Gauteng Premier David Makhura
Photo by: Duane Daws
Gauteng will need more than R1.3-trillion over the next 15 years to respond to social and economic infrastructure requirements, Premier David Makhura said on Tuesday.
However, he said the government would not be able to achieve this acting alone.
"It is therefore critical that we form transformative partnerships with the private sector in responding to our infrastructure requirements," he told a delegation from the National Council of Provinces visiting Johannesburg.
Makhura said the provincial government had been mobilising support for the private sector to invest in its five economic corridors - Central Development Corridor (Johannesburg), Eastern Development Corridor (Ekurhuleni), Northern Development Corridor (Tshwane), Western Corridor (West Rand), and Southern Corridor (Sedibeng).
The province recently held a Gauteng Infrastructure Investment Conference.
Makhura said at the conference that the province had been made aware that there was R8-trillion of investable funds that could be redirected to fund infrastructure investment.
Communities, through their mutual savings in burial societies, mogodisano and stockvels were potential sources of funding, especially in local infrastructure investment.
He linked the five economic corridors to plans to boost economic development in the province's townships.
"The township economy is now on the national agenda," Makhura said.
"We in Gauteng are very proud that we are the champion of the township economy. It's [about] getting in there to change the landscape. Township small business are looking forward to this."
He said the pace at which this would move would depend on the province's resources.
The provincial government had already committed more than R160-million towards the revitalisation of township economies.
Work to amend regulations was underway so that the provincial government could procure goods and services from township enterprises.
Makhura said the target was that 30% of government procurement would be set aside for township enterprises.
"In addition, over the next five years, the City of Johannesburg has set aside R3-billion, Tshwane more than R22-million and Ekurhuleni more than R150-million to support the township economy and township entrepreneurs," he said.