Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has his work cut out for him as some Gauteng residents are pinning their hopes on his State of the Province Address on Monday evening to deal with pressing issues facing them.
Unemployment, poor service delivery, the scourge of rape and student debt are among the challenges that residents want him to raise during his address.
The stage has been set in Tshwane for Gauteng Premier’s fourth SOPA.
The Premier is expected to outline his government’s plans to deal with the persisting unemployment rate in the province which stands at 34%.
The Premier is also set to speak to Gauteng government’s efforts to deal with crime and poor service delivery – where some residents spend months with little to no water.
The African Christian Democratic Party is hoping the Premier will also table how he will deal with the housing challenge.
The party’s provincial leader Dulton Adams says, “I want the Premier to deal specifically with youth unemployment because it is a major crisis. If youth unemployment is not dealt with, you will find that the issues of drugs will continue in our young people’s lives. The gangsterism and violence. The issue of human settlements, no houses have been built in so-called Coloured areas for the last 30 years and that is a challenge.”
Road closures
Gauteng traffic police have urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads. Gauteng traffic police spokesperson, Sello Maremane says this event will lead to heavy traffic around the venue.
“There will be no road closures, however, we are anticipating traffic congestion around Silverton, Nellmapius as well as Willows. Heavy traffic flows are anticipated on the following streets, the N4 between Watermeyer and Solomon Mahlangu Drive, Alvin Street towards Nellmapius, Waltloo Street towards Silverton, and the old Bronkhorstspruit towards Nellmapius.”
