Johannesburg: President Cyril Ramaphosa says the economic success of Gauteng Province is crucial to the overall success of the country. The President was addressing the Gauteng Provincial Government and the National Executive during an oversight visit to the province.
According to South African Government News Agency, Gauteng is home to the financial capital of Africa in the form of Johannesburg, while Tshwane is South Africa’s administrative capital, and Ekurhuleni is an industrial and manufacturing hub critical to the country’s supply chains. President Ramaphosa highlighted Gauteng’s significant contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, emphasizing its role as a central hub for finance, governance, industry, and innovation. He underscored the necessity of translating policies, plans, and commitments into tangible actions in Gauteng for the broader economic success of South Africa.
During the State of the Province Address (SOPA) last week, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi identified 13 pressing challenges that the provincial government must address, including issues related to water, cable theft, vandalism, non-functional traffic lights, potholes, crime, and lawlessness. The President echoed the Premier’s concerns, stressing the need for swift action to tackle these challenges, which include governance failures, financial mismanagement, crumbling infrastructure, crime, and unreliable service delivery.
The President also emphasized the importance of transforming the outcomes from the oversight visit into practical interventions that directly benefit the people of Gauteng. He called for a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to drive sustainable development, improve service delivery, and enhance the quality of life for Gauteng residents. He noted that this engagement is part of a series of oversight visits aimed at strengthening intergovernmental cooperation, following similar visits to Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga.
President Ramaphosa highlighted the significance of the oversight visit coinciding with Human Rights Month in South Africa. He stressed the importance of ensuring fundamental rights such as water, sanitation, healthcare, housing, and education are not only enshrined in the Constitution but actively realized through impactful service delivery. He called for unity and action to create a future where the rights of all South Africans are upheld and citizens can access quality services.
The month of March is dedicated to marking Human Rights Month in South Africa, commemorated under the 2025 theme, ‘Deepening a culture of social justice and human rights’.