Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is attempting to take credit for the Heineken Soufflet Malt South African facility in Sedibeng as if he facilitated the deal between the malting plant and Midvaal Local Municipality. In fact, the opposite is true. Heineken Soufflet Malt South Africa approached the Midvaal Local Municipality to ask whether they would be willing to host the manufacturing plant in their municipality.
The Mayor of Midvaal, Peter Texeria, welcomed this initiative and gave the go-ahead for the plant. This was not done through Premier Lesufi’s office, but was a project initiated by the private sector. Furthermore, this project is not part of the Vaal Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng welcomes this new plant and the job opportunities it will unlock for the residents of Midvaal and the surrounding areas.
This step by the private sector is evidence that good governance leads to increased investment in the local economy. Instead of taking credit where it is not due, Premier Lesufi must take note of how good governance encourages investment in not only the local economies of communities in the province, but the province at large.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would replicate the good governance that is currently taking place in Midvaal to other failing municipalities, such as Emfuleni, Sedibeng, West Rand, Lesedi, and Merafong. This will create a conducive environment to attract private sector investment. This can be done as our residents are in desperate need of job opportunities in Gauteng, particularly amongst our young people.