Sweeping changes for Gauteng government

By Thapelo Molefe

Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has unveiled a major overhaul of the provincial government, promising tighter controls, cleaner governance and urgent action on youth unemployment. 

Delivering his second budget vote speech of the 7th Administration on Thursday, Lesufi said the province could no longer tolerate administrative failures, corruption or stagnant service delivery.

Standing before the Gauteng provincial legislature, Lesufi declared a reset in government operations after receiving 49 damning forensic reports, most of which were commissioned before his term began. 

He said the reports exposed billions in underspending, questionable payments and civil servants failing lifestyle audits.

“In the last few months, we witnessed displeasing acts of under expenditures to the tune of R1.8 billion, members failing lifestyle audits, underperformance by some departments and damning forensic reports,” the premier said. 

“We have now taken a firm decision to reset the administration of the provincial government.”

As part of that