Latest news with #StateoftheProvinceAddress
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Arrested kingpins and service delivery: Lesufi lists Gauteng successes
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi stated his administration was focused on reducing crime and growing the economy. Premier Panyaza Lesufi gave an update on Gauteng's priority programmes on Thursday morning. Almost a year into Gauteng's government of provincial unity, Lesufi listed the successes achieved over the past several months. He said his administration's key objectives were three-fold: focusing on economic growth, reducing crime and 'strengthening the capacity of the state'. Roughly 30% of key criminals arrested The premier's State of the Province Address trumpeted an investment conference that would kickstart economic revitalisation. Lesufi said on Thursday that the conference had generated R320 billion worth of pledged commitments. 'We are now focused on converting these pledges into tangible job opportunities for our people,' said the premier. In combating crime, Lesufi claimed authorities have arrested almost one-third of the kingpins associated with criminal activity in the province. 'We have apprehended over 150 of the nearly 450 criminals identified as major contributors to crime in the province,' said Lesufi, thanking police officials. 'The number of kidnappings, cash-in-transit heists has decreased. Sadly, reported cases of Gender Based violence and femicide are not decreasing as we expect them to,' the premier conceded. Service delivery Gauteng's municipalities have been ravaged by service delivery problems, notably water shortages and the deterioration of the road network. Lesufi announced that R1.5 billion has been allocated for immediate road repairs and maintenance, while R350 million is still needed to repair broken traffic signals in Johannesburg and Tshwane. 'By the end of 2025, we will take over the coordination of road maintenance programs currently managed by provinces and municipalities to ensure more efficient service delivery,' he stated. The administration is also focused on recovering hijacked buildings in Johannesburg CBD, with Lesufi claiming 12 illegally occupied buildings have been recovered so far. Compliance of staff Lesufi's opposition in the provincial legislature have been calling for the results of lifestyle and compliance audits on officials to be made public. Without revealing any specifics, the premier provided progress on vetting efforts within the administration. 'As of October 2024, the provincial government had 750 senior managers, 732 of whom were either already vetted or in the process of achieving a 98% compliance rate. 'We urgently address the remaining 17 cases where paperwork has not been submitted. 'I have received the final report of the lifestyle audits with outcomes for two Heads of Department (HOD). One HOD has successfully passed the audit, and the other one will be going for the final round of audit.' 'There are three MECs who are still to conclude the lifestyle audits as they were appointed into the Executive Council in this administration,' Lesufi stated. NOW READ: 'I'm viewing my options,' says Lesufi on availability for ANC's top positions
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Lesufi disgusted by Sedibeng's dirtiness
SEDIBENG.- The ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team (PTT) convened a two-day lekgotla at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg over the weekend. The gathering followed on the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) lekgotla and the State of the Nation and Province Addresses. Its aim was also to develop a Provincial Programme of Action, the party said. The lekgotla was held under the theme: 'The Year of Renewal – Making the ANC a more effective instrument of the people to achieve the vision of the freedom charter.' Speaking at the opening of the event, ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team Co-Convenor who is also Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, mentioned the Sedibeng area on numerous occasions where service delivery is deplorable. He rebuked his party's officials at the helm of both the Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) and the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM). 'Comrades, our province (is) and our municipalities are dirty, dirty, dirty. I attended the May rally in Sharpeville, Executive Mayor Sedibeng auwaaaaaaaaa banna (Nooooooooooo Man),' Lesufi said, in disgust. 'If we cannot get the basics right, we have no legitimate right to claim that our people should still have confidence in us. If we can not get the basics right, we are no longer representing our people, we are misleading them. If we can not get the basics right, then we are betraying the revolution that we said we must not betray.' Attendees of the lekgotla included ANC Gauteng PTT members, ANC Regional officials and office bearers, provincial representatives of ANC leagues, Alliance and Umkhonto We Sizwe Liberation War Veterans (MKLWV), representatives of ANC municipal caucuses, ANC caucus of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and ANC NEC deployees. Key objectives of the lekgotla were outlined as follows: • Deliberate on the challenges identified in the 2025 State of the Province Address and develop ways to overcome the challenges. • Formulate strategies for the upcoming local government elections. • Rebuild public trust through renewed communication and community engagement efforts. The two-day lekgotla started on Saturday and ended on Sunday. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Star
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Marikana workers should not be forgotten
As we approach Workers' Day, a time meant to honour the struggles and sacrifices of workers, we are reminded of the tragedy that unfolded on 16 August 2012 at Marikana. The DA demands the immediate tabling of a detailed, costed plan for the Marikana monument, including clear timelines and accountability mechanisms from the Departments of Arts and Culture as well as DEDECT, and a formal apology from the North West Provincial Government for years of delay, dishonesty, and disregard. This was after MEC Madoda Sambatha, who was delegated by Premier Lazarus Mokgosi to respond to a question posed by the DA, during a Question and Answer session in the North West Provincial Legislature, blatantly admitted that the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) failed to secure funding from Treasury, effectively shelving the monument yet again. Since 2017, repeated public commitments have been made to honour the fallen workers of Marikana: * In 2017, the North West Government formally committed to constructing a monument at the koppie. * In 2022, then Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, announced that the Bojanala District Mayor would visit the site to assess the area for a future monument. * In the February 2024 State of the Province Address, former Acting Premier Nono Maloyi recommitted to constructing the monument. Yet, in 2025, the MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha, shamelessly told the House that there are no funds, no plan, and no timelines, stating arrogantly that 'we can wait until 2029', now that the matter has been shifted to the Department of Arts and Culture. Tragically, not only has justice remained elusive for the victims' families, but the North West Government continues to spit on their memory through broken promises and inaction. This is not merely a failure of project management; it is a moral disgrace and a deliberate betrayal of the Marikana families and their slain loved ones. The DA has long warned that this government thrives on empty promises and political theatre, using major tragedies like Marikana for populist soundbites, only to abandon communities once the cameras are off. This Workers' Day, while the ANC clap hands for itself at rallies, the families of the 34 slain mineworkers who were gunned down while demanding better living and working conditions will still be waiting for the dignity of a monument, thirteen years after the massacre. The memory of the Marikana victims is not a political prop. They were workers. Fathers. Breadwinners. South Africans. They deserve honour, not more lies and empty promises. Freddy Sonakile DA Caucus Leader in the North West Provincial Legislature
The Citizen
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Gauteng municipalities sign crime MoU
SEDIBENG.- The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Gauteng Provincial Government, the Gauteng Department of Community Safety, SAPS, and all municipalities and districts in Gauteng took place at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto Campus last Tuesday. The MoU signing was pronounced by Premier Panyaza Lesufi earlier this year during the State of the Province Address (SOPA). The districts and municipalities include the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng, Emfuleni, Lesedi, Midvaal, West Rand, Rand West, Mogale City, and Merafong. The signing paves the way for an integrated, province-wide approach to crime prevention, traffic law enforcement, and public safety management. The provincial government said that the signing also reflects the province's commitment to integrated governance and safer communities. 'It is also aligned with the Premier's vision of a crime-free Gauteng, where law enforcement agencies work in unison to reclaim public spaces and restore the rule of law.' Emfuleni Local Municipality's (ELM) executive mayor, Sipho Radebe, Public Safety MMC, Ndade Mokoena, and the Municipal Manager (MM), April Ntuli, attended the ceremony. In his address, Lesufi reaffirmed the provincial government's unwavering stance against crime. 'Wherever a criminal, drug lord, and rapist is, we will unleash all our resources and hunt that individual until we get them.' He commended all municipalities that have signed the Gauteng Safety MoU, recognising their commitment to removing unnecessary bureaucracy and mobilising every available resource to tackle crime head-on. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
