Gauteng’s infrastructure is under pressure due to the high numbers of people coming into the province according to Gauteng Premier David Makhura.

Addressing the inaugural Gauteng City Region Spatial Planning Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre on Tuesday, Makhura said the economy was also not absorbing large numbers of those looking for employment.

He said the province was in urgent need of proper planning, effective urban management and integrated urban development capabilities in the provincial and local sphere to manage the rapidly changing urban landscape.

“Gauteng is now the most populous province in our country, with StatsSA population estimates pointing to more than 13 million people. Between 1996 and 2001, our population has grown by 2.7%, while between 2001 and 2011 the province’s population grew by 3.6%,” he said.

This means than more than 5 million people moved into Gauteng over the fifteen years. By 2030, it is estimated that Gauteng will be home to 18-20 million people.

Managing the impact of urbanisation

Makhura highlighted with concern that the current major capability constraints is the inability of municipal and provincial authorities to plan effectively in order to manage the impact of rapid rate of urbanisation.

Makhura said the summit should give practical effect to the province’s aspiration to take radical steps to transform the spatial configuration and landscape of Gauteng province through better coordinated land use management and balanced spatial development.

In addition, he said the best way to govern the province was to do so as a single entity.

“Although we have different spheres of government, our actions in communities, in the economy and how we govern have to be as if we have to have a single plan for the entire province,” said Makhura.