By Thapelo Molefe
The Gauteng government is shifting the maintenance of provincial infrastructure to municipalities as part of a broader urban renewal strategy, according to premier Panyaza Lesufi.
He said talks were underway with the City of Tshwane to join Johannesburg in maintaining provincial streetlights.
“We have already finalised an agency agreement with the Johannesburg Municipality, and negotiations with Tshwane Municipality are at an advanced stage,” Lesufi said during a media briefing on Thursday.
“If we can sort out the three metros, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg, we really believe that we would have made meaningful progress.”
Lesufi, who was briefing reporters on various programmes in the province, expressed gratitude for national government support in stabilising the Johannesburg CBD, where the Presidential Working Group has reclaimed 12 hijacked buildings through court action.
“Once more, we wish to thank the president for his intervention in the City of Johannesburg. We will be extending this intervention to other municipalities in our province to revitalise the CBDs and improve the infrastructure,” he said.
A cornerstone of that revitalisation strategy was the revival of the Kopanong Government Precinct Project, an initiative aimed at reducing the province’s massive rental bill by centralising provincial departments in state-owned buildings within the Johannesburg CBD.
“Considering the high costs of renting buildings for our government departments, we are reviving the Kopanong Government Precinct Project,” Lesufi said. “We believe this will finally assist us in the cost analysis and ensure that we don’t have to spend money on office rentals”.
The project has now been registered with the National Treasury and a feasibility study has been approved, including an economic valuation and options analysis.
Lesufi said the provincial executive council has agreed to partner with a credible strategic investor to implement the project.
“Where the buildings can be renovated and handed over to the government department, we will do so. Where it can be given over to the private sector for other responsibilities, we will also consider that,” he explained.
The CBD revitalisation plan also includes continued support for the Khampepe Commission, which is due to submit its final report in June.
The commission was appointed to investigate building hijackings in the inner city.
“This report will be critical in identifying the key players behind building hijackings and understanding their modus operandi, allowing us to take stronger action against this criminal activity,” Lesufi said.
The provincial government meets quarterly with executive mayors to track various projects.
“It’s time to clean up our cities and make government more efficient for the people we serve,” Lesufi said.
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