Chairperson, hon Ministers and hon members, it is an honour and a pleasure for me to present the report of the Gauteng provincial legislature to this august House. The report emphasises the programme of action of the legislature on delivery and oversight work as from May 2009. The report has been enriched by the state of the nation address and the address of the premier during the opening of the legislature.
The implementation of this programme is under way and has also been adopted by the executive council of the province. The 2009 - 14 programme of action isolates the following issues: the creation of decent work and building of a growing, inclusive economy; the promotion of quality education and skills development; health for all; stimulating rural development and food security; intensifying the fight against crime and corruption; building cohesive and sustainable communities; and strengthening the developmental state and good governance.
When the Premier of Gauteng, hon Nomvula Mokonyane, addressed the opening of the legislature sitting, she unveiled Vision 2055, indicating that the plans for delivering to the province were far-reaching. It is crucial for the legislature to consider the interests of the young generation and what legacy we are going to leave for them. She emphasised that the current provincial government does not wish to compromise the future of our young generation.
Such long-term planning will be characterised by phases and stages in between to ensure delivery of short-term projects as well. The provincial government of Gauteng has therefore been able to achieve the following, amongst others, in education: the early childhood education framework and implementation has been approved; 384 early childhood development, ECD, sites have been registered with the department, and 284 will be registered this year, 2011; 10 new schools are to be built during this financial year; and Grade R subsidies were granted to the 2 641 ECD centres.
With regard to health, 84 clinics operate on extended hours. The Johan Heyns Clinic, Charlotte Maxeke Hospital and the Chiawelo and Zola Clinics are now operating 24 hours a day. Sir, 500 000 people have undergone HIV testing, while 79,6% of TB patients have been cured.
With regard to the Safety and Security cluster, the provincial policing needs and priorities have been approved. There is improved co-ordination between the SA Police Service, SAPS, the provincial traffic police and the Metro Police, which has yielded positive and effective policing. Victim empowerment centres continue to provide support to victims of social crime. A new provincial commissioner of the SAPS has been appointed. He is Gen Mzwandile Petros.
With regard to job creation and decent work, support for the motor industry resulted in the Ford Company's investing in the production of motor vehicles in the province, with the Gauteng provincial government to develop a new supplier park in Silverton, Pretoria. Hon Chairperson, 300 new jobs have been unveiled. As a result, workers have been trained in the motor industry. Sir, 549 young people were employed via the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP. Other areas are rural development, sustainable settlement, housing and local government.
During Provincial Week, in which the NCOP delegates in the province participated and visited the City of Tshwane, the delegation consisted of Gauteng permanent delegates in the NCOP and members of the Gauteng provincial legislature. They visited projects undertaken and set up by the City of Tshwane. The aim of the projects was to improve delivery of services and living conditions of the people of the metro. The delegation met the then Mayor of Tshwane, the hon Gwen Ramokgopa, and her entire mayoral committee.
Some of the following projects were visited: Rooiwal Agri-Village, which comprises various farming activities and provides 10 vegetable planting production and five poultry units. Beneficiaries targeted included emerging farmers, agricultural co-operatives and indigent people. It is part and parcel of the programme for the Pretoria Metro to alleviate poverty.
The Ga-Rankuwa Arts and Crafts Centre was established by the metro to provide facilities for crafters and artists as a workshop and training venue. The facility is run as a public-private partnership. The centre consists of a kiosk, where local small business sell their traditional products to foreign tourists and the domestic market. It was indicated that the centre was the first of its kind in the country and that more of them would be established in Tshwane Metro.
With regard to the road infrastructure of Ga-Rankuwa, the poor road infrastructure was inherited from the former homeland of Bophuthatswana, whose leader was none other than Tautona Mookamedi Lucas Manyane Mangope. This continues to be a challenge to the residents.
The roads lack stormwater drainage and tarring. Houses and yards are flooded during the rainy seasons and the muddy, slippery roads become inaccessible. The Tshwane Metro started an infrastructure project in June 2010, with a budget of R16 million, to provide stormwater drainage, paving and tarring of roads. The metro required R358 million to upgrade all the roads of Ga-Rankuwa in Pretoria.
Other projects which were visited include Soshanguve Electricity Depot; the Klipkruisfontein Resort; the water reservoir; housing projects at Impumelelo Extension 2, where there were a number of problems, and KwaZenzele Agri-Village.
After concluding these visits, a number of recommendations were made. Owing to lack of time, Chairperson, I will isolate only a few.
Firstly, the delegates to the NCOP should be fully briefed on progress on such interactions to enable them to take matters further if necessary - that is, the Gauteng delegates of the NCOP. Secondly, the delegation should arrange a follow-up visit where possible. Thirdly, the municipality and provincial department should liaise closely with one another to resolve the issues and provide the delegation with a full report. Lastly, the municipality should actively engage with the Department of Agriculture to ensure the promotion of agricultural projects and food security in the community of KwaZenzele.
Another issue was a proposal to the effect that a workshop should be held as soon as possible to discuss, amongst others, the following issue: the equitable share formula, which the Gauteng province has actually mooted is quite unfair to the province, most particularly because of the migratory responsibilities of the province without the necessary funding being in place.