JOHANNESBURG – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) has drawn mixed reactions.
While many praised the premier for highlighting progress, some accused him of recycling old promises.
Lesufi’s SOPA on Monday focused on a range of issues, including water shortages, crime, unemployment, illegal mining and infrastructure -- challenges he has previously identified as Gauteng’s major problem areas.
Among the highlights were 15 investment deals that have been signed and secured.
He announced:
• R7-billion waste-to-energy projects
• Efforts to protect 700 jobs affected by Nissan’s restructuring
• A R1.9-billion investment by Heineken International to boost jobs
• R4-billion secured for Lanseria Smart City’s Cradle Film Studios project, expected to create 15,000 jobs in film production
But critics, including Ayanda Allie of Build One South Africa (BOSA), slammed the address, accusing Lesufi of being misleading.
She also questioned his crime-fighting plans, including the introduction of three helicopters, installation of nearly 20,000 CCTV cameras, and recruitment of 10,000 unemployed youth to fight crime.
“He’s cunning, he’s very shrewd, and he can be very economical with the truth, which is quite misleading,” Allie said.
She argued that while the Premier announced new investments, he failed to provide updates on previous commitments.
“What he doesn’t tell you is the 2023 he promised six helicopters. Two in that financial year and two in 2024. Now we hear about three choppers and we clap, but he has underachieved by his own standards."
Criticism also came from Thabang Nkani of the MK Party, who described the speech as “an old story reworked with new topics.”
However, Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa praised the address, saying it was more focused and solution-driven than last year’s speech.