Lesufi tables plans on Gauteng’s service delivery crisis

The lekgotla, which took place in Fourways and concluded on Sunday, follows recent national and provincial government planning sessions, including the ANC National Executive Committee lekgotla, the State of the Nation Address (SONA), and the State of the Province Address (SOPA).

Lesufi confirmed that the consolidated findings and recommendations from the Gauteng gathering will be made public once the final report is completed. 

He outlined several priority areas addressed in the draft report:

Informal Settlements 

Lesufi strongly criticized municipal leadership—particularly in the City of Tshwane—for failing to control the expansion of informal settlements.

“We noted with disappointment that those who were leading our municipalities, especially Tshwane, they have allowed more than 400 new municipalities to mushroom under their watch."

While he likely meant informal settlements rather than "municipalities" in the quote, the statement points to what he describes as unchecked land occupation and inadequate enforcement.

He announced the establishment of an anti-land invasion unit tasked with stopping illegal land occupations across the province.

Water Shortages

Addressing Gauteng’s ongoing water supply issues, Lesufi said the province—working with the national Department of Water and Sanitation—has created a weekly war room to monitor and respond to supply interruptions.

“We are proud now that it’s only 3% of areas that don’t have water from the almost 78% that didn’t have water by December last year." 

The figures refer to areas experiencing consistent service disruptions rather than total outages, reflecting a significant recovery in water supply systems.

Potholes and Traffic Lights 

On road infrastructure, Lesufi said all ANC-led municipalities and coalition partners have set up dedicated units to address pothole repairs.

“Together with non-functioning traffic lights, we have established a working committee that is coordinated weekly to fix all our traffic lights and ensure that they are also protected." 

Traffic signal failures have long contributed to congestion and accidents in urban Gauteng, making this a high-priority intervention.

Crime Prevention

Lesufi said Gauteng has adopted a unified policing strategy that consolidates efforts by the South African Police Service (SAPS), municipal law enforcement, the private sector, and provincial agencies.

“We are ready to ensure that people of Gauteng can see police visibility across their homes,”

The strategy aligns with broader national plans to integrate crime-fighting resources and improve visible policing in high-risk areas.

Electricity Supply

In addressing power outages, Lesufi stated that the ANC plans to visit communities that have endured extended blackouts.

 He said discussions with the Ministry of Energy are at an advanced stage to find long-term solutions to energy insecurity, including municipal debt to Eskom and infrastructure failures.

Health and Education 

Looking ahead, Lesufi said Gauteng’s health sector is ready to implement the National Health Insurance (NHI), with plans in place to build and digitize hospitals starting in the new financial year.

He also confirmed the province will proceed without delay in implementing the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, which introduces significant changes to school governance, including language policy and admission frameworks. 

These reforms are part of a broader effort to improve public service delivery in education and health.

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