Many political parties have lambasted Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s State of the Province Address (SOPA), saying he merely used it as a platform to campaign ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Lesufi delivered his SOPA at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg South, where he highlighted his plans and priorities for the year.
Reacting to the SOPA, the IFP’s Bonginkosi Dhlamini, says Lesufi’s speech was filled with empty promises.
“For me, it was a rally speech, making promises again. He promised us last year that the e-tolls are going to be a thing of the past. Today, he is telling us they are still finalising. He promised a speed train, yet he has not spoken about it. And secondly, where is the money going to come from to take over municipalities? So for me, it was just a political speech for elections, repeating the very same promises that he has made.”
The DA in Gauteng says it doesn’t believe that any of the plans outlined by Lesufi will materialise.
The DA was just one of the many parties who lambasted Lesufi’s SOPA, saying it was just an election campaign speech.
The DA’s Gauteng Premier candidate, Solly Msimanga, says, “I can’t say we are not disappointed because we knew that we were not going to be told anything new. That is what he did. I urge you to go and read last year’s State of the Nation (Address). It is a cover copy of what he said to us this year. He speaks to us about what he is going to do and not what he has done. He is telling us about amaPanyaza but that is not a good record to tell us about. The good record would be to say what is the latest crime statistics telling us about the impact in Gauteng. Crime has gone up and murder has gone up in Gauteng.”
Gauteng Premier outlines achievements and plans in SOPA:
