The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Gauteng province welcomes the State of the Province Address by Premier Panyaza Lesufi on 24 February.

COSATU in Gauteng is encouraged by the framing of Gauteng 13 Challenges by the Premier and how they affect the people of Gauteng. The resolutions of the G13 Challenges will benefit workers and the working class broadly. 

COSATU is excited by the announcement by the Premier that the initiatives government has introduced will create 832 150 new jobs in the public and private sectors at a total budget of R277.1 billion. This will go a long way towards solving youth unemployment in the province.

COSATU also welcomes the key provincial priority areas on the economy. We appreciate the 1.2% economic growth in the third quarter of 2024 but not excited by the number of jobs created during the same period. COSATU is excited that the GPG has secured R180 billion investment commitments derived from the R364.2 billion pledges across the country. The announcement to expand the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone taking into consideration the successes, particularly the 6000 jobs created and economic injection in the first phase is the step to the right direction.

COSATU will henceforth request a meeting with the Premier in the coming week to be properly briefed on how all the announced initiatives to address the G13 Challenges. We will further wait for the presentation of the budget by MEC Lebogang Maile. Our view is that the budget should cover all the priorities announced by the Premier.

Issued by COSATU Gauteng

Provincial Chairperson (Amos Monyela): 079 493 5002

Provincial Secretary (Louisah Modikwe): 066 182 2402 / 082 297 2659