Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s SOPA 2025: R2.5 Billion for New Schools
By Thabo Mosia
Johannesburg, South Africa – 24 February 2025 – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s SOPA 2025: R2.5 Billion for New Schools. On Monday, 24 February 2025, Premier Panyaza Lesufi delivered his State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ), unveiling bold plans to transform Gauteng. A standout commitment was a R2.5 billion investment to build 18 new schools across the province, funded by a partnership between National Treasury and the Gauteng provincial government. This move aims to address the “lack of sufficient schools” identified as one of Gauteng’s 13 pressing challenges, or “G13,” alongside issues like water shortages, crime, and unemployment. Lesufi’s address also promised 271,000 new permanent jobs, infrastructure upgrades, and efforts to tackle load shedding, sparking hope but also scrutiny among residents and critics.
Introduction: A Vision for Gauteng’s Future
South Africans in Gauteng woke up to big news on Monday, 24 February 2025, as Premier Panyaza Lesufi outlined an ambitious plan for the province during his 2025 State of the Province Address (SOPA). Delivered at the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) in Tshwane, the address focused on driving inclusive growth, reducing poverty, and building a capable, ethical state – echoing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s national priorities. At the heart of Lesufi’s vision is a massive R2.5 billion investment to eradicate school shortages by building 18 new schools, a move aimed at easing overcrowding and boosting township education. But the speech didn’t stop there – it tackled Gauteng’s 13 major challenges, from water crises to crime, while promising over 1 million new jobs and infrastructure upgrades. While many welcomed the bold pledges, others, including opposition parties and social media users, questioned whether these promises will translate into real change.
This article dives deep into Lesufi’s key announcements, the R2.5 billion school investment, and how Gauteng plans to address its pressing issues. We’ll also look at public reactions, expert opinions, and what recent news and Google trends suggest about the province’s challenges and opportunities.
R2.5 Billion Investment: Building 18 New Schools for Gauteng’s Children
One of the most exciting promises in Lesufi’s SOPA was the R2.5 billion commitment to build 18 new schools across Gauteng. “I’m proud, Madame Speaker, to announce that National Treasury has given us an advance of 1.5 billion R and through our treasury we have matched this grant with an additional 1 billion Rand, reaching an amount of 2.5 billion Rand to eradicate and build 18 new schools in our province in all our communities,” Lesufi said. This funding, sourced from the National Treasury’s Budget Facility for Infrastructure, is a groundbreaking step to tackle the “lack of sufficient schools” – one of the 13 challenges he termed “G13.”
Two of these schools have already broken ground and are operational, a sign of quick action. Lesufi highlighted the success of township education, citing examples like Lurding Secondary School in Soweto, which achieved a 100% matric pass rate and 97% bachelor passes, and M Mosi from QwaQwa Secondary School, who scored an astonishing 1,720 out of 1,800 marks in his matric exams. “This is a demonstration that our investment in township education is yielding the necessary results,” Lesufi noted, celebrating students like Michael Shabi, now studying artificial intelligence in Taiwan, and matriculants from Katlehong and Kempton Park schools of specialization.
Recent Google News articles, like those from News24 and The Citizen, report growing pressure on Gauteng’s schools due to population growth and urban migration. Overcrowded classrooms and aging infrastructure have long been concerns, with parents in areas like Ivory Park and Tembisa voicing frustration. Lesufi’s pledge addresses these issues head-on, aiming to create space for 66,000 bachelor passes annually – enough to fill all first-year university spots in Gauteng. The MEC for Education was thanked for leading this effort, and the address also praised the implementation of the BELA Act, training 3,300 Grade R practitioners to ensure quality education for all children, regardless of language or background.
But critics, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), as reported on IOL and SABC News, question whether R2.5 billion will suffice for 18 schools, given rising construction costs and land acquisition challenges. Social media posts on X, like those from @GautengWatch and @SAEducationNow, express cautious optimism but highlight delays in past infrastructure projects, urging transparency on timelines and budgets.
Gauteng’s 13 Challenges: A Comprehensive Plan
Lesufi’s SOPA outlined 13 critical challenges – dubbed “G13” – that Gauteng must tackle urgently. These include water shortages, cable theft and vandalism, nonfunctional traffic lights, potholes, crime and lawlessness, informal settlements, load shedding, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), drug abuse, hospital and clinic services, failing infrastructure, and unemployment. Each issue was addressed with specific interventions, reflecting the province’s commitment under the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) formed after the May 2024 elections.
- Water Crisis: Lesufi apologised for ongoing water shortages, blaming vandalism at pumping stations and power failures. He announced that Eskom and City Power will take over electricity supply at key pumping stations, with a war room established with executive mayors to monitor water flow. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project, set for completion in 2028, will boost supply, and the presence of Lesotho’s ambassador was noted as confirmation of progress.
- Crime and Lawlessness: Crime remains a top priority, with Lesufi unveiling a surveillance system targeting 442 crime kingpins for acts like cash-in-transit heists and hijackings. Since November 2024, 50 have been arrested, with 648 total arrests via 292 airwing operations and 34 crime syndicates broken. The South African Police Service (SAPS) and private sector invest R2.5 million monthly in this effort, supported by a provincial integrated command center monitoring 6,000+ CCTV cameras.
- Infrastructure and Potholes: Lesufi committed to resurfacing roads like Golden Highway and Bronkhorstpruit Road from March 2025, targeting major intersections over two years. A 72-hour pothole repair line, backed by the CSIR, will fix reported potholes quickly, with 40 West Rand roads already restored in 2024.
- Load Shedding: Despite recent Stage 6 load shedding, Lesufi expressed confidence it’s a “stage that will pass,” aligning with Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s assurances. Gauteng is “hunting” for 3,000 MW, with 2,000 MW secured through partnerships like Kelvin Power Station (180 MW now, aiming for 600 MW), solar (800 MW in Midrand), waste-to-energy (212 MW), and revitalized power stations (200 MW).
These initiatives show a multi-faceted approach, but Google News reports from EWN and The Star indicate public skepticism. Residents in Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni complain of persistent water cuts, crime spikes, and road damage, with some X posts (@GautengVoice, @SAUrbanIssues) questioning the feasibility of Lesufi’s timelines amid budget constraints.
Job Creation and Economic Growth: Over 1 Million Opportunities
Lesufi’s address wasn’t just about schools or challenges – it promised massive job creation. “We are not here to make promises but to report and confirm substantive employment commitments that we have signed and sealed,” he said, pledging 271,000 permanent jobs and 561,000 opportunities in 2025 alone, totaling over 1 million jobs. Key projects include:
- Tshwane Automotive SEZ Phase 2: Starting next month, this will create 6,150 post-construction jobs with a R6.1 billion private investment and R3.5 billion government partnership, plus an academy training 2,000 learners annually in the automotive industry.
- Public Sector Infrastructure: A R220 billion pipeline will create 34,000 construction jobs and 177,000 post-construction jobs.
- Lanseria International Airport and Other Projects: Expansions will add 3,000 jobs in Diepsloot, 20,000 in Brakpan’s Modderbee Smart City, 6,000 in Ekurhuleni’s Val Aerotropolis, and 125,000 in the OR Tambo expansion.
The province’s GDP grew by 1.2% in 2024 – double the national rate of 0.4% – and contributes over half of South Africa’s GDP, Lesufi said, citing an investment conference securing R180 billion, with a target of R800 billion by April 2025. However, News24 and BusinessTech reports suggest economic challenges, like ArcelorMittal’s plant closure in Vereeniging, offset by a new steel firm in Ekurhuleni saving jobs. X posts (@SABusinessHub, @JobSeekersZA) show mixed reactions – hope for jobs but doubt over delivery given past delays.
Other Key Promises: Health, Housing, and Safety
Lesufi’s SOPA covered broad areas beyond education:
- Health: Gauteng is digitalizing hospital files, introducing an “Uber-like” chronic medicine delivery for 1.5 million people, and building 11 new hospitals with private partners. The Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital will get a queue management system, and HIV/AIDS activists will receive 6-month ARV supplies.
- Housing: The Grand Central Mixed Housing project will build 81,000 houses for Tembisa, Ivory Park, and Olivenhoutbosch residents, while 650 serviced sites in Rand West and 4,800 opportunities in Mamelodi address informal settlements. Hostels like Siyathemba and Ratanda are being converted into family units with free Wi-Fi and CCTV.
- Safety and Environment: Efforts against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) include a 1,400-strong youth team supporting 14,000 victims, while 30,000 youth in the Masupa program tackle drug abuse. Green Scorpions and 382 compliance inspectors ensure cleanliness, planting 91,920 trees province-wide.
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