Finance MEC Lebogang Maile.
Gauteng provincial government has embarked on practising what they sermonised that their mandate is to boost and enhance the people’s life.
Finance MEC Lebogang Maile was addressing a business breakfast at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) together with the JSE’s Capital Markets’ Director, Valdene Reddy
when he announced that expansion of roads has been identified as one of the key projects to stimulate economic growth in the province.
This event comes ahead of the Gauteng Investment Conference geared to be held in April which objectives are to attract about R800 billion in investment over the next three to five years.
Maile dismissed forces of doom and doubters who are of a view that Gauteng provincial government is fantasising and pompous.
“While this might sound like an insurmountable target, we are confident in the investment potential of the province, as well as the existence and further development of the infrastructure that is necessary to convince the global investor community of our capacity,” MEC Maile said.
Earlier, Gauteng Premier and ANC provincial chairperson Panyaza Lesufi received applause after his debate speech for the 2025 State of the Nation Address in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Following Ramaphosa’s 2023 investment conference in Gauteng which is the economic pulse of South Africa, as a direct result, Gauteng secured R180 billion commitment in investment, accounting for 49.4% of the total R364.2 billion pledged across the country.
He confirmed that Gauteng province continues to attract a lion’s share of investment across key strategic sectors. Among others, these include the following:
Manufacturing;
· BMW committed R4.2 billion to expand automotive production in Gauteng;
· Mpact pledged R2.5 billion to drive sustainable packaging solutions;
· The Housing Hub attracted R450 million to accelerate affordable housing initiatives;
· Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University secured R245 million for facility expansion.
Premier Lesufi also confirmed that to sustain this momentum his administration will host an investment conference on the 3rd and the 4th of April this year in support and alignment of the President’s Investment Conference.
He added however that this initiative aims to further unlock opportunities for economic transformation and sustainable development.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that Gauteng remains the country’s premier destination for business, investment, inclusive economic growth - continuously attracting high impact investment that will shape the future of South Africa. For that Mr. President, we want to say thank you, thank you Siyabulela! The Gauteng Government will facilitate the expansion of the Gautrain network to several areas, including Soweto via Fourways, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Lanseria, and Springs. The expansion project is expected to create 125 000 construction jobs over a period of 5 years,” Premier Lesufi said.
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