The Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) is failing small businesses operating in Gauteng due to delays in completing economic infrastructure projects such as the Constitutional Hill Visitors Centre, Bio Science Park, and Industrial Hub Rehabilitation.
These economic infrastructure projects will go a long way in creating a conducive environment for small businesses to create job opportunities and grow the local economy. The small businesses will have designated spaces to market their local products and services, which will ensure growth and sustainable jobs. This will result in small businesses operating in these industrial hubs and Bio Science Park hiring more people to work for them.
GGDA is an entity responsible for assisting the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) with facilitating and managing sustainable job creation and economic growth.
The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) noted that economic infrastructure projects are not meeting the required level of planned achievement.
This is worrying as these projects are critical to local investment in the Gauteng economy, which would lead to employment opportunities being created in the province.
According to the GGDA annual report for the 2022/2023 financial year, only 15% of the Constitutional Hill Visitors Centre project was completed, against a target of 80%.
Only 65% of The Innovation Hub Management Company’s (THIMC) bio-science park phase three project was completed against a target of 100%.
Furthermore, no industrial hubs were rehabilitated against a target of three. The Tshwane Automotive Specialised Economic Zone (TASEZ) investor strategy was not implemented as planned.
In addition, only R1,13 billion in domestic and foreign investment was secured for Specialised economic zones, against a target of R2.32 billion.
GGDA missed important targets, which is an indication of a lack of proper planning.
Gauteng is the economic hub of the country and should be at the forefront of promoting goods and services from local businesses. By so doing, they attract the private sector to procure goods and services directly from small businesses in the province instead of relying on a subcontractor.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be closely monitoring the work of GGDA. It will, through the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), engage with the entity to understand why they failed to meet their targets and what causes delays in completing infrastructure projects.
When in government in 2024, the DA will advocate for transparency, accountability, and strategic improvements to ensure that business-supporting entities like the GGDA effectively carry out their responsibilities so that they actually foster success for the province’s small businesses and contribute to sustained economic growth.