​Thembisa Shologu
Gauteng has made substantial progress in revitalising its infrastructure in preparation for the upcoming G20 Leaders' Summit, says Premier Panyaza Lesufi. The summit will be held from 22-23 November at Nasrec. South Africa is the first African country to lead the G20.
Premier Lesufi made this announcement during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday following a meeting with Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, on the province's state of readiness for the summit.
Work has been underway since the President and National Executive's oversight visit to Johannesburg, which saw the establishment of the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group (PJWG) to address long-standing urban management challenges.
Key focus areas identified by the working group include governance, financial stability of the City of Johannesburg, water and sanitation, electricity supply, safety, and CBD renewal.
"About 1,523 potholes have been repaired, with the project now 97% complete; work is 40% complete on the 456 road markings scheduled for refresh. The initiative, which includes grass cutting and litter picking, as well as herbicide application across 481 km, is at 70%.
"The Installation of 11.21 km of new fencing is in its early stages, with 4.4% complete. Rehabilitation work on 23,052 m² of lighting is nearing completion, currently 88.7% complete, with repairs on 64 traffic signals halfway complete at 50%. Additionally, repairs for 21,274 streetlights are well underway, with 74% of the work completed. Maintenance on 443 stormwater drains is almost finished, with 88.4% complete," Lesufi said.
Lesufi took the opportunity to formally release the final report of the Usindiso Commission of Inquiry, led by retired Judge Sisi Khampepe.
The Commission was established to investigate the circumstances around the tragic fire that killed 77 people at the Usindiso Building in August 2023.
The investigation focused on the direct causes of the fire and the underlying reasons behind the phenomenon of "hijacked buildings," where criminal groups illegally take over and rent out abandoned properties.
"Evidence shows that only a small minority (5.74%) of properties had allegations of rent collection by non-owners. The crisis is driven by extreme poverty and a severe lack of affordable housing, forcing people into unsafe living conditions.
"Most properties (79.76%) had fire safety concerns, with most (71.26%) completely lacking any fire safety equipment. The use of combustible materials and blocked escape routes further exacerbates this danger.
"Most properties (77.01%) were found to be without essential services such as water, sanitation, refuse removal, and electricity. This leads to unsafe living conditions and contributes to the fire risk through the proliferation of dangerous, illicit electrical connections," he explained.
The report recommended that the Inner-City Housing Implementation Plan (ICHIP) be revised to address the social housing problems in the city.
It also suggested the provision of basic municipal services such as electricity, water, sanitation, and refuse removal.
Furthermore, the provincial government has welcomed the announcement by National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, regarding the establishment of a dedicated Gauteng Political Killings Task Team.
"This specialised unit, set to be launched within the next four weeks, will be tasked with investigating and resolving high-profile and politically sensitive cases within the province.
"This initiative represents a significant step towards bolstering the fight against political violence, and the Government of Provincial Unity supports all initiatives to foster an environment of political tolerance," he said.
In addition, the province has reached the final stages of appointment of the preferred bidder in Gautrain expansion, and the current concessionaire expires in March 2026.
The expansion will include Soweto, Mamelodi, Fourways, and Roodepoort.
"Plans are advanced to integrate the provincial transport system, and we intend to use this asset as the anchor, and one of the outcomes of this will be the remodeling of the taxi industry after consultations with stakeholders," said Premier Lesufi.