The development of a master plan for the aerotropolis concept around South Africa’s busiest airport was set to get under way following the appointment of Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe to manage the process, Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane revealed on Monday.

Speaking during the 2013 Gauteng Legislature opening in the Johannesburg city centre, she said Van der Merwe, who has been leading the development of the R27-billion Gautrain project since June 1997, would be tasked with tabling a strategy to take the 'airport city’ from concept to development.

He would work with the Gauteng provincial government, the City of Ekurhuleni and the Department of Transport.

The development of the aerotropolis, which had not yet been costed, was centred at OR Tambo International Airport, in Ekurhuleni, and sought to leverage public and private sector investment at the airport and surrounding areas.

The province had secured approval for the creation of an industrial development zone to support industrial development around Africa’s first airport city, and had entered into agreements with Airports Company South Africa and national government for the possible development of an aerotropolis.

INFRASTRUCTURE
Meanwhile, during her 2013 State of the Province address, Mokonyane said detailed planning work, such as feasibility studies and master plan development for the Tambo Springs Inland Port, the Vaal Logistics Hub and West Rand Freight and Logistics Hub were currently under way.

She also pointed to a key partnership between the South African National Roads Agency, Transnet, the City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng provincial government for the development of an Ethekwini–Free State–Gauteng freight and logistics corridor, as part of Strategic Infrastructure Project 2, which aimed to improve the movement of goods. The infrastructure project was one of 18 strategic infrastructure projects (Sips) on which the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission was focused.

Further, the province started the first phase of the City Deep/Kaserne terminal expansion and roads upgrade at South Africa’s busiest container terminal, based in Johannesburg.

In addition to this, Mokonyane said the Gauteng province aimed to invest in several road infrastructure projects over the next year.

These included reconstructing and upgrading the R55, in particular converting the section between Olievenhoutbosch and Pretoria West along Voortrekker road to a dual-carriageway road.

The reconstruction and improvement of William Nicol drive between Fourways and Diepsloot, as well as the remaining section of the Old Pretoria to Cullinan road between the Chris Hani Flats and Cullinan would also be targeted.

The province would also embark on rehabilitating the remaining section between Main road and Maunde street, in Atteridgeville, as well as constructing the K60 between Megawatt Park and the N1 and from the Rivonia road extension to Main road.

Engineering studies and concept designs had also been completed for the construction – in the new financial year – of four intermodal facilities at Roodepoort, Vereeniging and Germiston stations, in partnership with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and the respective municipalities.

The Gauteng province aimed to integrate intermodal public transport such as park and rides, drop-off and waiting areas, as well as nonmotorised transport, walk ways and cycle lanes.

“We are also working closely with our municipalities to see the continued expansion of the bus rapid transit [BRT] system in Johannesburg and the launch in Tshwane,” she said.

The City of Ekurhuleni was currently planning to initiate its own BRT system.

Further, Prasa was expected to refurbish 243 Gauteng coaches – at a cost of R537-million – during this financial year. Another 268 coaches were planned for refurbishment at a cost of R645-million in 2013/14.

This formed part of the firm’s 20-year, R123-billion rolling stock fleet recapitalisation and refurbishment programme. Gauteng would be allocated a total of 2 484 coaches – accounting for more than 45% of the new coaches to be built in South Africa.

In line with the passenger rail developments, R13-billion has been committed over the next three years to a capital programme aimed at modernising the train stations and expanding tracks in Gauteng.

About 50 stations on core corridors would be modernised, with five of these stations being developed into fully integrated intermodal facilities.

A R400-million Mamelodi expansion project, comprising the doubling of the tracks from Eerste station to Fabrieke station, the rebuilding of two stations at Pienaarspoort and Mamelodi, and the building of a new station at Greenview, had started.

The Mabopane and Park stations were also targeted for redevelopment.

In efforts to ensure security of supply to Gauteng and to support Sips, State-owned power utility Eskom was expected to spend R74-billion over the next five years, with R64.8-billion dedicated to bulk transmission projects and R9.2-billion to distribution projects.

Meanwhile, the Gauteng government had embarked on a R1.6-billion industrial park development project in the Diepsloot area, to “revive industrialisation in the province and small, medium-sized and micro enterprise (SMME) development opportunities”.

The province, in partnership with Century Property Development Company would break ground on the first phase of the SMME incubation hub in April or May.

The project, which was expected to create in excess of 15 000 jobs when completed, formed part of the province’s efforts to create more jobs.

“We will ensure that the incubation programmes continue until sustainable levels are achieved,” she said.

SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT
Despite decreasing the province’s unemployment rate from 28.2% in the first quarter of 2011 to 23.7% in the fourth quarter of 2012, youth unemployment remained one of the “most critical and urgent challenges” faced by Gauteng.

The provincial government aimed to create over 196 000 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) work opportunities at provincial and municipal level over the next year, compared with the 151 000 EPWP work opportunities created during the past year.

About 22 000 direct permanent and 44 000 direct temporary jobs were created during 2012. The provincial government aimed to create another 51 000 temporary and permanent jobs this year.

“We are also making progress in strengthening Gauteng as a business and leisure tourism destination. Projections show that by increasing the length of stay in the province by one night, we can potentially create 24 000 new jobs,” said Mokonyane.

Various initiatives, such as improved marketing efforts through the visitor centre at OR Tambo International Airport and the Johannesburg visitor information centre at Sandton Square, besides others, were under way to achieve this.

Further, the Gauteng Investment Centre was expected to be launched, facilitating the business start-up process – from the initial application to the start of business operations.

Export development programmes were also developed for Gauteng companies wanting to export their products in other regional markets, with a strategic focus on Africa.

Meanwhile, under the Gauteng province’s youth employment strategy, six Township Enterprise Hubs, focusing on refining operating models, information and communication technology (ICT), services and light manufacturing would be established.

In the year ahead, the province would also collaborate with business and sector education and training authorities to place 6 500 youth in learnerships, internships and work places to gain experiential learning.

Further, Gauteng’s ‘Skills for Industry’ programme would train 2 255 artisans and technicians from this year until 2016 in the automotive and ICT sectors, besides others.

“We are increasingly positioning the provincial government as an employer of choice and attracting skilled young professionals into the public service,” she said.

The Gauteng provincial sector departments increased the number of funded vacancies to 5 421 by the end of January, up from 3 346 in December 2012.

The Department of Infrastructure Development recruited 160 new technical staff, including engineers and artisans, to boost its socioeconomic and public infrastructure delivery in the province.