Gauteng SOPA: Lesufi listened to Freedom Front Plus; only major investments can turn the economy around

Image: courtesy of FF Plus

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi once again made grand promises of investments in the province amounting to billions that will create up to 250 000 job opportunities.

These prospects are impressive and will certainly benefit the province if they materialise. Unfortunately, they usually tend to shrink drastically as time passes.

It is, nevertheless, clear that the Premier has taken the advice offered by the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in response to last year’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) seriously – namely to aggressively attract more investment to Gauteng. It is a fact that without large-scale investment, the province’s economy will not grow by a cent.

It is interesting to note that the Premier devoted a much larger portion of his speech to economic investments, which could solve numerous socio-economic problems, compared to previous SOPAs.

On the one hand, this indicates that the provincial government is finally heeding the Freedom Front Plus's advice, but on the other, it also demonstrates that the ANC knows all too well that it will only survive as a party if Gauteng voters see immediate improvement.

The promised investments are, however, not enough to guarantee the necessary economic growth, which must be higher than population growth in Gauteng. For that to realise, far more local, and especially foreign, investment is required.

This also means the Government of National Unity (GNU) will have to work harder to repair relations with the United States, so, the Freedom Front Plus advises the provincial government to pressure the GNU in this regard.

Finally, the provincial government has indicated that it is willing to negotiate with the Freedom Front Plus regarding other aspects as well. This includes, among other things, guaranteeing that existing Afrikaans schools will be protected, regardless of the impact of BELA, providing financial support to poor white and coloured people as well as welfare organisations through the Department of Social Development, reconsidering subsidies for quintile 5 schools, appointing whites and coloureds in vacant positions in provincial departments and agencies, and safeguarding cultural communities.

More details on this will follow in the lead-up to the finalisation of the 2026/27 budget, to which the Freedom Front Plus will make substantial contributions.

The Freedom Front Plus is fully aware of the uncertain and difficult circumstances in which these discussions will take place, but will use every opportunity to ensure that minorities, who have thus far been excluded from provincial government benefits, are given equal status.

Should this opportunity come to nothing, there is always the major opportunity to replace failing administrations in local councils in November 2026. In addition, a golden opportunity will present itself in 2029 when voters will be able to replace the national and provincial government in Gauteng with a coalition consisting of fair and reasonable parties, with the Freedom Front Plus as one of the senior governing partners.

The Freedom Front Plus will keep striving to ensure that minorities in Gauteng are treated as equals.