Gauteng SOPA: 10 things you need to know

Here are the 10 things you need to know:

1. Life Esidimeni

The Gauteng government, together with the Minister of Health and the newly-appointed health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa are taking swift action to implement all the recommendations of the Health Ombud.

"The most urgent which is to relocate the mental health patients to appropriate facilities. We will provide regular updates to the Legislature, the Health Ombud and the public on the progress," says Makhura.

2. Human settlements

Makhura says 6500 houses are under construction in Westonaria Borwa, 9000 houses in Kokosi Ext 6 & 7 and 1000 houses in Mohlakeng Ext 11. 

"The Suiferfontein mega project that will provide up to 40 000 units is finally being launched by MEC Mashatile and I in June, under the auspices of the West Rand," says Makhura.

3. N14

Upgrading of the N14 highway that links the Western Corridor and the Northern Corridor has been completed.

4. Gautrain

The Gauteng Government has completed the feasibility study on the expansion of the Gautrain and its full integration into the broader modern public transport system of the province. The new areas that will be covered will include Mamelodi in Tshwane, Boksburg in Ekurhuleni, Randburg-Laseria in Johannesburg, Mogale City and Syferfontein in the West Rand and Roodepoort/Jabulani. 

"This expansion will primarily be done on a public-private partnership basis, in phases that will take a period of two decades to complete. Other areas will be covered by the modernisation of rail infrastructure currently underway by PRASA in major parts of Sedibeng, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, West rand and Joburg, which will ultimately be linked to the Gautrain rail network," says Makhura.

5. Employment

Makhura says Gauteng has recorded the largest net gain in new jobs created since the 2008 global financial crisis. 

"Between 2010 and end of 2016, our provincial economy created more than 700 000 new jobs.  Since the start of the fifth administration in 2014, bi-annual employment has reached 317 000, thus breaking the ceiling of 300 000," says Makhura.  

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6. Mega settlements

The long-awaited construction of mega human settlements and new cities will commence this year. 

Makhura says there are 31 new mega human settlements that are both public and private sector partnerships that will start in April in different corridors. 

"This will mobilise and unlock huge public and private investment at a level unprecedented in our post-apartheid history," says Makhura.   

7. Internet

Makhura says they have rolled out more than 1 500 kilometres of network fibre, connected 8 core sites and more than 800 access sites to the Gauteng Broadband Network since 2014. 

"By March this year, we will connect more than 1000 sites in line with our target of 3000 sites by 2020," says Makhura.

8. Schools

The Gauteng Government is strengthening its programme to build school infrastructure in response to the pressures on the public education system, brought about by high levels of in-migration into Gauteng.

This year, 19 000 additional learners arrived in January. Most of these learners have been placed. 

"While we have no control over learner in-migration, I want to assure parents that we will prioritise the learners who are currently in our schools. Since 2014, we have built forty-three new schools, including new ICT-enabled classrooms in existing schools. In the next two years, we will build thirty-four new schools, 1 200 laboratories and more than 470 school libraries," says Makhura.   

9. Higher Education

Over the next three years an additional amount of R16 million, out of the sale of the Premier's official residence, has been set aside to fund the cost of tertiary education of 40 academically deserving students.  

"In ensuring that all deserving learners are able to access higher education, and as part of developing the skilled human resources required by our modern economy, we have invested more than R800 million in bursaries for higher education. Our target is to reach R1 billion by 2019," says Makhura.

10. Police

Makhura says they have adopted a comprehensive Gauteng City Region Policing Plan through which we seek to turn the tide on crime in our province. 

The leadership of the SAPS and Law Enforcement Officers will be held accountable to delivering concrete results on performance targets at station and cluster level. We want them to bring back visible policing. We want them to bring back specialised units," says Makhura.