Gauteng Premier David Makhura will, in the coming month, meet with the province’s newly elected mayors to discuss ways of advancing programmes to reindustrialised the city region.

This includes the Democratic Alliance’s Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga and Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, as well as the African National Congress’s Mzwandile Masina, now mayor of Ekurhuleni – all of whom took office following the August 3 local government elections.

Speaking during his 2015/16 Annual Report presentation delivered at the Gauteng provincial legislature, Makhura warned the mayors to “avoid making public announcements or commitments on matters on which they have no constitutional or legal authority.

“All reports confirm the irrefutable and indisputable fact that Gauteng cities, especially our metro municipalities, are key drivers of growth, employment as well as spatial and socioeconomic transformation. Our metros have been well governed and resilient institutionally.

“In my engagements with the mayors, we will seek ways for us to work together so that we can build on these achievements,” Makhura pointed out.

He added that the provincial government would not hesitate to intervene, in accordance with the law, in the event of “administrative paralysis” that threatened the wellbeing of citizens.

“The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is already working closely with all the municipalities to ensure a smooth transition to the new term of local government,” he said.

Last week, Makhura reported that all of the province’s departments and agencies obtained unqualified audit outcomes, with seven provincial departments and 14 agencies achieving clean audits.

He pointed out that there was still room for improvement, as the province sought to achieve 100% clean audits.

“There shall be consequences for poor performance and unethical conduct. We are determined to run a clean, accountable, efficient, responsive and corruption-free administration. We are determined to serve the people honestly and diligently,” he stated.