Gauteng’s development programmes are not only about readiness for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said on Tuesday.
”We must avoid creating the impression that our programmes are driven by the desire to prepare for the 2010 World Cup,” Shilowa said in his budget speech to the provincial legislature.
He said the 2010 World Cup merely provides a window of opportunity to fast-track development goals aimed at halving poverty and employment by 2014.
Through the projects in the priority township programme, the upgrading of stadiums and 2010 practice venues, and the construction of the Gautrain, the province has an opportunity to meet its employment targets of 30% young people, 40% women and 2% disabled people.
Shilowa said education is high on the province’s agenda and he hoped the public-service strike had not adversely affected its goals.
”We have lost critical time during the industrial action. I would like to urge educators and learners alike to put in the extra effort this year to produce better results in our schools,” said Shilowa.
He said housing will remain a priority. To date, Gauteng has the most houses built or being built using government subsidies.
According to a recent Institute of Race Relation survey, Gauteng has the highest yearly household income, yearly income per head and proportion of working-age people who are economically active.
Shilowa said that according to the survey, the number of houses built or being built is 470 228, the average household income is R44 798 and the proportion of working-age people is 69,2%.
However, he said, the province also has the highest rates of growth in population, urbanisation and households living in informal settlements. This makes it even more important to grow the economy by 8% and help reduce poverty and employment by half.
”Our task in the years ahead will therefore continue to be to stimulate shared economic growth and attract investment into the productive sectors of the economy, eradicating poverty, improving the skills base of our people and enhancing our government’s capacity to deliver,” he said.
He said energies need to be focused on three broad areas of priority: building Gauteng as a globally competitive city region, implementing the Gauteng Social Development Strategy, and building sustainable communities and strengthening the capacity and organisation of the state. — Sapa