Gauteng dealt with problems - Mokonyane
2012-11-30 22:06
Johannesburg - The Gauteng government has dealt with all the problems it encountered in 2012, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said on Friday.
"As we move towards the twilight of our term of office, we look back with amazement at what initially looked like insurmountable challenges akin to David facing Goliath," she said in her political report to the Gauteng legislature.
"Through the relentless efforts and resilience of all the stakeholders we managed to deal with each and every challenge head-on."
She said the province had made strides in improving the quality of service delivery.
"When we came into office in the 2009 general election, we carried within ourselves the unquenchable burning desire to transform the lives of the people of Gauteng. That desire has not abated at all," she said.
The key to a successful government was how it dealt with its fiscus.
"I dare say that through better systems and tighter financial management, we have ridden the storm of fiscal stability challenges fairly well," Mokonyane said.
"The province has adopted prudent cash management measures to ensure that departments' spending do not exceed funds allocated."
She said it was important for provincial departments to pay their suppliers within 30 days.
"Over the past year, we have paid particular attention to addressing this challenge and are making significant headway. But we will not rest until we have fully turned this situation around."
She said a "health system turnaround strategy" was implemented to help the provincial health department pay its suppliers.
"As a province, we are keen to ensure there is no back-tracking to a situation where there is an accumulation of unpaid invoices, which we realise could pose a threat in relation to the disruption of critical supplies."
With regards to housing, Mokonyane said a Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) was implemented to make monthly loan repayment instalments for homes "affordable".
"We are inviting qualifying South Africans who previously could not afford to own a home to use this wonderful opportunity," Mokonyane said.
"This is the time for you to enjoy the fruit of democracy; the fruit of electing a government that cares for you."
Interventions aimed at tackling corruption in the province were "ongoing".
"We continue to be vigilant as a province in pursuing initiatives aimed at stemming the tide of corruption as we have demonstrated by our actions in Lenasia South recently," Mokonyane said.
Almost three weeks ago, the Gauteng housing department demolished about 50 houses in the area. The department said it was acting within the law because the houses were illegally built on government land.
- SAPA
