The Gauteng government has announced three interventions to change the space and structure of the economy of the province in order to address unemployment, poverty and inequality.

Speaking during the State of the Province Address on Monday, Premier David Makhura said these interventions are spatial reconfiguration, township economy revitalisation and massive infrastructure investments that the provincial government will jointly undertake with municipalities and private sector partners.

As part of the plan, Premier Makhura announced the reconfiguration the Gauteng City Region’s space and economy along five development corridors that have distinct industries and different comparative advantages.

These are the:

• Central Development Corridor, which is anchored around the City of Joburg as the hub of finance, services, ICT and pharmaceutical industries;
• Eastern Development Corridor, which is anchored around the economy of the Ekurhuleni Metro as the hub of manufacturing, logistics and transport industries;
• Northern Development Corridor, which is anchored around Tshwane as the country’s administrative capital city and the hub of the automotive sector, research, development, innovation and the knowledge-based economy;
• Western Corridor, which encompasses the economy of the current West Rand district and the creation of new industries, new economic nodes and new cities and
• Southern Corridor, which encompasses the economy of the Sedibeng district and the creation of new industries, new economic nodes and new cities.

With regards to the Central Development Corridor, Premier Makhura said over the next five years, the provincial government will mobilise more than R10 billion in public and private investments in the regeneration of the Joburg CBD as the seat of the provincial government.

In strengthening the position of the Central Corridor as the financial hub of the country and the continent, the Premier said they will work with national government and the City to ensure that it becomes the home of the BRICS regional development bank.

Gauteng is also working with national government and the City of Joburg on a definite plan to revitalise the townships of Kliptown and Alexandra.

“The two townships are in a terrible and sorry state of disrepair,” said Premier Makhura.

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