Statement on the Gauteng Extended Executive Council Lekgotla

10 September 2007

1. Introduction

Provincial and local government leaders in Gauteng have concluded a successful two-day Lekgotla to review progress and identify common inter-governmental priorities for the Gauteng city region over the next few years.

The deliberations, held on 5 and 6 September, involved Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, Members of the Executive Council, metropolitan, district and local mayors in Gauteng as well as provincial heads of departments and municipal managers.

The lekgotla emerged with a common programme of action for the three-year Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) period from 2009 to 2011 under the theme, "Completing the five-year mandate: Laying the foundations for Vision 2014". This programme and priorities will inform the budget allocations for this period.

The programme aims to address both the 2004 national and provincial electoral mandate in the province, a people's contract to create work and fight poverty as well as the 2006 local government electoral mandate; a plan to make local government work for you. It also takes into account priorities identified at the national Cabinet Lekgotla in July 2007.

It was noted that 2008/09 is the final year of the current provincial government term of office as well as the mid-term of the local government term, while 2011 represents the conclusion of the local government term of office.

The Lekgotla noted significant progress in fulfilling local and provincial government commitments and improving the lives of the people of the province, but identified the need to focus on remaining challenges, particularly poverty, underdevelopment and unemployment. While important strides have been made in broadening wealth creation and in improving access to social services and infrastructure, social and economic exclusion of sections of the population remains. To address this, a key challenge is to step up efforts to attract investment in the productive sector of the economy, create more jobs and stimulate shared economic growth.

In line with the electoral mandate, there is a need to intensify initiatives to work in partnership with the people and build the people's contract. Other key challenges identified include the building of sustainable communities, enhancing government's capacity to deliver and ensure accelerated implementation of policies and programmes and the empowerment of youth, women, people with disabilities and vulnerable groups.

The Lekgotla agreed on three overarching high-level priorities at provincial and municipal level. These are:

* building Gauteng as a globally competitive city region
* implementing the Gauteng Social Development Strategy
* building the capacity and organisation of the state.

It was agreed that these priority areas will ensure the effective implementation of the provincial government's five year programme of action from 2004 to 2009.

2. Building Gauteng as a globally competitive city region
Gauteng municipalities and provincial government agreed on the need to build Gauteng as an integrated, globally competitive city region over a year ago. A roadmap to give effect to the initiative was approved by the province's inter-governmental decision-making structure the Premier's Co-ordinating Forum in October last year.

2.1. Key challenges

The Lekgotla noted progress in this regard and reiterated key challenges in building the Gauteng city region's global competitiveness. Based on the perspective that government and other forces in Gauteng need to co-operate internally in order to enhance the city region's socio-economic competitiveness in the global arena, the Lekgotla agreed on the need to strengthen common visioning, integration, co-ordination, planning, policy development and implementation capacity across spheres.

Other city region priorities include:

* interventions to promote shared growth and job creation
* creating conditions for a single metropolitan system of governance in Gauteng and reviewing powers and functions of various spheres of government to improve service delivery
* creating a safe and secure environment
* boosting the province's integrated transport system
* prioritising a range of measures to ensure social inclusion.

2.2. Global City Region (GCR) roadmap

The Lekgotla agreed on a number of key projects which will lay the foundations of a successful city region over the next few years, including the following:

* aligning economic development agencies in the province and establishing a GCR development agency
* an economic footprint study with a view to enhancing the city region's linkages within the country, the region, the continent and the world
* establishing a GCR urban observatory in partnership with institutions of higher learning in Gauteng to undertake GCR socio-economic research, benchmarking, monitoring and evaluation
* a services sector project to better understand and support the growth of the services sector of the economy
* the completion of a proposal on the establishment of a metropolitan system of governance in Gauteng for discussion by the Premier's Co-ordinating Forum (PCF) and submission to the Demarcation Board later this year
* the adoption of a branding Gauteng framework to brand and market the province in line with South Africa's country brand
* the development of a system of local and provincial innovation to enhance innovation within the economy and social development initiatives
* the development of a strategic approach to long-term planning and the development of an integrated long-term plan for the city region.

2.3. Shared growth and job creation

In stimulating shared economic growth and job creation in the city region, the Lekgotla identified key job creating growth sectors which require targeted government support as well as initiatives to invest in strategic economic infrastructure, broaden wealth creation, promote Gluten's comparative advantages and address energy and sustainable development issues.

2.4. Job creating growth sectors

Among the sectoral interventions identified were the following:

* The manufacturing sector, including the need to focus on value added manufacturing, exports and minerals beneficiation. In this regard, the establishment of a jewellery precinct in Ekurhuleni is being finalised. The expansion of the automotive and component sector in the province, the implementation of a tooling and moulding project as well as the need to finalise the future of Ekandustria with the Mpumalanga provincial government were identified.

* Within the tertiary sector, strategies to strengthen the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector and the freight and logistics sector will be concluded for implementation. Further work will also be done on venture capital and increased financial support for emerging businesses, especially small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME).

* In line with the aim to extend Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and broadband connectivity across the Gauteng city region, the G-link project will be initiated, to co-ordinate and build on existing initiatives in municipalities. Further work will also be undertaken to strengthen e-governance and the provision of electronic public services and information.

* A comprehensive tourism development strategy will be concluded in the current financial year, with new initiatives planned in the Cradle of Humankind, Dinokeng, along the Vaal water ways and within municipalities.

* A range of initiatives are underway and planned to strengthen the development of the creative industries. In addition to existing initiatives such as the Pale ya Rona carnival, further work is underway to develop and implement strategies in the craft, music and performing arts sectors. A film summit is planned for later this year and the film sector strategy will be further implemented.

* Significant progress has been made in building Gauteng as a home of competitive sport, with plans to stimulate the sport sector of the economy and improve co-ordination on the bidding and hosting of major events including motor sports. Particular attention is being paid to preparations for the hosting of the 2010 Federation International Football Association (Fifa) World Cup and ensuring that investment in infrastructure, transport, stadia, sport facilities, healthcare, youth volunteer programmes and other initiatives leave a lasting legacy for the development of our people. The province and local government will also be co-operating on initiatives linked to the hosting of the Fifa international broadcast centre to be situated at Nasrec.

* To further implement the Gauteng Agriculture Development Strategy, plans within the agro-processing and biotechnology sectors will be completed this year. Further work will be done to explore options related to bio-fuels, including their possible impact on the supply of food.

2.5. Broadening wealth creation

In addition to supporting broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) in the key job creating growth sectors of the economy, the Lekgotla reiterated its commitment to ensure that the provincial government's own spending power is effectively used to broaden access to wealth creation by those sectors of the population historically denied such access. In particular, the provincial government is on track in achieving its target of 70% of procurement to BBBEE companies by 2009.

SMME promotion will also continue to enjoy priority, with 50% of funding going to women and 30% to youth owned enterprises. The development of a strategy to strengthen the co-operative sector is to be concluded in the current financial year.

A range of other initiatives are underway and planned to promote youth and women-owned enterprises in key economic sectors.

2.6. Strategic economic infrastructure

With a range of strategic economic infrastructure projects concluded and underway, including Gautrain, the priority remains the strengthening of an integrated transport system in Gauteng. Key initiatives in this regard include ensuring the single transport authority in Gauteng is functional in 2008, the approval of a plan to implement the Gauteng freeway improvement plan and the upgrading of provincial and township roads.

The Lekgotla also agreed to support a regional initiative to upgrade the Sedibeng sewer works. This will not only have a positive impact on basic services for residents in the district, but will also help improve conditions of the Vaal River and create greater potential for tourism in the area.

2.7. Comparative advantages

In promoting the province's comparative advantages, the Lekgotla agreed to continue to improve measures to reduce the cost and ease of doing business in Gauteng, including the development of a one-stop service for businesses interested in investing in Gauteng. This would include addressing red tape, streamlining approval processes and upgrading a one-stop business portal. Attention will also be paid to the current complex legal framework for land use management as well as accelerating skills development and attracting scarce skills to the province.

2.8. Sustainable development

The Gauteng sustainable development strategy will be concluded in the current financial year. In co-operation with national government, the province will also investigate a common approach to energy efficiency, the sustainable use of non-renewable energy sources, alternative energy sources and carbon credits. Key in this regard will be co-ordination and the development of common approaches across municipalities and the provincial government. Proposals on waste management standards and greening will also be concluded.

3. Implementing the Gauteng Social Development Strategy

The Lekgotla agreed that particular attention needs to be given to the implementation of the social development strategy in order to address historical legacies of social exclusion as well as to actively counter the tendency that certain other city regions have towards growing inequality.

Other key challenges include social cohesion and national unity, building sustainable communities, improving services for the most vulnerable, developing integrated poverty alleviation strategies to ensure maximum impact on the poor, social crime prevention and aligning provincial and local government strategies to build social development, cohesion and inclusion.

3.1. Protecting vulnerable children

Further work needs to be undertaken to strengthen the Bana Pele programme aimed at providing a package of free services to the province's most vulnerable children. This includes the completion of a comprehensive, integrated electronic database of beneficiaries.

A further priority will be the implementation of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) strategy, the strengthening of the ECD institute, the finalisation of ECD norms and standards and the effective and integrated delivery of ECD services.

3.2 Sustainable human settlements

A review will be undertaken of progress made in line with a commitment in 2004 to formalise and upgrade informal settlements, and a plan for remaining informal settlements identified in 2004 developed.

Priority will also be paid to fast-tracking the rollout of basic services water, sanitation and electricity in line with national targets and social infrastructure, including schools, clinics and ECD, sport and recreation and old age facilities as well as substance abuse centres.

The exclusionary housing policy will be implemented while the integrated delivery of new settlements will be a priority, with a focus on addressing the challenge of land availability and joint planning well in advance to ensure the necessary services and facilities are provided alongside housing.

The effective implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme will also be prioritised.

3.3. Building safer communities

The Lekgotla noted progress in law enforcement and pointed to the need for the accelerated implementation of the Gauteng Safety Strategy, including improved co-ordination across spheres of government and law enforcement agencies.

A number of measures aimed at social crime prevention were identified, including closer co-operation between government officials in community safety, health, social development and housing. Noting the link between social crime and substance abuse, it was agreed that there was a need to accelerate the campaign against substance abuse. In addition, steps should be taken to improve access to integrated services such as health services, psycho-social support and shelters for victims of social crime as well as improving the Victim Empowerment Centres.

3.4. Quality education

Key initiatives in building a quality education system is to provide the education foundations for the Gauteng city region including the development of GCR balanced curricula. This includes mandatory programmes and targets in gateway learning subjects, including financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

Maths, Science and Technology education will continue to be prioritised, with a public awareness campaign to encourage young people to pursue subject choices and careers in these and related areas.

Hands on support for under-performing schools and the implementation of resolutions emerging from provincial and regional education summits will be prioritised, with particular attention to the education of the African child. This is made more important due to time lost during the public service strike and Congress of South African Students (Cosas) boycotts.

Attention will be paid to the priority skills pipeline project to create a pipeline of learners and skills in areas of scarce skill and in growth sectors such as the creative industries, tourism, sport, science and engineering, health, social work, ICT and project and financial management.

Improving access to and equity in education will receive ongoing attention through the expansion of no fee schooling, the integration of scholar transport into the public transport system, and increasing the supply of schools, classrooms and learner support materials.

3.5. Quality healthcare

A turnaround strategy will be implemented to improve the quality of healthcare and to ensure a minimum level of care and healthcare services at all healthcare institutions in Gauteng.

A further priority will be the improvement of technology and connectivity at health facilities, including an improved health information system and the introduction of a smart card and electronic record system.

In addition, the community health worker system will be expanded and upgraded while particular attention will be paid to preventative healthcare and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Strengthening local governance structures in clinics and community healthcare centres, infrastructure delivery and retaining, developing and attracting skills will also be prioritised.

3.6. Building social cohesion

The Lekgotla noted that rapid urbanisation and in-migration in global city regions often impacts negatively on social cohesion. It was agreed that a framework on social cohesion measures needs to be developed together with an action plan for implementation. This should address a range of issues such as substance abuse, the impact of violent crime, stress, moral regeneration, parenting skills, teen pregnancies, gender relations, families and the abuse of women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Attention will also be paid to improving integration, co-ordination and joint action by government and civil society with a view to increasing the impact in addressing these challenges.

The development of provincial and local citizens awards and systems of recognition of good citizenship will be further explored.

4. Building the capacity and organisation of the state and governance

4.1. Skills and capacity

The key priority agreed on by the Lekgotla is the establishment of a GCR Academy which will aim to contribute to the development of the necessary skills and capacity within local and provincial government in Gauteng to drive the successful implementation of social and economic programmes and pay attention to research and development and innovation capacity.

In addition, the Academy will drive the implementation of the Gauteng Human Resource Development Strategy which aims to develop the necessary skills for economic growth and social transformation in the province.

4.2. Integration, co-ordination and planning

The Lekgotla discussed and agreed on a report and recommendations on how to strengthen collective planning, alignment across spheres of government and implementation of intergovernmental priorities.

It further agreed to:

* finalise a review of the current governance model including powers and functions of the three spheres of government, the co-ordination of municipalities and the role of the South Africa Local Government Association (Salga) in Gauteng
* finalise the Gauteng Intergovernmental Relations Framework including on enhancing IGR decision-making and dispute resolution systems
* finalise a government-wide monitoring and evaluation framework and system
* develop a five-year report on delivery for the period 2004 to 2009 and to initiate research and planning in preparation for the next five-year term of office from 2009 to 2014
* improve delivery by continuing to provide hands on support to municipalities and the development of co-operation agreements between metropolitan municipalities and districts in Gauteng
* develop service standards and service charters across government.

4.3. Mainstreaming of targeted groups

A wide range of programmes will be undertaken to promote and protect the rights of women, youth and people with disabilities and to continue to promote their mainstreaming within government programmes.

Particular attention will be paid to the development of key performance indicators and monitoring and evaluation systems to monitor progress in this regard. Targets will be set and a programme developed to ensure that government buildings are accessible to people with disabilities, while the Gauteng gender policy will be reviewed.

4.4. Deepening democracy

A key priority area in building the capacity of the state is in deepening democracy. In this regard, the Lekgotla agreed on the need to support civil society's capacity to improve its impact on society and to participate more effectively in democracy. Other priority areas include:

* strengthening the oversight roles of the legislature and municipal councils
* funding political parties in the legislature
* promoting the people's contract and active citizenship
* undertaking integrated community outreach including Izimbizo and broadening public participation
* conducting public education including voter education
* building ward-level democracy, including strengthening the system of CDWs
* boosting participation in Integrated Development Plans and ensuring the effective management of the IDP process and expectations.

5. Protests

The Lekgotla considered a report and held in-depth discussions on the spate of protests in various areas of Gauteng over the past six months.

The Lekgotla agreed that residents have a constitutional right to peaceful protest and to freedom of association. Peaceful protest action in a democracy is regarded as a form of political participation and active citizenry in that it has the potential to draw the attention of authorities to key concerns of the citizenry on matters of public policy. It was agreed that government should defend the right of citizen groups to organise themselves, articulate their issues and protest peacefully.

However, the violent nature of many recent protests was a major concern. Many were characterised by street blockades, the burning of tyres and the destruction of property, which was also used as a way of attracting media attention. In some cases, criminal elements or disgruntled and disaffected members of organised formations were involved in the violence. Local councillors often bore the brunt of violent actions, despite the fact that they have limited control over the rollout of houses, electricity, water, sanitation etc.

It was noted that violent protests undermine the rights and freedoms of citizens and are illegal. Violence often serves as a distraction from the real issues that may be facing communities or sectors of society and alienates those who may wish to engage in legitimate, peaceful protest action. Violent protests threaten the safety of individuals and communities and private and public property and community facilities are often damaged. In addition, violence may escalate further as individuals and groups seek to defend their families and their property or as criminal elements get involved to further their own ends.

It was therefore agreed that violence in all its forms must be dealt with firmly and decisively by state law enforcement agencies in co-operation with communities. Perpetrators of violence must feel the full might of the law.

It was noted that the protests often focus on issues such as housing, water and sanitation, relocations and evictions. However, many of the protests took place in areas where development or upgrading initiatives are underway not in areas where service delivery problems are most acute. This implies that the protests emanated either from groups opposed to the implementation of development plans or resulted from poor communication and interaction with the affected communities on progress and plans. Exacerbating the problem in certain areas were dysfunctional ward structures and development forums and a lack of engagement with communities.

The Lekgotla agreed that protests would not enable a group or community to "jump the service delivery queue" or enable one community to be given preference over another community in the rollout of housing and other facilities and infrastructure. Nor would violent protests by particular groups prevent the implementation of development projects aimed at improving the community as a whole.

It was agreed that a comprehensive province wide response by government was needed to deal with the issues raised in the protests and stamp out the violence.

Key areas of focus include:

* improved communication and stakeholder management systems across the three spheres of government
* effective co-ordination in responding to all the key issues raised by communities
* ensuring the effective functioning and capacitating of ward councillors and ward committees, including the holding of regular ward meetings to report to and consult with residents on progress and plans
* a more effective system to follow up and feedback to communities on issues raised with Community Development Workers (CDW), community liaison officers, community based organisations, in ward meetings and in Izimbizo
* further empowering Ward Committees and CDWs to address community concerns and grievances long before they turn into protests
* reviewing plans and progress on local service delivery commitments, including in areas where there have been protests
* better co-ordination and communication with affected communities by provincial and local government, lead by the relevant Members of Executive Council (MECs) and Members of Mayoral Committees (MMCs)
* civic education on the role of councillors as public representatives and the system of governance while at the same time improving the accountability of councillors to communities
* civic education on mechanisms for raising community concerns as well as against the use of violence in protests
* effective co-ordination between law enforcement agencies. The police should be seen to act firmly against those who promote or engage in violence during protests. Public order policing should be appropriately capacitated to ensure the safety of people and property, including the safety of councillors
* the briefing of public representatives on province-wide development plans and projects to ensure they proactively engage and respond to issues timeously
* improving co-operation and co-ordination between provincial and local government and the relevant agencies on service delivery issues, especially on housing, basic services and infrastructure.

6. Conclusion

The Lekgotla agreed that both the provincial government and municipalities in Gauteng are well positioned to address the priorities outlined above. We are committed to continue to work together to build Gauteng as a globally competitive city region which is both prosperous and able to address the needs of all our people. Together we will accelerate our efforts to improve the lives of our people and to impact positively on poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
10 September 2007