During his recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi faced criticism from opposition political parties for making what they deemed to be unrealistic promises.
Lesufi outlined his goals, which included creating 40,000 new temporary training jobs for unemployed young people and purchasing and upgrading 18 existing hospitals.
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The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng leader, Solly Msimanga, expressed his disappointment, stating that Lesufi’s speech mirrored the promises he made in 2023, which were not fulfilled.
Msimanga pointed out the delay in implementing the panic button system, which was initially promised to be up and running within three months of the announcement. Now, the premier claims that the process of rolling it out will begin in April. Msimanga questioned the credibility of these promises, asking, “Who is fooling who here?”
Similarly, Vuyisa Ramakgopa from Rise Mzansi criticised the focus on public relations and propaganda over actual delivery. Ramakgopa highlighted the pressing issue of unemployment, with 2.2 million young people in Gauteng not being in employment, education, or training.
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According to Ramakgopa, the premier failed to provide a clear plan or guidance on how to address the structural issues hindering transformation.
The opposition parties’ criticism raises concerns about the credibility and effectiveness of the Gauteng government’s initiatives. As the province’s sixth administration comes to an end, it remains to be seen whether the promises made during Lesufi’s SOPA will be fulfilled or if they will join the list of unmet commitments from previous years.
