Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has expressed confidence that Gauteng province will grow its economy and create much needed jobs.
Lesufi delivered his State of the Province Address at the Tshwane Special Economic Automative Zone in Pretoria and said infrastructure development is at the centre of the province’s growth plan.
Among others Lesufi gave updates on major infrastructure projects already underway such as the Gauteng-Limpopo rail project which is aimed at connecting the two provinces for easy movement between the two provinces. Lesufi said the project is being implemented in phases in line with an agreement between the two provinces.
“The Gauteng-Limpopo Rail Link project is gaining momentum. Following the announcement last year, it has been agreed that given the project’s magnitude and intricacy, it will be executed in multiple phases,” he said.
Lesufi said Gauteng is also embarking on a rail infrastructure rehabilitation project of its own with the Gautrain as an anchor.
“The Gautrain rail expansion will be a gateway to opportunity, creating over 125 000 construction jobs while igniting growth in property, retail, & logistics. Gauteng province will invest R120b in the expansion of Gautrain to Soweto via Fourways; Mamelodi; Atteridgeville; Lanseria,” said Lesufi.
Lesufi said significant investment has also been made in the agro-processing sector which he said was set to create jobs.
“We secured R100 million in infrastructure investment for agro- logistics, including pack-houses, cold storage facilities, & transport infrastructure. To date, 21 refrigerated trucks have been provided to farmers & agro-processors,” said Lesufi.
“We are proud to announce that a new R2.5 billion steel firm has been built & concluded with phase one, already hiring 1000 workers, with phase two expected to double these numbers,” said Lesufi of another project.
He said an agreement was being finalised to allow small and medium businesses in Gauteng to service markets in China.
“We will soon finalise a groundbreaking agreement with the Hunan Province in China. This will open new trade avenues for our SMMEs to export nuts, rooibos tea, biltong, honey, moringa & wine to Hunan’s vast market of over 66 million people across 13 cities,” said Lesufi.
Lesufi also vowed to crackdown on crime which he said was frustrating growth efforts in the province.