The Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa, The Honourable, Dunstan Mlambo
Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature, Comrade Ntombi Mekgwe
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Leaders of political parties
Ladies and gentlemen
People of Gauteng
I am very humbled for the opportunity given to me to serve as the Premier of Gauteng.
I would also like to thank you the people of South Africa and in particular the people of Gauteng for strengthening our constitutional democracy, by voting in in big numbers on 7 May 2014, general elections.
I would also like to thank the IEC and all the institutions and individuals who worked hard to ensure that we hold free and fair elections.
As we celebrate twenty years of freedom and democracy, we are proud that we continue to promote the legacy of Mandela, that of upholding the Constitution and building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, united and prosperous society.
Ladies and gentlemen, as South Africans, we have a responsibility to work for peace, democracy and justice for all.
We will, going forward work with the rest of society, to strengthen constitutional democracy.
We will also work with the continent and the diaspora to promote peace, democracy and justice for all.
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the people of Gauteng for their continued support of the African National Congress. They have given us a mandate to continue to build a better life for all and we will not fail.
I would like to assure you, as the ANC government, we will work with you and ensure that Gauteng continues to be a better place to live in and move Gauteng forward.
Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Former Premier, Comrade Nomvula Mokonyane, the executive council and the administration led by the Director-General on the work done in the past five years.
I want to assure you that we will take forward the work done by the ANC government over the past twenty years.
We will in the state of the province address outline in detail the programme of action to implement the ANC’s mandate as contained in the 2014 Manifesto.
People of Gauteng, during the election campaign we have been in every part of the province to listen and engage with you on your dreams and aspirations for a better Gauteng.
We have been to Bekkersdal, been to Winterveld, Zithobeni, Thokoza to talk to our people in the hostels.
We have been to Elias Motsoaledi in Soweto. We have been to Sicelo in the Midvaal.
We will urgently return to these communities with a plan to address urgent service delivery and development challenges facing them.
Ladies and gentlemen, Gauteng remains the fourth largest economy in the continent. As the ANC government we will improve our plans to ensure that we surpass the contribution of Gauteng economy into the national GDP and in the continent.
We will put greater efforts in building a growing and inclusive economy, wherein many of our people and in particular Black people, the youth and women become part of the mainstream economy. We have identified sectors in the Gauteng economy that have potential to create decent jobs.
We will also ensure that the people of Gauteng have access to quality health care and receive the best education. We will do this because we need to produce a healthy skilled nation that will ensure that Gauteng becomes globally competitive.
We will also continue to improve access to social security especially for the most vulnerable in our communities.
Working with Municipalities, we will also ensure that we strengthen the delivery of services to our people.
Working with Municipalities, will also ensure that we build human settlements that are integrated and sustainable. In this regard we will strengthen the capacity of Municipalities to effectively deliver on this mandate.
In order to reduce the cost of doing business in Gauteng, we will continue to increase investment in improving public transport infrastructure.
Ladies and gentlemen, we will also be working with national government to ensure that we implement the national development plan vision 2030 aimed at reducing poverty and creating much needed work opportunities for our people.
This will also include the fight against crime and corruption.
Madam Speaker, the elections are over, it is now hands on deck, we will leave no stone unturned as we seek to improve the lives of our people and make Gauteng a better place to live in.
Working with the Speaker and the rest of the political parties we will ensure that we uphold the constitution, promote an activist and vibrate legislature that works with the people of Gauteng.
Together we move South Africa Forward! I thank you!
