Economic Development MEC, Morakane Mosupyoe, said the Covid-19 pandemic has plunged Gauteng’s economy into a dire situation.Picture: Oupa Mokoena/African News Agency (ANA)
THE Gauteng government is on track to create employment opportunities to revitalise the province’s declining economy.
Economic Development MEC, Morakane Mosupyoe, said the Covid-19 pandemic has plunged Gauteng’s economy into a dire situation.
Mosupyoe explained that they have roped in six investors through their Tshwane based Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and that nine more investors are on the pipeline.
“The SEZ investors in Tshwane will bring in billions and a lot of companies have shown interest. Yes a lot of these companies are from outside South Africa but we are also looking to do business with our local SMMEs.”
Mosupyoe said motor company Ford is bringing over R20 billion into this investment which is expected to produce over 200 000 motor vehicles by 2022.
“This is the biggest that has ever happened in South Africa after the world cup and we expect it to create a number of jobs. We have also created 8 546 jobs in the construction sector, these are going to be permanent jobs.”
Mosupyoe added that both Nissan and BMW plantations in Rosslyn, Tshwane, will be expanded to create sustainable jobs.
Gauteng Health Acting HOD, Arnold Lesiba Malotana said healthcare outputs and outcomes have been impacted by Covid 19 pandemic with all priority programmes and related interventions disrupted.
“During an outbreak situation, studies show that health systems become inundated due to rising indirect mortality from vaccine preventable and treatable conditions.”
Malotana likened the virus to the 2014/15 Ebola outbreak where a high number of deaths were caused by malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis could be associated with health system failure.
However, it emerged that the Gauteng health provincial plan of action to deliver on the agenda of the 6th administration continued even in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic.
About 887 966 patients were enrolled on Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) Programme cumulative, 105 127 new patients enrolled in the second quarter alone.
“Improvements in the TB treatment success rate of up to 80% from 74% in quarter 1 however it is still below targeted 90%.”
Malotana stated that Covid-19 measures were heightened during quarter 1 and quarter 2 which included tracing of 99% and 98% respectively of the contacts and Covid-19 related interventions continued with higher than national average recovery rates.
“The Department will continue to implement pathways for improving health infrastructure and health services, despite existing pressures at various administrative levels.”
Local government MEC Lebogang Maile said his department is on course with housing mega projects which will pursue special transformation.
“A lot of these projects have started and they are in our financial business plan for this year. We are reviewing all of them, we want to cluster and upscale all of them,” he said.
Maile also shared that the redevelopment programme of hostels around the province is also continuing and that 49 hostels in the province are currently going through the maintenance phase.
Maile conceded that they were facing a challenge with backlog of issuing title deeds
“We have made an effort to work with municipalities to fast track and ensure we deal with the backlog. All the houses we’re building, beneficiaries are being given title deeds with the rapid land release programme.”
Community Safety MEC Faith Mazimbuko expressed her concerns with the levels of lawlessness in the province.
“We have had to increase our operations since the easing of restrictions. We have noted that the number of accidents has increased in most incidents these happen as a result of drunk driving.”
Mazibuko said the department has partnered with businesses fighting against crime to establish new camera methods which will be incorporated with a Midrand based satellite which will enable them to view the whole of Gauteng.
The Star