Mokonyane outlines achievements since 2009
Delivering her sixth and last State of the Province Address under the current administration, at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Premier Mokonyane reflected on both the successes of the current administration, as well as the development on Gauteng province over the past 20 years.
Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane reflected on the provincial government’s ability to implemented strategic priorities such as education, health, safety, jobs, human settlements and rural development.
“We increased the number of leaner enrolment in the ordinary public schools, especially in the no-fee schools. We have 1,7 million learners in 2070 schools across the province. Of this 1,6 million learners are in 1334 no fee paying school,” said Mokonyane. Over 127 000 learners are now enrolled in Grade R and more than 470 000 learners received free uniforms in the province.
With regard to health, Mokonyane said her government introduced major improvements in access to health care and promotion of health awareness status. “We saw an increase in the life expectancy due to the Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) rollout; whilst the HIV infection rate and HIV-related maternal mortality went down drastically,” she said.
Furthermore, the province embarked on a strategic economic infrastructure that was intended to turnaround the province. The first generation of major infrastructure project branded as Blue IQ turned Gauteng into a construction site. These included amongst others the Gautrain, Expansion of City Deep, upgrade of Newtown precinct, development of the Automotive Hub in Tshwane, Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg, the Cradle of Humankind in the West Rand and Expansion of the OR Tambo International Airport.
These projects contributed immensely to the transport system, the tourism sector and general economic activity. Mokonyane noted that since the ruling party came into power in 1994, that it deracialised the human settlement patterns. “We redesigned the apartheid spatial developments through Cosmo City, Bricksfield in the Inner City, Diepsloot in Dainfern and Olievenhoutbosch in Tshwane to name but a few,” she said.
Mokonyane said in 2009, her administration had to take bold decisions on issues of management, leadership, financial controls, accountability, as well as matters related to accelerating service delivery. “We also dealt with matters related to turnaround times of procurement and payment of goods and services,” she said.
In addition, the Premier committed her government to a range of interventions that will create more jobs, decent work and sustainable livelihood for inclusive growth focusing on areas such as economic infrastructure such as the implementation of Gauteng - KwaZulu-Natal rail corridor, the development of more Freight and Logistics Hubs, and research and development through Innovation Centre amongst others.
“We shall address crimes against vulnerable groups and focus on implementation of social crime prevention programmes, with a particular focus on crimes against women and children and reducing substance abuse.
“Together with our communities, the national government and law-enforcement agencies we will reinforce our fight by taking up the fight against those who peddle drugs,” she said.
She further noted that Gauteng Vision 2055 priorities called upon government to provide inclusive integrated human settlements on well-located land and improved living environments.
