Annisa Essack | kzn@radioislam.org.za
21 February 2023 | 19:00 PM CAT
2 min read

Photo Credit: UNISA – Prof Dirk Kotze

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, delivered a State of the Province address yesterday. He shared his commitment to accelerate the provinces’ economic recovery and reconstruction, declare crime, corruption, lawlessness, and vandalism as the enemy of the people, drastically changing people’s living conditions in townships and informal settlements and hostels and the provision of quality service delivery.

Political analyst Prof Dirk Kotze joined Radio Islam International to provide an analysis of the SOPA and said Lesufi concentrated on the economies of the townships.

He explained that it was important that Lesufi began his address with a focus on security as this emphasis that crime is a scourge in the province and implementation of the several new technologies that Lesufi promised is in line with other success stories. However, this brought about questions regarding finances – Is it affordable, and does the province have the budget to fulfil this promise, asked Kotze.

Kotze called the address “a speech about how to spend a lot on the province.” He added that the National Budget Speech to be delivered tomorrow would testify to the faith of Lesufi’s promises.

Responding to whether Lesufi had the plan to back his promise or if it was politicking, Kotze said that these speeches, whether SONA, SOPA or city speeches, were not about implementation as this was not how these speeches were designed.

More importantly, says Kotze, if the budget is available, will the public servants have the expertise and resources to implement the changes needed?

Further to this, there is no guarantee that Lesufi will be able to carry out the plans he has talked about as he has only one year left to implement the changes, as there is no guarantee that the ANC will still be running the province.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with host Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and guest Prof Dirk Kotze, a political analyst at UNISA.