Parties expect more empty promises from Lesufi

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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng believes that premier Panyaza Lesufi will make more promises without the genuine intent or ability to follow through on them when he delivers his State of the Province Address (SOPA).

On Monday afternoon, the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Morakane Mosupyoe will lead the proceedings, followed by Lesufi’s delivery of the 2025 SOPA. Lesufi is expected to reflect on the government’s achievements and challenges over the past year and outline the province’s priorities and service delivery plans for the year ahead.

DA NOT HOPEFUL ABOUT GAUTENG PREMIER PANYAZA LESUFI’S SOPA

DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said Lesufi has consistently used every SOPA to “satisfy his relentless desire to lie and deceive the people of Gauteng, making grand promises of prosperity, only to deliver disappointment”.

Msimanga said Lesufi’s arrogance and denialism are staggering, as it is evident that under his leadership—both before and after the establishment of the Government of Provincial Unit (GPU)—Gauteng is heading straight in one disastrous direction: a downward spiral.

What concerns the Blue Party the most is that during Lesufi’s tenure, the economy of Gauteng has remained stagnant, and there has been a significant drop in investor confidence.

“The unemployment rate has increased to 34.4% in the fourth quarter from 34.0% in the previous quarter. This is according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the fourth quarter. The number of unemployed people has also increased from 2 593 000 in the third quarter to 2 667 000 in the fourth quarter and an additional 602 000 discouraged individuals have abandoned their job search in the province,” he explained.

Further, Msimanga said Lesufi’s government has failed to maintain and improve infrastructure.

“This has been confirmed by his own MEC for Finance, Lebogang Maile, revealing that water pipes, electricity grids, and roads in some areas are more than 50 years old and on the verge of collapse as municipalities lack the funds to replace decaying infrastructure, which leads to service failures, water leaks, and electricity disruptions.

“The province’s lack of adequate infrastructure directly affects our learners. They are packed into classrooms like sardines because the Gauteng government has not built enough schools or provided temporary classrooms to address the overcrowding,” he added.

BUILD ONE SOUTH AFRICA ALSO CRITICAL OF GAUTENG GOVERNMENT

Similarly, Build One South Africa (BOSA), said Lesufi will attempt to paint a picture of progress and success when he delivers the Gauteng SOPA are the failures, mismanagement, and broken promises that continue to plague the province.

“This won’t be the first time. Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s State of the Province Address in 2024 was filled with bold commitments, yet many remain unfulfilled, exposing a government failing to deliver its promises.

Over the years, Lesufi has made bold promises about strengthening the fight against crime in the province. From increasing the budget of the Department of Community Safety to deploying crime wardens (AmaPanyaza), CCTV cameras, and drones, however, it is not clear yet whether these have been effective in reducing the high crime rate in Gauteng.

The GOOD Party said Lesufi will deliver the Gauteng SOPA amid several crises in the province, where water and electricity are both sporadically shut off with little notice. The provinces’ departments of Health and Social Development are both mired in corruption scandals, while the most vulnerable citizens are left to suffer with no support.

GOOD National Chairperson and City of Johannesburg Councillor Matthew Cook said the Premier will likely paint an entirely different picture of the province, talking about expanding the Gautrain to Soweto and dreaming aloud about a bullet train between Joburg and Limpopo.

“No mention will be made of the shambles that is the crumbling infrastructure in much of the province, where hospitals and courtrooms are unable to operate effectively due to a lack of water and electricity.

“What is really needed from the Premier is an honest assessment of the decay in the province and practical steps to turn the province around, not political rhetoric or posturing. Instead of telling us that the province’s crime rate keeps him awake at night – as he did during the Province’s 100 days in office, the Premier must tell us what his government intends to do about it,” Cook said.