South Africa : Gauteng committed to accelerated economic growth

By Luyanda Makapela

Johannesburg - To further grow the province's economy and stimulate job creation, the Gauteng Provincial Government has begun implementing its Vision 2014 plans with energy.

The Vision 2014 plan forms part of the provincial government's ongoing efforts to lay a solid foundation for Gauteng and its residents and ensure a better life for all.

Addressing reporters in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe said to further deepen the gains made in growing the provincial economy and step up job creation, they were not only implementing current plans but looking further into the future.

Before the end of the current term, in April 2009, his department expected to complete the expansion of the Innovation Hub and the Automative Supplier Park (ASP) in Rosslyn.

South Africa's first ASP will expand a new service provider to supply the Ford expansion. The R300 million investment now contributes R714 million to Gauteng's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The new plant will contribute towards the reduction of production costs by bringing component manufacturers closer to Ford.

Further to this, Mr Nkomfe added that plans to build a new supplier park in Silverton together with the City of Tshwane were at an advanced stage.

These infrastructure projects are critical for growth of sectors such as knowledge-based industries, information and communication technology (ICT) and value added manufacturing.

"By the end of March next year, we expect to complete the Film City Strategy which will guide the investment and other support measures that we will continue to provide to the film, audio-visual and broadcasting sector," the MEC said.

On Wednesday, the provincial government is to launch the Provincial Film Indaba which will bring together key role players to investigate ways of strengthening the provincial film, audio-visual and broadcasting sector.

The indaba, themed: "Beyond 2010" aims to promote Gauteng as South Africa's leading production centre.

With regards to Gauteng Shared Service Centre (GSSC), Mr Nkomfe said the process to convert it into an agency which will provide back-office support to all Gauteng provincial departments was currently under way.

The GSSC provides internal support services to the 11 Gauteng departments in the areas of finance, human resources, procurement and technology support services.

The MEC said they would implement all the necessary change management interventions required to ensure that the process proceeded smoothly.

"Together with worker representatives, we will soon finalise issues around remuneration, structure, medical aid and pension fund for GSSC employees," he added.

"We are doing all these things to ensure that we successfully complete the current term of this government and we lay a solid foundation for the realisation of our vision for 2014," the MEC said.

The province has also begun drafting a long-term development plan called Gauteng: G 2055.

This is linked to this is the establishment of the Gauteng Planning Commission whose purpose is to facilitate integrated planning among all spheres of government and between various government departments and agencies, the MEC said.- BuaNews