Makhura promises derided

27 February 2015 - 02:41 By Olebogeng Molatlhwa
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Gauteng Premier David Makhura. File Photo
Gauteng Premier David Makhura. File Photo
Image: MOELETSI MABE

Gauteng Premier David Makhura's ambitious development plans, backed by investments of more than R100-billion, came under fire from opposition parties during yesterday's State of the Province debate.

Makhura was also attacked for not scrapping e-tolling, as demanded by what is taken to be the majority of people in the province.

In his State of the Province speech on Monday, Makhura said 175 500 jobs would be created by the pumping of R152-billion into the province's economy for several big development projects.

These included Steyn City and Waterfall City, north of Johannesburg, the retail development Masingita City, on the N12 towards Potchefstroom, and Modderfontein City, in Ekurhuleni.

But the DA's Janet Semple said most of Makhura's plans and expenditure relied on private-sector investment.

"Much of the work will take place in the municipalities. We have been told very little about the province's involvement or its contribution."

MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs Jacob Mamabolo leapt to Makhura's defence, saying the projects would be driven by a "dynamic interface between the private sector, the state and the people."

Philip van Staden, of the Freedom Front Plus, questioned the wisdom of initiating plans that might take longer than the five-year political term of office to implement.

"The premier will no longer be in office in five years and all these nice promises will gather dust on a shelf somewhere. All proposed plans should be implemented before the 2019 end-of-term," he said.

On e-tolls, the opposition said Makhura lacked the courage to scrap the system.

"The people of this province have, on many occasions and on many platforms, said e-tolls must go, yet the premier and the ANC refuse to recommend that they be scrapped," DA MPL John Moodey said.

Makhura's housing plans were also slammed. His government has promised to build 680000 houses by 2019 but the EFF's Mandisa Mashego pointed out that Gauteng had a backlog of 861891, so 1541891houses would have to be built in four years.

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