Maile unveils Gauteng’s first municipal economic review to foster development

By Johnathan Paoli

In a milestone event for data-driven governance and local economic development, Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile has officially launched the province’s first-ever Municipal Economic Review and Outlook (MERO), in an effort to redefine how local governments across Gauteng plan, budget, and deliver services to residents.

Speaking during the launch of Gauteng’s inaugural Municipal Economic Review Outlook held at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), and developed in collaboration with global consultancy Ernst & Young, Maile emphasised MERO’s central role in enabling evidence-based policy-making and creating a platform for sustainable, inclusive development across Gauteng’s municipalities.

“This launch is not just the release of a document. It is a declaration that we are entering a new era of data-driven governance, where decisions are guided by scientific evidence, not assumptions. Planning must be at the centre of Gauteng’s development, and by extension, the development of South Africa