​Lerato Mailoane
Premier David Makhura is expected to deliver the State of the Province Address (SOPA) during the opening of the Gauteng Legislature on Monday, 21 February, at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre.
The SOPA is an opportunity for the Premier to give progress report on the implementation of the Growing Gauteng Together 2030 (GGT2030) plan of action while also taking stock of challenges faced by the province.
At SOPA 2021, Makhura vowed to focus on recovering the provincial economy after the COVID-19 lockdown, improve educational and health standards, reduce crime, protect those vulnerable from urban poverty and hunger and improve the quality of life of residents through service delivery.
Makhura's spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga said this year, the Premier is expected to clearly outline the service delivery action plan for 2022 amidst the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy which resulted in massive job losses.
"During his speech this year the Premier will give an update based on the Mid-Term Review, that was delivered in November. The review will address progress made since the beginning of the sixth administration up to so far and it will also combine the fifth administration.
"Special focus will be on the high growth areas we have developed, the Specialised Economic Zones and the Township Economy Bill, which is now being finalised," said Mhaga.
The draft Township Economy Bill, currently before the Gauteng Legislature, is part of government's efforts to make starting and formalising a business in the township seamless by loosening red tape and addressing by-laws that constrain the operation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and informal businesses in the province.
The intentions of the Township Bill tie in with President Cyril Ramaphosa's new programme of action to make it easier for SMMEs to access funding and technical support to enable them to thrive.
The Gauteng government has been focusing on high-growth priority sectors and infrastructure investment projects to unlock the transformation, modernisation and reindustrialisation of the province's city region.
These sectors include automotive, aerospace and defence; transportation and logistics; information communication and technology; energy; tourism and hospitality; food, beverages, agro-processing and agribusiness; construction and infrastructure; financial services; cultural and creative services and industrial cannabis.
Gauteng has been accelerating the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. In this light, Makhura is expected to outline how the province will usher in a new phase in managing the pandemic.
Mhaga said the province remains committed to working with the people of Gauteng to build a better province.