The Gauteng provincial government is to pump R3-billion into upgrading infrastructure in 20 townships in the next three years, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said on Monday.
Shilowa was addressing delegates at the opening of the Gauteng legislature in Johannesburg.
”Our primary aim is to change the lives of our people for the better by beautifying our townships. We need to provide decent schools, clinics, sports and recreational facilities.
”In particular, we need to ensure that by 2009 all roads in the townships are tarred,” Shilowa said.
Those who will benefit from the 20 township initiative include Atteridgeville, Boipatong, Bophelong, Daveyton, Kagiso, Katlehong (Kwa-Thema, Tsakane and Duduza), Mamelodi, Mohlakeng, Munsieville, Ratanda, Refilwe, Rethabiseng, Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Soshanguve, Soweto, Tembisa and Wattville.
A project manager will be appointed immediately. The first phase is to be completed by September, Shilowa said.
The premier said the initiative will be in addition to the upgrading of backyard shacks.
The registration of these shacks is at an advanced stage and a pilot project to upgrade 1 500 backyard shacks in Orlando East and Boipatong has already commenced, he said.
The township initiative is in addition to ongoing urban-renewal projects in Alexandra, Bekkersdal, Evaton and Kliptown.
In his speech, Shilowa praised the Gauteng film office, twice making special mention of the internationally praised local film Tsotsi.
Tsotsi was nominated in the foreign-language-film category for the 78th Annual Academy Awards in the United States recently.
This is just the latest in a string of accolades for the acclaimed film and represents a new wave of homegrown films and music that is putting South Africa on the world map, Shilowa said. — Sapa