David Makhura’s SOPA speech criticised by opposition parties
He focused on unemployment, infrastructure, the negative impact of Covid-19 and the July unrest has had on the province.
The 10th State of Province Address (SOPA) was held yesterday at the Brixton City Hall. Premier David Makhura gave the annual speech on the developments of the province and future plans that need to be implemented in various regions in order for there to be a massive shift in the positive direction especially after the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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He focused on unemployment, infrastructure, the negative impact of Covid-19 and the July unrest has had on the province.
“After so much death and destruction of lives and livelihoods, it is time to rebuild and do so with the greatest sense of urgency, single mindedness and coordination demonstrated during our emergency response to Covid-19,” said Makhura.
He continued to say that they have learned many lessons in the battle with the pandemic. These lessons include mobilisation of social compacting, promptly and decisively acting against crime and corruption in government and the society as well as inter departmental and intergovernmental cooperation to avoid government working in silos.
There are also plans to rebuild infrastructure including areas that were affected by different unrest activities. The process will be treated with urgency and promises to create jobs.
The EFF were not happy and kept interrupting the premier. They kept asking for reports and some kind of proof of the successes that the office made such as a total of R 5.6 billion being spent on women enterprises from the period of 2014 and 2019.
“We are disappointed because we were meant to receive a report on the work he said has been done from 2019 but as usual the promise was not delivered,” said Itani Mokwabo.
Johannesburg mayor, Mpho Phalatse was not at all impressed with the premier’s speech.
“The speech was uninspiring, nothing new, more of the same talk and very little action. I’m not excited and I don’t think anything will change. My only interest was to find out how he will be supporting the municipalities that are in debt,” she said.
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