R60bn allocated for Gauteng infrastructure

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Makhura said the provincial government will upscale its Welfare-to-Work Programme to enable 100,000 unemployed young women, who currently depend on state grants, to graduate and create self-employment in the township economy. He said having learnt from the impact of Tshepo 1 Million in improving the skills, employability and entrepreneurship potential of more than half a million young people, the provincial government is mainstreaming youth employment interventions into all 10 high-growth sectors.

“Every company in every sector that requires our support must create opportunities for the youth. We are using the lever of public procurement policy decisively to promote youth employment, women empowerment, and the growth of black businesses and township-based enterprises,” he said.

Economic empowerment programmes

Over the next five years, Makhura said they will step up economic empowerment programmes in Gauteng by spending R4bn per annum in buying goods and services from 2,000 township enterprises, and using the infrastructure programme to support 50 black industrialists, enabling them to participate in the 10 high-growth sectors of the Gauteng economy.

“We will use the provincial government’s infrastructure programme to promote industrialisation by buying building and construction materials made by transformed South African manufacturers, especially those located in Gauteng. The materials for building new houses, schools, hospitals, clinics, roads and government buildings must come from South African firms,” Makhura said.

From May this year, the installations, repairs and maintenance on public facilities will be done by artisans from townships.