MEC engages residents on State of Province address

The MEC for Health Qedani Mahlangu shared the contents of the 2015 State of the Province Address with Region E residents at an imbizos at Sankopano Community Centre.

Addressing a packed audience, she stressed the province’s commitment to growing the economy in order to support its development plans, create employment and improve livelihoods.

The plans involve anything up to five year cycle targets which include the development of new cities where thousands of long-term jobs would be created, and the development of allied infrastructure such as roads, health, education facilities and mixed housing schemes to promote social cohesion. This would be done in partnership with the private sector in order to generate confidence and commitment of key economic drivers to the long-term economic stability of the province and nation. The proposed cities include Masingita, Reitfontein, Steyn, Waterfall in Midrand and Modderfontein which would have economic spin-offs to Alex residents.

Mahlangu said the revitalisation of the township economy would be accelerated with government supporting small businesses through the Co-operatives Development Agency. “They will benefit from skills transfer, financing and mentoring to enable them to produce goods and services for preferential procurement by the public and private sectors. The provincial government will also increase procurement from small businesses from 5 to 30 percent in the next five years by contracting government vehicle maintenance to selected repairs and services hubs supported by the Automotive Industry Development Centre, and by strengthening capacity of burial societies and stokvels to participate in the micro lending industry.

Other plans are to improve provincial collaboration with municipalities to ensure complimentary and improved pace of service provision. This includes partnering in creating food security through food gardens at schools, hospitals and community centres, revitalising inner cities to encourage the return of businesses and government departments and for employees to start residing closer to their work places.

Also, alternative energy sources would be tapped to complement the coal-driven power grid which is currently struggling to cope with demand. This would initially be through roof top solar panels in all government building and facilities.

She stressed that the BTR developments in Wynberg and Alex would benefit residents in the long term by leveraging on the economic muscle of Sandton. “Alex and Sandton residents and businesses will mutually benefit from an improved transport network and create potential for other partnership initiatives,” she concluded.