New plan for Gauteng robberies

2008-08-28 22:20

Johannesburg - The Gauteng government and banking sector have set up a task team to tackle robberies of businesses, especially banks, the office of Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa announced on Thursday.

"The task team will present proposals to government and business leaders in the next week," it said in a statement.

The team consists of senior government officials and business representatives and will look at practical measures both sides can implement together to prevent these robberies.

The initiative was one of a number of issues dealt with in a briefing by Shilowa to the provincial government's executive council on Wednesday.

At the meeting, the executive council approved a policy framework for the disposal of immovable property owned by the provincial government.

"The policy recognises the need for government to strategically manage state-owned land to ensure that this scarce resource is utilised to address developmental and socio-economic needs of Gauteng and its people," Shilowa's office said.

"The policy will ensure uniformity and consistency in the disposal of state-owned immovable properties in Gauteng.

"The objectives of the policy are: to improve effectiveness and efficiency in the disposal of redundant government owned land; and establish a developmental approach to the management and disposal of state-owned land."

The executive committee also welcomed Constitutional Court's ruling on the temporary shelters set up to house victims of May's xenophobic attacks.

The court ordered that talks be held on speeding up the reintegration into communities of victims entitled to be in South Africa, that the camps be closed by September 30 and that people in the company illegally be repatriated.

- Sapa

- SAPA