MEC Creecy allocates R2-billion for Ekurhuleni

The announcement was made when she delivered her budget speech earlier this month, after Premier David Makhura’s State of the Province address, last month.

The provincial government announced three interventions which will transform the economy of the province, in order to address inequality, poverty and unemployment.

Makhura said these three interventions are spatial reconfiguration, township economy revitilisation and considerable infrastructure investements, that will be jointly undertaken with municipalities and the private sector.

The Gauteng City region’s space and economy will be reconfigured along five development corridors, which each have distinct industries, giving each a comparative advantage.

They are:

•  The Central Development Corridor, anchored around the City of Johannesburg, focuses on the financial sector, ICT and pharmaceutical industries.
•  The Eastern Development Corridor which focuses on manufacturing, logistics and transport industries within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
•  The Northern Development Corridor anchored around our capital city, the automotive sector and the knowledge-based economy.
•  The Western Corridor focusing on new blue and green economic initiatives, tourism, agro-processing and logistics in the current West Rand.
•  The Southern Corridor anchored around river tourism and agro processing in the Sedibeng district.

Of the allocated R2-billion, Human Settlements allocated R983.9-m, with R292.4-m going towards the provision of housing units for communities living in informal settlements, including Chief Albert Luthuli Park.

Another R111.2-m has been allocated for the provision of houses in other parts of Benoni.

R536.6-ms been allocated towards education with R451.2-m being allocated for the construction of new primary and secondary schools in areas such as Tokoza and Chief Albert Luthuli Park.

A total of R254.5-m has been allocated to health, with R71-m going towards the rehabilitation and maintenance of health facilities. A further R700 000 has been allocated for planning the construction of seven new clinics and community health centres.

With R18.2-m allocated for social development, R8-m will be used for expansion to provide office accommodation at Mary Moodley Child Care Youth Centre.

There will also be construction of early childhood centres and day care centres for the aged in Etwatwa, Daveyton, Tembisa, Katlehong and Kwa-Thema.

The provincial government will also look to expand the vegetable agri-park in Wattville, to ensure it reaches its full potential.

Although no time frame was given as to when the projects will get off the ground, they are expected to commence in the 2015/16 financial year.