Lerato Mailoane
The Gauteng Provincial Government convened the inaugural Re Aga Mmogo Construction Expo on Thursday to advance economic empowerment and inclusivity.
The event focused on creating opportunities for Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) owned by women, youth, and persons with disabilities, aiming to enhance their construction and built environment skills.
Throughout the day-long expo, SMMEs engaged in discussions addressing challenges arising from regulatory constraints and limited funding.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, addressing the delegates, unveiled government plans to establish a state bank aimed at providing accessible funding to the public.
“We want to improve townships and our businesses and a bank that is sensitive to the needs of women and people living with disabilities.”
Lesufi emphasised the significance of the construction sector in the emerging economy, affirming the government’s commitment to its support and safeguarding.
Looking ahead, he outlined economic interventions, including constructing a high-speed train connecting Tshwane to Limpopo, which is expected to catalyse job creation.
To tackle the loadshedding issue, Lesufi announced plans to construct two power stations within the province, underscoring Gauteng’s capacity to address its energy needs independently.
“We are ready to build two power stations in our province. We can’t complain about loadshedding when we’ve got the capabilities, resources, and skills to develop our own in Gauteng, end this nonsense forever, and move forward together.
“We are ready to build new highways in our province; we are ready to build new tarred roads for driverless cars because the days of the kind of roads and traffic lights we have now are over, and this province should be positioned to be the first province to introduce those things,” he added.
Addressing the challenge of informal settlements, Lesufi highlighted the government’s commitment to eradicating them, signalling a shift towards sustainable urban development.
Warning against incomplete government projects, Lesufi asserted strict consequences for contractors failing to fulfil their obligations, emphasising the importance of accountability and timely project delivery.
“I want to warn you if you don’t finish your business, we will blacklist you, and you will never again have a business in our province. If you start a project, you must finish it within time and budget. We can’t be associated with failure.”
The expo offered delegates a platform for exhibitions and pop-up seminars, enabling interaction with public and private sector entities. With 70 exhibitors, including government departments, construction firms, and financial institutions, participants gained insights into overcoming barriers in the construction industry.
The pop-ups featured various topics led by government, public sector agencies, businesses, funding institutions, institutions of higher learning and professional bodies.
The pop-up seminars covered various topics, facilitated by government bodies, businesses, funding institutions, academic institutions, and professional organisations, providing valuable guidance and support to delegates.
SOURCED FROM THE GPG WEBSITE.
