The FF Plus has convinced the ANC minority government in Gauteng to update the province’s economic policy plan, also known as Growing Gauteng Together 2030 (GGT2030).
It will be a collaborative effort by all the political parties represented in the Legislature. The public will also have the opportunity to make submissions.
During the Budget Vote Debate on the Office of the Premier, the FF Plus indicated that the existing economic policy plan was formulated in 2014 and is, therefore, outdated.
It has been overtaken by several significant events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, the information technology-driven economic explosion and worldwide growth in which the province did not participate, de-industrialisation and the outflow of investments from the province as well as the arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) which will have a major impact on the labour market.
The party also emphasised that the voters of Gauteng have spoken and indicated that no single party should govern and determine policy on its own.
In addition, the current GGT2030 did not facilitate a better economic environment in Gauteng and the province still has the highest number of unemployed people in the country.
In his reply to the debate, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi accepted the FF Plus’s proposal.
The FF Plus will now see to it that the consultation process with all relevant role players gets underway to obtain input from the general public, business owners, economists, futurists, public representatives and economic practitioners from states showing successful economic growth.
As an important premise, the GGT2030 specifically requires that all adopted policies should be evidence based.
This creates an opportunity to finally implement actual proven economic policy in Gauteng while moving away from rigid socialist policy which became irrelevant at the end of the Cold War.
If the process is managed correctly, business-friendly policy which promotes real economic growth and job creation can be included in Gauteng’s economic policy plan, sparking hope for getting Gauteng, South Africa’s economic engine room, running smoothly again.
This initiative by the FF Plus is part of its strategy to restore and rebuild.
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