By: ANG Reporter
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Wednesday met with executive mayors of Gauteng municipalities.
In a statement, Lesufi’s office said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss urgent service delivery matters, as well as areas of collaborations between the two spheres of government.
Lesufi noted with concern the cholera
outbreak in Hammanskraal and expressed his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones because of the cholera outbreak. The three spheres of government continue to work together to curb the spread of cholera in the area.
Lesufi highlighted that he noted five recurring areas of concern in all Gauteng Municipalities, which include the energy crisis, crime, unemployment, ageing infrastructure as well as service delivery protests.
The meeting was also attended by Members of the Executive Council (MECs) for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Research Mzi Khumalo, Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mbali Hlophe and Roads and Logistics Kedibone Diale-Tlabela.
On the energy crisis, the provincial government has developed an Energy
Crisis Response Plan, which was endorsed by the Executive Council (EXCO) Lekgotla in February.
Since the inception of the plan, the provincial government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Johannesburg to give effect to the Premie’s pronouncement from the Provincial Energy EXPO in February. The pronouncement includes the need for City Power to extend its services to the province, given its capabilities and expertise as an implementing agent for alternative sources, renewable energy, and energy efficiency projects.
The provincial government also indicated its commitment to work with the City of Tshwane to look at ways to reactivate Rooivaal power station and further engage Kelvin power station to assist in mitigating the energy crisis in the province.
“As a province, we stand to add 800 megawatts of power to the national
grid through the Merafong solar plant in the West Rand”, said Premier Lesufi.
The project was released to market in the current financial year and six independent power producers have been selected.
Lesufi also reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to support municipalities in areas such as debt management, wasteful and irregular expenditure, and dispute resolution.
“We are in the process of establishing a strong dispute resolution mechanism within COGTA, which will be instrumental in resolving some of the disputes in our municipalities, which do not require us to go to court to resolve.
“On the issue of community safety and security, we want law enforcement
agencies under one command centre, we therefore need to work together to integrate all our law enforcement resources for maximum impact, said Lesufi.
MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela noted the serious challenges of encroachment on road reserves and vandalism of traffic infrastructure on road infrastructure development programme of the province. She urged municipalities to assist by strengthening the enforcement of by-laws to mitigate the challenges.
She added that the department is responsible for 400 intersections across Gauteng and urged municipalities to partner with the provincial government in deploying points persons at various intersections to assist with traffic control during load shedding.
MEC for Social Development, Agriculture and Rural Development and Environment, Mbali Hlophe urged municipalities to donate land parcels to be used as buy back centres which will assist with redirecting waste from landfills.
