Ever the orator, Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi made some big statements in his three-hour state of the province address on Monday.
His main focus was the hashtagable “G13" — a razzmatazz list of his 13 priorities for the province. For those who missed it, they are:
As we all know, making promises is the easy part. Sticking to them requires unfaltering discipline, determination and innovation
- water;
- cable theft and vandalism;
- non-functional traffic lights;
- potholes;
- crime and lawlessness;
- the mushrooming of informal settlements;
- electricity;
- increased gender-based violence and femicide;
- drug abuse;
- service at hospitals and clinics;
- a lack of schools;
- failing infrastructure; and
- unemployment.
Lesufi outlined plans to eradicate these hot issues but, as is the nature of such speeches, he was thin on detail as to how he will do it.
The premier is a polarising politician, both loved and hated — probably in equal measure — by Gautengers. Some find his big talk and brash promises refreshing. Others find him inflammatory and only interested in hogging headlines and scoring political points. Perhaps his true traits lie somewhere in between.
While his list of priorities is spot on, they could really be reduced to just three: unemployment, infrastructure and crime. If Gauteng could get these massive issues under control, the other 10 priorities on his list would soon fall into place, transforming the province into a true global powerhouse.
But as we all know, making promises is the easy part. Sticking to them requires unfaltering discipline, determination and innovation.
Gauteng is overwhelmed with challenges that will require an infinite amount of funding, resources, buy-in and co-ordination to overcome. Does Lesufi have what it takes? During his more than two years as premier, he has launched many plans and projects, but none have fundamentally changed the face of the province.
For now, Johannesburg is holding on to its long-established reputation of being the economic hub of Africa. But the signs of its collapse are all around us. For how much longer will the city be able to hold on to that status if real improvements do not materialise?
Opposition politicians have labelled Lesufi's G13 plan as “hot air”, “empty rhetoric” and a “recurring pattern of unfulfilled commitments”. Can he prove them wrong?
The premier will be held to account for his G13 plan. If he fails, the repercussions for the ANC in Gauteng — and for his place in the party — will be dire. But a failure to halt the accelerating decay of this vibrant, cosmopolitan province will be most strongly felt by those who rely on it for their livelihoods, those who have invested in it for their futures and those who dream of one day providing a better life for their families.
Lesufi holds their fate in his hands.
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