The economic growth of Gauteng through city regeneration, black economic empowerment and capacity development were priorities at a three-day retreat attended by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa.
Shilowa and members of his executive council, as well as municipal managers, attended the retreat from Monday to Wednesday in which priorities for the provincial government’s five-year programme were discussed.
A new broad-based black economic empowerment strategy was discussed, which aimed to ensure that 70% of procurement by the Gauteng government would come from empowered companies by 2009.
”Once the strategy is implemented, companies that are not empowered should not bother tendering,” Shilowa told reporters in Johannesburg.
The pre-condition would be that the companies were empowered. Then they would have to qualify on other conditions.
”Eventually they will compete not on empowerment, but on capacity to deal with issues.”
Improving the capacity and organisation of the state, including addressing local government challenges, and the implementation of integrated programmes, was also on the agenda.
The upgrading and regeneration of condemned buildings was also important so tenants could live safely.
”Regeneration must also be about upgrading, we also need to step up the housing provision programme,” said Shilowa. – Sapa