As the economic hub of South Africa, Gauteng attracts migrants from other parts of South Africa and across the African continent in search for jobs and other economic opportunities.

Although migration has contributed to the development of the province, it can also pose challenges to the provincial government through the added burden on state financed services such as housing, infrastructure, education and health services.

Despite this challenge, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) continues to work tirelessly in ensuring that the basic needs of the growing population are met.

This was revealed in the Gauteng Midterm Report that was released on Tuesday 23 May 2017.

According to the report, Gauteng has built 1.2 million RDP houses (31% of the national stock) between 1994 and 2016.

The province is now embarking on a programme to build sustainable human settlements, instead of merely providing RDP houses.

“The Provincial Government has also undertaken to develop 31 mega human settlements in partnership with the private sector. The new mega human settlements are built to locate people closer to economic opportunities,” said Premier Makhura.

Government is also working with the private sector and municipalities to build new cities.  Construction is currently underway at Savannah City; Steyn City, Waterfall City; Lanseria City and Vaal River City.

Access to basic services was very high in the province - water (97%); sanitation (91%); refuse removal (91%) and electricity (84%).

“Despite these successes on the human settlement front, the housing backlog remains huge (600 000 people remain unhoused) due to the rapid rate of urbanisation and in-migration.

The Gauteng Provincial Government continues to work tirelessly in alleviating poverty in the province. Its efforts have led to the reduction of the poverty headcount from 10.5% in 2001 to 4.6% in 2016;

“Our intervention programme called Welfare-to-Work programme that targets young mothers not to depend on social grants but become self-reliant through skills development has been scaled up. By the end of 2016, about 10 500 Welfare-to-Work beneficiaries graduated, equipped with skills and decent employment,” said Premier Makhura.

The Bana-Pele programme, an initiative by the provincial government aims to assist vulnerable children and orphans to access a package of services through a “single window” has led to the distribution of close to 600 000 dignity packs over the midterm, resulting in a visible reduction in absenteeism by girls.

“However poverty is still acute and intense in Gauteng (16.5% households without income) and hunger is prevalent (16.3% households have no adequate food daily): increased and targeted pro-poor interventions to raise incomes and enhance food security are being introduced.

“This means we must have a more targeted approach, particularly in poverty acute districts like the West Rand and Sedibeng which are the poorest part of our province,” said Premier Makhura.

Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government