Opening remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the meeting between the National Executive and the Gauteng Provincial Executive Council, City of Johannesburg Council Chambers

Programme Director, 
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
MECs,
Executive Mayors,
Officials,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I want to thank all of you for availing yourself for this meeting.

This is the fourth engagement that we are having as the National Executive with the leadership of a Province.

Our journey began with engagements with the provincial governments of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. 

We intend to visit and engage the leadership of all nine provinces. 

These engagements are crucial in strengthening intergovernmental cooperation, collaboration and consultation. They are important for ensuring better alignment of provincial priorities with the priorities of the Government of National Unity.

We therefore welcome the commitment made by Premier Lesufi, during the State of the Province Address, that Gauteng is fully aligned to the strategic priorities of the Medium Term Development Plan: 

- Firstly, driving inclusive growth and job creation;
- Secondly, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; and, 
- Thirdly, building a capable, ethical and developmental state. 

Cooperative governance is a constitutional principle.

It requires that, as different spheres of Government, we must cooperate with one another in mutual trust and good faith.

We must assist and support each other, and coordinate our actions.

We are meeting in Human Rights Month, which is dedicated to celebrating and actively promoting the protection and advancement of human rights for all South Africans.

The observance of Human Rights Month is particularly relevant in the context of our discussions today. 

The right to water, sanitation, healthcare, housing and education are fundamental to the well-being of our communities. 

It is our duty to ensure that these rights are not just enshrined in our Constitution but are actively realised through tangible and impactful service delivery. 

People should not only be aware of their right to these services but should actively experience them in their daily lives.

We therefore have to continue to harness the power of collaboration to overcome obstacles and implement sustainable solutions that will uplift our communities. 

Through unity and action, we must create a future where the rights of all South Africans are upheld, and where every citizen can access the quality services they rightfully deserve.

The District Development Model, which we introduced in the previous administration, remains our guiding framework for cooperative governance and service delivery. 

This model has fundamentally reshaped how we operate, fostering greater coordination, integration and efficiency across all spheres of Government. 

Premier Lesufi, we agree with you that if we do not move with speed to address the critical challenges identified in the State of the Province Address, we risk undermining the progress we have made.

There are recurring problems across Gauteng. Some of these include governance failures, financial mismanagement, crumbling infrastructure, crime and lawlessness and unreliable service delivery. 

Our greatest challenges – in Gauteng and across the country – are unemployment and poverty.

These are the challenges we all must face head on. 

Gauteng’s unique position in the national landscape is both an opportunity and a challenge. 

While it may be the smallest province in terms of land size, it is a giant in many other respects. 

Gauteng contributes the largest share of any province to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. It is the single most critical economic hub in the country, serving as a powerhouse of finance, governance, industry and innovation. 

The economic success of Gauteng is integral to the economic success of South Africa. 

Within this dynamic province are among South Africa’s largest and most influential cities – Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni – each playing an important role in shaping our national and continental economic trajectory.

Johannesburg is the financial capital of Africa, home to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the headquarters of numerous multinational corporations. It is a city of commerce, investment and economic dynamism.

Tshwane is the administrative capital of our country, housing key Government departments, foreign embassies and institutions that shape national policy and governance. It is the anchor of South Africa’s public administration.

Ekurhuleni is the industrial and manufacturing powerhouse, driving logistics, production, and trade that sustain not just Gauteng, but the entire country’s supply chains.

It is here in Gauteng where our policies, plans and commitments must translate into action. 

The Gauteng economy has grown at a faster rate than the national economy.

As you said last week, Premier, this is indicative of the economic strength and resilience of the province. 

We welcome Gauteng’s plans to build on the success of the South Africa Investment Conference and host the inaugural Gauteng Investment Conference in April 2025. 

Gauteng’s plans to accelerate and strengthen township economic development, agro-processing and SMME development can accelerate economic growth and create thousands of jobs. 

We eagerly anticipate the forthcoming presentation from the province, which will provide valuable insights into the key priorities, challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 

What emerges from this meeting must not remain as just plans on paper. 

The outcomes of this meeting must be transformed into practical, measurable interventions that directly benefit the people of Gauteng.

Through a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach, we will drive sustainable development, improve service delivery and enhance the quality of life for all who call this province home.

Let us seize this moment with urgency and determination, ensuring that every commitment made here today is followed by decisive action.

I thank you.