Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi hailed Tshwane mayor, Nasiphi Moya, for leading a progressive administration following the collapse of the DA-led coalition government last year.
Lesufi commended Moya’s leadership, as he listed the province’s 13 problems during the State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday at the Tshwane Automotive Economic Zone (TASEZ).
Lesufi said cable theft and vandalism, unemployment, and gender-based violence are among the challenges that plague Gauteng.
“Under your leadership, Dr Nasiphi Moya, and deputy mayor Eugene Modise, Tshwane is back, Tshwane is better, Tshwane is bolder.
“Together with other parties in our administration, you have demonstrated that a city can be clean, a city can serve all its residents, and a city can work,” said Lesufi.
Detailing the province’s strides, Lesufi said the TASEZ was an open land that did not exist five years ago.
“Five years ago, where we are now, it was nothing but an open space. The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone is proof that Gauteng is the driver of Africa's automotive revolution. It's a bold declaration that the future of manufacturing starts here,” said Lesufi.
Lesufi said the TASEZ is an automotive hub that produces more than 2000 cars annually, including 725 cars per day.
Lesufi said the SOPA was hosted at the TASEZ in response to those, who are “pessimistic and gloomy” about Gauteng’s progress.
“We have 8000 people, who were unemployed three years ago, and they are working today,” said Lesufi.
The TASEZ was established to increase employment opportunities for Gauteng citizens, especially for young people.
Lesufi said the intergovernmental and multi-sectoral partnership invested R26 billion, creating over 8000 jobs.
In addition, 229 small businesses in Mamelodi and surrounding areas benefited from R1.7bn in procurement opportunities. Most beneficiaries were businesses owned by women, the youth, and differently-abled people.
Moreover, the success rate of TASEZ has echoed an urgent need to roll out more special economic zones across the province.
Lesufi noted phase two of the project will pilot next month, and is expected to receive substantial investments from the private sector (R6.1bn) and government (R3.5bn).
Phase two will also create 6150 new jobs.
“What is more interesting with this investment, we don't want just to build cars, we want to transfer the skills to our young people,” said Lesufi.
Notably, phase two of the project will see the construction of an automotive academy in efforts to develop young people’s motoring skills.
The academy will absorb 2000 students annually.
“We want to empower our young people to build their own cars. We are proud that phase two is going to build an academy that will train young people in the future of the motor industry,” said Lesufi.
The Star