Lerato Mailoane
Gauteng
Premier David Makhura has hailed the Transformation, Modernisation and
Re-Industrialisation (TMR) as a success saying the roadmap has achieved a lot since
its inception.
“Through
the TMR we invested R80 billion in infrastructure projects in all five corridors
of Gauteng over the past five years since 2015, which created 90 000 jobs.
“We
also invested in new schools, new clinics, rehabilitation of hospitals, new
libraries, upgrading roads and community halls. We also rolled out the Gauteng
Broadband network, which has connected1181 sites including schools, hospitals
and industrial sites,” said Makhura 
Makhura
was responding to questions in the virtual legislature sitting of the Gauteng
Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, 1 September 2020, on the relationship
between the Transformation Modernisation and Re-industrialisation (TMR) and
Growing Gauteng Together (GGT2030) strategy. 
He
said during the five years of the TMR the provincial government did not have
special focus and as a result it came up with the GGT2030 strategy  which is about taking forward the
implementation of the Ten-Pillar Programme of transformation, modernisation and
reindustrialisation of the Gauteng economy. 
Gauteng’s
plan to implement the GGT2030 was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We
were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic which has had a devastating effect on
economy. 
Makhura
said the provincial government would continue with the plan but in the immediate
future, priority would be given to Small, Micro, Medium, Enterprises (SMMEs) and
township enterprise empowerment which would get financial support (partnership
fund) with an injection of R250 million from the public purse, catalysing a
total support pool of R1 billion for township-based, township linked SMMEs. 
He
said the fund would give the SMMEs business development support, support economic
development through regulatory reform and programmes.
The
fund will further ensure capacity building linked to policy enforcement to meet
local content and targeted procurement standards.  
To
further stimulate the economy, he said government would boost the province’s
five corridors through infrastructure investment.
“We
would fast-track the R55 Billion Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) social
infrastructure pipeline across the Gauteng City Region (GCR).
“Implementation
of bulk investment schemes in partnership with Development Bank of South Africa
(DBSA) which will unlock private sector funded development in Lanseria, the Vaal
Region and the Western Corridor,” he said.
The
Premier said government would also be reaching to business to ensure the recovery
of Gauteng’s economy.
“We
will form partnerships with the private sector in determining local work programmes/initiatives
for boosting specific sectors through action labs with organised business.
The
province would also focus on Special Economic Zones and high-growth firms.
“This
primarily entails promotion and facilitation of investment in SEZs as investment
anchors to develop high growth clusters and network industries in Gauteng as
well as partnerships to reduce the cost of doing business,” he said.