Opposition parties have mixed reactions to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s State of the Province Address. Some say it has nothing new while others have described it as content of empty promises.
The EEFs Nkululeko Ndunga says the speech lacks a plan of action.
“‘What we are extremely aggrieved by is that in as much as he speaks of the challenges, he does not speak of the in-depth programme of action. It would have been difficult of course with the division of revenue bill haven’t been passed through parliament for him to really and genuinely generate certain funding models that would approve some of the budgets that he speaks of.”
“I mean you look at, for instance, infrastructure of schooling, we have over 5500 classes in shortage. And 18 schools will not assist in creating and ensuring that there is a backlog that is sustained and is corrected.”
EFF Gauteng Statement On The State of the Province Address Delivered by Premier Panyaza Lesufi. pic.twitter.com/d7prcZcW55
— EFF Gauteng (@EFFGautengProv) February 25, 2025
Meanwhile, Build One South Africa is not convinced that the Gauteng government’s decision to allow Eskom and City Power to take over the Emfuleni and Eikenhoff pump station will work.
Lesufi said the aim was to ensure that the two pump stations had electricity to avoid the water challenges in the province.
BOSA’s Ayanda Allie says Johannesburg’s City Power and Eskom are already struggling to keep the lights on.
“He goes on to say there is a war room that has been established between City Power and Eskom to try and make sure that the pumps that are being vandalised process water. This is the same City Power that has slapped residents of Joburg with load reduction, the same Eskom that has hit us now with load shedding and they are now entrusted to deliver on providing power to pump stations.”
#CityPowerUpdates#LoadsheddingUpdates
Stage 2 loadshedding has been implemented from 05h00 on Tuesday morning until further notice.
For a full loadshedding schedule, please click on the link below https://t.co/EfVO3ETJ0g ^LP pic.twitter.com/Qg9CoBIID9
— @CityPowerJhb (@CityPowerJhb) February 25, 2025
Gauteng State of the Province Address
Gauteng DA leader Solly Msimanga says Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s commitment to creating more than a million jobs in the province is a pipe dream.
Lesufi says through private and state partnerships, the province will create 270 000 new permanent jobs and more than 560-thousand employment opportunities through infrastructure development and construction projects.
However, Msimanga says, he has no faith that this promise will materialise.
“Every year, he keeps talking about the commitments that they’ve got from the private sector to create these jobs. But every year, housing keeps losing jobs. I mean, in the last quarter, we have lost 66 000 jobs. There’s 2.8 million people in housing that have now joined the unemployment line. 600 000, 606 000 of those have actually become disgruntled job seekers. 34% of the people in housing that should be working are not working. And he comes and promises these jobs, and he comes and promises all these new initiatives. But you know, these are things that don’t even exist.”
VIDEO | Gauteng SOPA – ‘Lesufi address lacks in-depth programme of action’ : EFF
