Mar 2022 2nd edition

Provinces highlight plans for 2022

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address, each province presented their 2021 achievements and plans for 2022. Vuk’uzenzele shares some highlights from the State of the Province Addresses. 

Gauteng 

Premier David Makhura said: 

  • Growing Gauteng Together 2030 (GGT2030) was introduced to double the size of Gauteng’s economy and the number of people employed. 
  • GGT2030 aims to increase exports to the continent, drastically reduce poverty and promote economic empowerment. 
  • The need to improve and maintain infrastructure is important for the province to reach its service delivery, employment and economic growth targets. 
  • The focus is on completing projects and accelerating the completion of new infrastructure projects. 
  • Seven Agriparks are in operation, which have created 75 permanent jobs and 300 temporary jobs. 
  • Production tools were distributed to 3 876 homesteads and 339 community food gardens. 

Western Cape 

Premier Alan Winde said: 

  • A new Department of Infrastructure will be created, through the merger of the Human Settlements Department and specific components of the Transport and Public Works Department, including the property portfolio and road programmes. 
  • A Violence Prevention Unit will be established. 
  • Police oversight will be ramped up. 
  • An extended jobs cabinet will be set up. 
  • Five mega health infrastructure projects will take place over the medium-to-long-term. 
  • The province will focus on recovering lost learning time. 
  • The province will focus on supporting the vulnerable, with improved social services, using an all-of-society approach. 

Northern Cape 

Premier Zamani Saul said: 

  • Addressing unemployment, corruption and lack of infrastructure deve¬lopment are amongst the province’s top priorities. 
  • Special Investigating Unit offices have been set up. 
  • There will be incre¬ased spending on social infrastructure, with more rural roads upgraded. 
  • More people have access to third and fourth generation wireless telecommunications technology, due to investment by MTN and Vodacom. 
  • Procurement to local enterprises increased from 34% to 47% (over R1.2 billion). 
  • The province reflected a positive bank balance, of over R300 million, for the first time in four years. 

Eastern Cape 

Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane said: 

  • The Provincial Medium-Term Strategic Framework is being implemented to address unemployment, poverty and inequality. 
  • Eight major road infrastructure projects, worth R3.1 billion, have been completed. 
  • Despite the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), over 4 500 job opportunities were created. 
  • Work packages worth over R5.5 billion were allocated to 696 black-owned contractors. 
  • An investment pipeline of R1.4 billion has been signed. 
  • R417.4 million has been invested in 107 agricultural initiatives across the province. 
  • Over 278 000 youth have benefitted from various development initiatives. 

Mpumalanga 

Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane said: 

  • A new plan to respond to the effect of COVID-19 on the economy is being implemented – the Mpumalanga Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. 
  • The province will continue to improve the lives of rural and farming communities by providing training for aspirant farmers. Over 4 000 farmers have already been assisted, and about 150 will be provided with farming land after training. 
  • Mpumalanga Youth Development Fund: Forty-four applications have been approved for funding; and a unit will be established under the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency to focus on fundraising. 
  • Rural development: Over 4 550 farmers have received skills development training, and 500 were selected for AgriSETA-accredited skills development programmes. Young aspirant farmers are being placed on their own farms. 

Limpopo 

Premier Stanley Mathabatha said: 

  • Stimulating the local economy will take precedence, with large-scale projects, including the rollout of broadband and developments in the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ). 
  • The Municipal Infrastructure Budget is a key factor in promoting service delivery. 
  • Individuals implicated in the Special Investigative Report will be held accountable. 
  • Over R4 billion has been budgeted for the construction of an academic hospital with 488 beds. 
  • Bridge 6116 in Makuleke is 99% complete. 
  • The designation of the Fetakgomo- Tubatse SEZ is at an advanced stage. 
  • The province delivered 3 108 houses to the poor and needy. 

KwaZulu-Natal 

Premier Sihle Zikalala said: 

  • Focus areas for 2022 will be working better and faster by prioritising economic recovery and creating jobs. The province will also scale up access to water and sanitation, fighting crime and building safer communities, social protection and human development. 
  • The province is completing 2 767 houses. 
  • The Expanded Public Works Programme created 181 244 job opportunities, and 139 422 full-time opportunities. 
  • New investments of R5.5 billion created 8 875 jobs. 
  • The KwaZulu-Natal Youth Empowerment Fund commitment has increased from R50 million (2019) to R100 million to aspiring youth entrepreneurs. 

Free State 

Premier Sisi Ntombela said: 

  • Agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy. 
  • R100 million will be used to develop on-farm infrastructure, including irrigation schemes, mechanisation, farm buildings and agri-processing. 
  • R53 million will be spent creating 300 jobs through the Township Revitalisation Programme. 
  • Twelve townships roads in various areas will be completed. 
  • Through the EPWP, 54 080 jobs were created by the third quarter of the 2021/22 financial year. 

North West 

Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape said: 

  • The province’s unemployment rate is 35.7%, with youth unemployment of 63%. To address this, the province is engaging with economic sectors to develop a common platform to address economic growth and job creation. 
  • A Provincial Jobs Summit will be held in May. 
  • A total of 12 494 jobs will be created across all infrastructure delivery departments through the EPWP. 
  • Agricultural production and associated agro-processing will be grown via the Crop Massifi¬cation Programme, finalising the Irrigation Master Plan, engaging in the production of new crops, and cultivating arable land. 
  • Efforts will be pursued to establish the Bojanala SEZ. 
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