Moments after he was elected the new premier of SA’s economic hub, Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi warned that there would be no holy cows in the fight against corruption, lawlessness and crime, while acknowledging the “mammoth task” ahead regarding the provision of services to the province’s 16-million residents.
“There are three things that if we can’t tackle them head on, we must forget. One, obviously, is to protect our economic position as Gauteng. But two, which I really feel is going to be non-negotiable and is going to create enemies ... is the fight against crime, the fight against lawlessness and the fight against corruption,” Lesufi said on Thursday.
He was elected Gauteng’s new premier with 38 votes against DA provincial leader Solly Msimanga’s 22. Lesufi succeeds Makhura, who resigned this week as the province’s first citizen.
Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba said 12 members of the provincial legislator (MPLs) were absent during the vote, while one abstained. EFF MPLs did not participate in the election as they stormed out of the legislature.
Lesufi’s election as premier was expected after he succeeded Makhura as ANC provincial chair during the party’s provincial elective conference in Benoni, in June. He will now be in charge of leading the ANC’s campaign efforts ahead of the 2024 national elections, where political pundits expect the ANC’s electoral support to dip below the 50% mark.
The ANC is on shaky ground in Gauteng, where it lost control of the crucial metros of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane to DA-led coalitions during the 2021 municipal election, after its national electoral support fell below 50% for the first time since 1994.
The City of Joburg is now under an ANC-led coalition following the ousting of the DA’s Mpho Phalatse as executive mayor through a motion of no confidence on Friday. She is challenging her removal in court.
The ANC’s electoral support has been declining in Gauteng over the years, to 36.06% during the 2021 municipal elections from 45.84% and 59.66% during the 2016 and 2011 municipal elections respectively.
The province is faced with service delivery problems pertaining to the supply of basic services such as housing, clinics, schools and water and electricity.
“We will attend to those challenges. It’s a mammoth task. The challenges are vast, different; the level of trust from our people has diminished. To operate in that environment will be difficult,” Lesufi said after he was sworn in as premier.
“We will announce members of the executive council [on Friday]. We will go on a cabinet lekgotla to try to strengthen our priorities as a province. There is a programme that we have: Growing Gauteng Together 2030. We want to prioritise areas we need to attend to. I’m thrilled that the Treasury is coming onboard to assist us with things...,” the premier said.
During his acceptance speech, Lesufi said his administration would double efforts for “true economic growth” of Gauteng as residents were confronted with many challenges. “We must remain firm to defend, shield, but more importantly, serve them,” he said.
“We will account to the people of Gauteng how we want to make Gauteng better,” said Lesufi, who served as education MEC under Makhura.
“I’m taking reins from one of the humble servants of Gauteng. [Makhura] led from the front, the masses of our people ... can attest to the impact he made on their lives in various ways when he was at the helm of the province. He has been the driving force for this change of leadership in the province. He initiated this change. A good dancer knows when to leave the stage,” said Lesufi.
He said there would be no holy cows and his administration would need to “move faster to be ahead of everything”, adding that he and finance minister Enoch Godongwana “are about to sign agreements on the most critical things that need to happen in our province”.
Lesufi, who stressed during his acceptance speech that leaders needed to answer questions, would not answer questions by Business Day about the agreements and/or projects to be signed between him and Godongwana, their value and the timelines, saying “wait a bit, we will tell you”.
Lesufi, who is now in charge of SA’s economic hub, which contributes about 40% to national GDP, was nominated by co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Lebogang Maile to become the next premier. Maile was seconded by ANC Gauteng deputy chair and finance and e-governance MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
Business Day reported on Thursday that Makhura’s relinquishing public office might be a short-lived event as he was tipped as a possible contender for the next trade, industry and competition minister, due to his economic interventions in Gauteng. Those include the reform of the government’s procurement systems through the open tender system, as well as investment and implementation of localised industrial policy, which has prioritised Africa as the solution to SA’s economic challenges.
Updated: October 6 2022.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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