Instead of delivering much needed service delivery to the residents of Gauteng , Premier Panyaza Lesufi has apologised for not doing his work, despite having all the resources.
Gauteng residents are tired of apologies that are not followed by corrections on the ground. Lesufi’s apology means nothing when it is not followed by urgent action that improves people’s lives. Last year he did the same, apologised and failed to deliver. The only solution left is for him to inform the residents of Gauteng that he has failed to govern this province.
Yet again, Premier Lesufi has offered the same old promises that we have heard before. He promises service delivery to all residents in the province, while service delivery in this province is currently on life support, with some communities protesting with demands water and electricity.
We have seen that Gauteng can work when the political will exists. Last year in a matter of months the Premier and his executive managed to fix all preexisting infrastructure issues in the parts of the province to host the G20 summit. This should be the daily reality.
The following promises have been made in 2025 and repeated this year:
1. Water
Premier Lesufi has acknowledged that the problem is not a water shortage but infrastructure, which he has failed to fix. Water infrastructure has been allowed to deteriorate without proper and regular maintenance. Furthermore, he highlights that they will be building more reservoirs and water infrastructure. This will be pointless when there is no proper maintenance and monitoring of water infrastructure.
In addition, the Premier has acknowledged that water is life and sanitation is dignity. Yet our thousands of our people have suffered for years without this much needed resource. His acknowledgment is not being met with action.
2. Economy and Jobs
Lesufi acknowledges that that for the economy to grow, crime must be defeated. Cable, theft, vandalism and collapsing infrastructure are chasing investors away. It is not enough for the Premier to note that our infrastructure must be protected when he has had the power to do so for years.
Our unemployment rate is at 33%. We have lost the largest number of jobs in the last quarter of 2025. Furthermore, the Premier has admitted that local government must be fixed. The trouble in local government has been a evident for a long time particularly the local and district municipalities, but the lack of intervention has led municipalities to a state of crisis
Instead of focusing on the current Special Economic Zones (SEZ) that are not yielding positive results, the Premier has now announced a new one in Kempton Park. Premier Lesufi is creating more infrastructure that needs to be maintained instead of fixing the existing SEZs.
It is known that where local government is working, the private sector is more inclined to invest in the local economy. The DA-run Midvaal municipality has managed to create a conducive environment leading to the latest investment by Heineken.
3. Roads and traffic lights
After a lot of pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng, the province has finally adopted the Transport Master Plan. We hope that this is not to pacify political parties, but to help fix our roads which are in a terrible condition. Despite his commitment to fix all traffic lights, by his own admission 699 remain non-functional. In addition, there are still 5000 potholes across the province that must still be fixed and this number grows daily.
It is unfortunate that the Premier has sold the burden of etoll debt as an investment when in reality the repayments are taking money away from key service delivery programmes. The DA was at the forefront in calling for the scrapping of e-Tolls, however, the Gauteng provincial government has chosen to shackle residents to debt they did not ask for.
4. Fixing local government
Premier Lesufi talks about fixing local government, yet ANC-led municipalities have collapsed . They are unable to deliver services, and Premier Lesufi has acknowledged that Midvaal is the gold standard that should be replicated across all municipalities.
5. Crime
Gauteng remains the epicentre for crime in the country with 17 people murdered daily according to the 2025/ 2026 Third Quarter Crime Statistics. Premier Lesufi continues to fixate over a technological approach rather than getting the basics of policing right. We need more resources at our police stations and boots on the ground. Only then will the technological approach work.
6. Mushrooming of informal settlements
Furthermore, the Premier promises to tackle the mushrooming of informal settlements. The provincial government has failed in this regard as they don’t have a plan in place to address the ballooning housing waiting list nor issue tittle deeds. In addition, there are many unfinished housing projects, yet our people are in desperate need of dignified housing.
7. Substance abuse , health system, and schools
Premier Lesufi is misleading the residents of Gauteng by claiming that the Tswa Daar anti-substance campaign was a success. Patients moved to Dr Fabian and Florence Ribeiro Treatment Centre in Cullinan, Tshwane as part of this initiative have been chased away. The centre was overcrowded without much needed resources. These patients were sent home without completing the treatment and could relapse.
In terms of health system ,we have waited the several years for this promised digitisation of patient records, while also dealing with the failing electronic queue management system.
Lesufi promised that the school online registration process will be improved. But again, this year thousands were left stranded and missed months of schooling due to this failing system.
He also promised to revitalise the CBDs in the province, this is a promise made before and we are yet to see change.
8. Corruption
Premier Lesufi speaks boldly about corruption and promised that those that have been mentioned in the Madlanga commission will be brought to book. This is empty words and means nothing as he redeployed corrupt Heads of Departments and senior official implicated in corruption.
This State of the Province Address shows that Premier Lesufi has failed dismally to govern this province. Many of the promises that he made last year has not been fulfilled. Again, Gauteng residents have been given promises but not they cannot live on promises and apologies.
The Premier has acknowledged that the only municipality that is working is the DA-led Midvaal. This shows that the DA can deliver services and fix Gauteng based on our track record.