima Brown, Mokonyane outlined the key pillars of the province's long-term plan and an array of other issues.
The full interview will be aired tonight on DSTV channel 410 at 21h00.
Mokonyane said Gauteng had moved beyond just being a province."Vision 2055 is about building South Africa and looking at issues of infrastructure. We want to earn the status of Gauteng being a Gateway to Africa.
"Vision 2055 is seeking to create Gauteng City-Region; we are looking at the economy beyond our borders because Gauteng also creates economic life of other neighbouring towns and cities that are within the other provinces," said Mokonyane.
She said it was within those bases that when Gauteng was looking at road infrastructure, development of new highways and revitalisation of rail that the linkage went beyond the borders of Gauteng.
One of our immediate plans is to create the link between Gauteng, Mozambique and Harare because Gauteng is also becoming a shopping mecca for Africa.
According to Mokonyane, this regional development initiative is critical to the achievement of the region's economic and political objectives.
"We have also taken a firm decision to prioritise the Durban-Johannesburg corridor which will make huge transport improvements that will enhance the freight industry and open up more opportunities to grow the sector," she said.
With regard to the recent Auditor-General report on audit outcomes, Mokonyane said all was not gloom and doom.
"No department in the province received a disclaimer. In our metros it was only Johannesburg that received the qualified audit opinion.
"Gauteng has had a bad reputation especially on payments of service providers; this was largely due to the fact that departments outsourced project management," she said, adding that now government has taken out the middle man.
She said the Premier's Budget Council also plays a key role in interrogating contracts of all departments on quarterly basis.
In addition, Mokonyane said her government's plan was to develop a single system of local government in the province which would see the economically struggling municipalities being incorporated into vibrant ones.
What it actually means is that it would finally change the current boundaries of our cities and towns into fewer municipalities, she said.
"We are working with the West Rand Municipality and Sedibeng where we have some of the municipalities that are not financially viable, that do not have a revenue base. We want to create a unicity," she said.
Currently there are two district municipalities, three metros and seven local municipalities in Gauteng.
The ABN's Political Exchange premiered this week with South African President, Jacob Zuma, as the launch guest.
The programme seeks to help businesses make strategic decisions by providing a platform to unpack key policy issues affecting the business environment through interviews and debates with leading politicians, government policymakers and business leaders.
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Gauteng's vision 2055 to reduce province's reliance on mining - Mokonyane
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