Lesufi unveils plan to fight political killings, housing crises, and unemployment in Gauteng

Lesufi outlines bold plans to tackle political killings, housing crises, and jobs in Gauteng

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for the province, pledging action on political killings, housing challenges, infrastructure decay, and unemployment. Speaking during a recent briefing, Lesufi addressed a wide range of pressing issues and outlined measures his administration intends to implement.

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Task team on political killings

Lesufi confirmed the establishment of a dedicated Political Killings Task Team, which he said will combine advanced technology with intelligence partnerships to track and prosecute suspects.

The province has faced a spate of assassinations of councillors, municipal officials, and investigators in recent years, with few convictions. Lesufi said new forensic tools, satellite tracking, and data-sharing agreements with private-sector intelligence units would help crack cold cases.

“We are not going to allow these cases to be written off. Families of victims must know we are committed to breakthroughs, and within four weeks the provincial commissioner will present timelines, terms of reference, and resource plans,” he assured.

READ: Political Killings Task Team Collapsed Due to Resource Gaps, Says Masemola

Informal settlements and evictions

Turning to Gauteng’s ballooning housing crisis, Lesufi revealed that 400 informal settlements have sprung up in just a year, many illegally. He said alternative arrangements would be made for South Africans displaced by evictions, but foreign nationals who had settled unlawfully would be expected to return to their countries of origin.

“We cannot allow a free-for-all. Those who respect the law and are on waiting lists must be prioritised. Syndicates that drive land invasions will be dealt with firmly but within the law,” he said.

Lesufi also confirmed a shift from traditional RDP housing towards serviced land, allowing beneficiaries to build homes with access to water, electricity, and sanitation.

READ: Youth Unemployment in South Africa Rises to 4.9 Million, NYDA CEO Highlights Challenges and Opportunities

Nasi iSpani 2.0: jobs and skills

On unemployment, the Premier announced the relaunch of the Nasi iSpani programme, which aims to create 45,000 opportunities. This phase will focus on training young people as bricklayers, plumbers, welders, and artisans to repair Gauteng’s crumbling infrastructure — from potholes and traffic lights to schools and clinics.

“We cannot keep relying on overpriced contractors and endless tender disputes. The state must build its own capacity. Nasi iSpani will equip unemployed youth with skills and deploy them to fix our communities,” Lesufi said.

READ: South Africa’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 33.2% in Q2 Amid Economic Challenges

Addressing municipal dysfunction

The Premier also highlighted the financial and service delivery collapse in Emfuleni Municipality, calling it a symptom of outdated funding models. With unemployment rising and businesses shifting off the municipal grid, Emfuleni has struggled to collect revenue.

Lesufi proposed converting Emfuleni into a metro municipality to attract investment and better manage services, while also setting up special purpose vehicles (SPVs) with state-owned entities to address crippling debts to Rand Water and Eskom.

Looking ahead

The Premier’s plans extend to stabilising the taxi industry, managing electricity price pressures, and implementing the recommendations of the Usindiso Building fire commission to tackle hijacked buildings in Johannesburg.

Lesufi acknowledged that Gauteng faces severe constraints, but insisted his administration is prepared to make bold, and sometimes unpopular, decisions.

“Our vision is a province that is safer, more prosperous, and more accountable. We can no longer fold our arms while services collapse, people are assassinated, and our infrastructure decays,” he concluded.