• Under a DA-led government, premier candidate Solly Msimanga says Gauteng will be cleaner, safer, and well-governed. 
• Premier Panyaza Lesufi is expected to deliver his State of the Province Address next week.
• Msimanga says Lesufi has made several “empty promises” to Gauteng residents.

The time has come for residents to reject Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s “empty promises”. 

This is what DA Gauteng premier candidate Solly Msimanga said on Thursday ahead of Lesufi’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Nasrec on Monday. 

Msimanga was delivering what he said was “the true” SOPA, mapping out how the DA plans to rescue Gauteng from “the shackles of unemployment, poor service delivery, and load shedding”.

He said: 

Msimanga said that corruption and unemployment in the province were at an all-time high, with crime levels reaching crisis levels. 

“The list of challenges that our residents face daily is endless and requires a capable, accountable, and transparent government that is committed to delivering, which is the DA.” 

He added that South Africa’s economic hub had become a shadow of its former self, with dwindling resources for service delivery, and the alleged mismanagement of public funds.

“This has collapsed many municipalities, resulting in them being unable to deliver basic services such as refuse removal and fixing potholes.”

READ | Politicking on residents’ dime: Lesufi accused of ‘publicity stunts’ with re-elecrification photo ops

With the 2024 elections around the corner, Msimanga said Gauteng residents had the opportunity to vote for a new government, nationally and provincially. 

Just like President Cyril Ramaphosa, Msimanga said that Lesufi would try to distance himself from the legacy of poor governance. He urged residents to reimagine a Gauteng that works, with employment opportunities, and functioning hospitals and clinics.

He added:

Under the DA’s leadership, he said they would prioritise special economic zones and fix aging infrastructure, through the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, to drive investment.

The party would also create jobs, but “we don’t want to be paying bribes and taking brown envelopes for us to get access. Access cannot be denied just because I am not willing to pay a brown envelope; we need to have a mentality that says we are ready and open for business”.

Msimanga assured small businesses that, under the DA, they would be paid on time, and that red tape would be removed. 

“We will introduce systems that will ensure transparency in how jobs in government get to be given out,” he said. 

READ | Sticking with Solly: Msimanga will be the DA’s Gauteng premier candidate again

On crime, load shedding, and service delivery, Msimanga said reliable electricity supply was vital for job creation and economic growth. 

“To sufficiently tackle the challenges of load shedding, we must engage with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to procure additional electricity for this province.” 

“It is no secret that many of the municipalities in Gauteng are unable to manage their finances correctly. In Emfuleni, for example, this municipality owes Eskom and Rand Water millions of rands, yet there is an expectation that they must work with IPPs to procure additional electricity.” 

In beleaguered Tshwane, Msimanga said plans were in place to lease the Rooiwaal and Pretoria West power stations to private power producers so that the City could be less reliant on Eskom. 

The DA also believes that the National Health Insurance Bill, which will soon be signed into law, “will not do much to ease the burden on our state hospitals and clinics”.

Msimanga also promised that the party would root out corruption in the province and conduct lifestyle audits.